Recently, I have received several requests from Brides, who are looking for someone to handle the wedding rehearsal and day of coordination.  Over the years, I recognize that they are really looking for a wedding director, who can provide some day of coordination at a particular price.  This is a well needed service of course for Brides, however it is important for Brides to understand the difference in what it means to hire a Wedding Coordinator (service typically called “Month of Coordination”) versus hiring a Wedding Director.  This service per the Wedding Planner will vary in price.  Each Planner will price this service the best way she/he determines makes since for their business.  In general between the two offerings, the level of service can range from $500 and go up as high as $2,000+.

Here is a real conversation that gave me an opportunity to share the reason my fee is what I charge for “Month of Coordination.”  I believe this will be helpful to future Brides out there.

Hi …..!

Thank you touching base again!  I believe the information below will give some guidance to best distinguish the difference between both types of service.  Please see below.  In general, here are few details that will give you an idea of why my fee is what I charge for “Month of Coordination.”

• Initial Client Meeting Review:  Their is time involved for the initial meeting with the Client to understand all the services that you have secured and vendors you are working with.  This also leads to the focused attention to detail to create a very thorough Wedding Weekend Itinerary and being able to catch any missing details not yet confirmed or secured with your vendors.
• Site Visit:  There is a site visit we need to have for the walk through to understand the ceremony set up and flow along with the reception.  We will also review your diagram/layout to discuss where and how everything needs to be placed on the wedding day.  {Sometimes I may decide to visit the site one or two more times to be sure of the logistics.}
• Set up/Breakdown:  We tend to be involved with the set-up and break-down.  It can range from setting up your personal items purchased to setting up your programs, linens, napkins, place cards, seating chart, etc.  Along with breaking down those items and making sure they get to the right person or location post the wedding reception.
• Staffing:  I do have staff who are very professional that I always bring with me as event management.  It truly takes a team to ensure a seamless level of execution.
• Brand Excellence:  Honestly, I’ve worked really hard to build a strong brand of excellence.  Please know that which ever service a Client books with me, I give 200% of myself to make sure the day is seamless and amazing for my Clients.  My Brand is very important to me and as a small business, I can not afford to have anything go wrong at a Client’s Wedding due to another vendor.  About 99.9% of the time, guests in the audience will look to the Wedding Planner at fault though they do not understand the service that I was hired for.  Definitely, in my world, my next Client is always sitting as a guest at a wedding that I get to orchestrate.  🙂  My greatest source of business growth has been through referrals.  Truly, 94% of my business is referred.

I hope that makes since.  Feel free to share any additional questions.  : )

A Brief Overview of the difference…

A Wedding Coordinator – A person who is hired to handle the final logistics for the wedding day.  That includes organizing the wedding rehearsal, creating an itinerary for the actual wedding day, and facilitating the flow of the day.  A wedding day coordinator is tasked with the actual wedding day execution after the Client has completed all of the wedding planning details, hired all the vendors, and created and finalized the entire design.

Wedding Director –  In general, a wedding director is the person who is tasked with only coordinating the wedding rehearsal and directing the ceremony on your wedding day.

Side Note:  True story…a couple years ago, a young lady I know hired a wedding director and they had not communicated the details regarding the wedding day.  The director left after the ceremony because that is all she was responsible for.  Guess who stepped in to coordinate her reception last minute…LOL!   

By the way, if you wondering what I charge for “Month of Coordination”… : )  I charge $1,500+.   It’s a service that I have kept in my package offerings for those Brides who may need it from Events By Nishaka.  It is the base service that I offer.  The additional wedding collection I offer are “The Creative Experience, The Class Experience, and the Red Carpet Experience.”  Visit my contact page “Let’s Plan” to inquire about your date and wedding services!

Happy Planning!
Nishaka