Wedding Concept Designer, Wedding Planner or Wedding Day Coordinator

Kim, Wedding Day Coordinator,
Kylee and Ryan's Wedding

Which type of bridal consultant is right for your wedding?  So many choices and potential expenses in planning a wedding; it is hard to know if you should hire a bridal consultant and, if so, what type of service you will need, and when to bring the consultant on board in the wedding planning process.
 
There are three categories for bridal consultation: Wedding Concept Designer, Wedding Planner or Wedding Day Coordinator, all of whom will meet the needs of brides in various stages of planning.  An important decision for brides as they begin their wedding planning is to look at the options for bridal consultation and decide which bridal consultant service is right for you.

Kylee and Ryan, Tulip Farm

Wedding Concept Designer-A wedding concept designer is one who helps the bride develop a theme and color scheme and is responsible for designing and coordinating the creative and artistic elements of the wedding.  A Wedding Concept Designer should be selected at the beginning of the wedding process before any decisions are made regarding the wedding including date and venue.  They are comprehensive wedding planners and offer complete design and wedding planning services to brides including referrals for vendor selection.

Kylee and Ryan, Tulip Farm

Wedding Concept Designers charge a fee for the consultation service and add additional costs as they create centerpieces, bridal bouquets & flowers, decorate cake tables, help with linen selection,  invitations, save-the-dates, party favors, lighting, sound, anything that brings the wedding theme, decor or concept together.   They often will bring in a team to help with the details and setup and decorating on the day of the wedding.   Wedding day services would include a Wedding Day Coordinator to coordinate the time line and all of the facets of the wedding day from beginning to end. 

Kylee and Ryan, Tulip Farm

A Wedding Concept Designer fits best in a mid to high-end wedding budget, and offers busy brides who may not have the time, or the expertise an option for the artistic and visual planning .  Wedding Concept Designers often know the best vendors for both style and value, and can take care of your wedding day needs within a budget. Brides who are planning out-of-town or destination weddings often hire Wedding Concept Designers to implement their design plans and to hire vendors and coordinate the planning of the out-of-town or destination wedding.

In the Portland area, for Wedding Concept Design services I would recommend, www.anaffairtoremember.com.  Their design work is amazing and they offer great comprehensive design and concept wedding planning.

An Affair to Remember, floral decor at wedding
 of  Jennifer and Chris, Abernathy Center

An Affair to Remember, St. Cupcake, Jennifer and Chris

Wedding Planner-A Wedding Planner is also brought in for bridal consultation at the beginning of the wedding process.  The Wedding Planner offers consultation services that include budget development, venue selection, vendor selection and often includes services for Wedding Day Coordination.  The main difference between a Wedding Day Planner and a Wedding Concept Designer is the Wedding Planner does not include the design services and development of the wedding theme or concept.

The Marshall House, Vancouver

Wedding Planners are a great option for a bride who is comfortable developing the theme and selection of the artistic elements of the wedding.  Wedding Planners often have extensive knowledge of vendors and can advise brides on vendor selection for both value and customer satisfaction.  Wedding Planners often have expertise on many of the venues in their area and can be a great source to know the ins-and-outs of many of the popular wedding sites.  Consulting with a wedding planner at the beginning of the wedding planning process before the venue selection can be a lifesaver as they will often know of any problems or difficulties with the various wedding sites.

Wedding Day Coordinator-In the wedding planning process a Wedding Day Coordinator would be brought in 6-8 weeks before the wedding to help pull together all of the final wedding planning details that occur a month or so before the wedding date, and to coordinate the time line and all the details for the day of the wedding.  Wedding Day Coordinator services include 1-2 wedding day pre-planning meetings, a walk through of the wedding and reception sites, rehearsal coordination and the coordination of the wedding day. A Wedding Day Coordinator is great for a couple who do not need help with venue or vendor selection, or with the development of the theme and the design concept and would like support planning the time line and the final details and coordination of the wedding day.

Kylee and Ryan, Tulip Farm

Some of the responsibilities of a Wedding Day Coordinator include:

•  wedding day time line development and time line distribution
• walk through of wedding and reception sites prior to wedding day
• distribution of bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres
• communication with ushers regarding guest seating and placement
• line up and cue the wedding party
• reception/vendor time line development, time line distribution and wedding day communication
• placement of decorative reception items--guest book, cake knife, toasting goblets, party favors. . .
• distribution of final payments for vendors
• supervision of reception close-out--securing gifts with caretaker, securing wedding day memorabilia
• assist wedding day party and families and ensure that the event runs promptly and smoothly 
• attend and coordinate the wedding rehearsal

The Wedding Day Coordinator is someone who makes sure all the wedding day details are taken care of and everyone and everything is in place according to the wedding day plan and time line. Having a Wedding Day Coordinator allows the bride and the mother-of -the bride to relax and enjoy the day without any of the stress and worry about the details of the day.

My cost for Wedding Day Coordinator including all of the above services is $300.  For brides that want more Wedding Planning Services with the Wedding Day Coordination Package, the cost is $500 which includes budget planning, venue and vendor selection.

Kim, Wedding Day Coordinator, Kylee and Ryan

Every newly engaged couple can decide which type of bridal consultation service is right for them--a full service Wedding Concept Designer, a comprehensive Wedding Planner, or a Wedding Day Coordinator.  Whatever choice you make I hope your wedding day runs smoothly and you are able to relax and enjoy your wedding day celebration with your family and friends.