The difference between a full-time or day-of wedding planner and what would work best for you

So you’re on the fence about spending the money on a full-service wedding planner or day-of wedding coordinator.

There’s a big difference between the two besides the price tag. No matter what route you take, you’ll want to interview at least a couple potential planners before making a decision. Besides staying within your budget, it’s also important to figure out whether you click with the person since you’ll be working closely together during a high-stress period of your life.

So what’s the difference between the two? And which service make more sense for you? Let’s explore.

Full-time wedding planners.

Wedding planners plan out your entire day, and work on every detail — down to vendor contracts, payments and staying within your budget. They keep you on schedule, give you advice on what vendors to choose and communicate with vendors so you don’t have to.

Full-service wedding planners design the look of your wedding, and are in charge of executing your vision. They can be there for you beyond your wedding as well. Full-time planners may help plan your bridal shower, rehearsal and day-of pre-ceremony festivities.

You’re paying them to take on all the stress of wedding planning. But it can come at a hefty price. Remember that cheaper is not always better, and you get what you’re paying for. Do a lot of research before choosing a wedding planner. Look at reviews and better yet, get recommendations from friends or family who’ve worked with wedding planners they liked.

Day-of Coordinators.

If you have the time and patience to plan your entire wedding and book your vendors — then a day-of coordinator may be the best option for you. They make sure you’re on schedule, and checking off everything on your to-do list.

A day-of wedding coordinator is typically the point-of contact for your vendors after you’ve booked their services. They help you pull off the day that you’ve already planned yourself.

Day-of coordinators are mostly hired for the day of your wedding to make sure it goes smoothly. They’ll help you put together a timeline for your Big Day, and ensure you stay on-schedule. They’re in contact with vendors on your wedding day to make sure everything is in its place, including decor, guests and most importantly — you and your fiancé(e).

Day-of coordinators allow you and your future spouse to sit back and relax before you walk down the aisle so you don’t have to field questions and put out last-minute fires.

Month-of wedding planners or hourly coordinators.

There are also planners who can jump in a few weeks before your wedding to take care of all your final details, including RSVP management and creating a seating chart.

If you need help with a couple tasks, such as decor designing or timeline creation, you can hire a wedding planner on an as-needed basis at an hourly rate.

Pricing.

According to Wedding Wire, the average starting cost for a full-service wedding planner in the U.S is $3,000 with higher-end planners averaging $4,500 to $12,000. Day-of wedding planners can begin at an average cost of $800 and go as high as $3,395 for pro-planners. Prices will vary on where you live, where the reception and are ceremony are located and the scale of your wedding.

Some venues provide a day-of coordinator, which may lead you to believe you don’t need to hire a wedding planner. These coordinators, however, look at the bigger picture and won’t typically have time to work with you on fine details.

Remember that wedding planners are there to manage your wedding day so you can focus on saying “I do.” Stay within your budget when hiring a planner, but keep in mind that if the price is too good to be true — it probably is.

Written By Vows & Forever Founder and Veteran Journalist Maria Cid. V&F is a wedding vows & speech writing service that also specializes in speech coaching and wedding timeline coordination.