While we love our vendor coordinator friends, there is a big difference in what they do vs. what we do. The venue coordinator is mostly on site to make sure that things are running smoothly behind the scenes with the internal staff and kitchen crew. The venue coordinator may meet with you a few times to discuss table arrangements and room set up and might even send you down the aisle.

However, there is much more to planning a wedding than just those on-site meetings and possibly directing the event on the day of.

We as wedding planners are there from the moment we are asked to step in. We begin our time with you by visiting the ceremony and reception sites and gathering contracts from each vendor that will be working for your wedding weekend. We advise on the remaining things that need to be done before the wedding weekend and communicate your wishes and preferences to the vendors that will be working with you.

In addition to developing a timeline we work with you and your family/friends to discuss wedding day responsibilities, partner with you to tackle that last minute “to do” list, are on hand for the wedding rehearsal, ceremony and reception to act as event director and are experienced in finding ways to handle those little emergencies that usually arise.

If you have just begun your planning journey we accompany you on venue tours, and help select your locations, budget, style and theme, then work with you to create the wedding you’ve always envisioned.

We understand that family and friends only want what is best for you as you plan your wedding, but experience has shown us that this normally does not work out well for them to be involved in this way. Weddings can be stressful even without having to perform a service and most family or friends get caught up with their own friends/family who stop them just to chat, they are running behind because they forgot something, or they are having trouble figuring out where their deliveries should go. If your family member or friend is the photographer/videographer, he or she may be in the buffet line or out on a smoke break when your important moments are happening.

Our advice is to hire professionals who are there to be at your service for the entire day and who do not have these distractions. If family or friends really want to have a part in your wedding, have someone suggest to them to throw you a shower, decorate for your engagement party, help manage the guest list responses, do a reading in the ceremony, usher in special family members as part of the processional and recessional, entertain out of town family and friends while you are busy making last minute wedding preparations, and so much more. You’ll make them feel valued and loved and can relax and leave the crucial wedding details in the hands of professionals.

Developing a wedding day timeline is the roadmap to your event. We as planners help you think through the little things that will be going on in the background as you prepare for the big day. Maybe you need to travel to the ceremony and reception sites from your home or a hotel. How will you get there? Where will the ladies from the bridal party get dressed, and are you using the services of hair and make-up artists as part of that process?

Are you having a first look? If so, where will that be done? Will it just be you and your fiancé, or will you also do a first look with your dad/stepdad/brother? What time will you need to exit from the wedding reception to stay within the timeline of your venue contract? There are so many little details that make up the wedding day, so having a timeline is always a good idea.

If you feel overwhelmed or just want to discuss your wedding planning options, please contact us on 770.853.8548 to schedule your discovery call or email us at angela@exquisiteevent.com.