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Day-of Coordinator Vs Venue Coordinator

Wedding Tips, Weddings

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The Differences Between a Day of Coordinator & A Venue Coordinator


When kicking off your wedding planning, selecting your venue is without a doubt the first important item to get crossed off your list (followed closely by hiring your photographer! 😉 ). There’s a lot to consider during the selection process, including the support system you’ll have by your side on your big day.

Chances are you’ve heard the terms venue coordinator and day of wedding coordinator batted around during your planning. I think is so important to 100% understand the difference between the two roles and what you can expect to get from each of them. A lot of couples think if a venue coordinator comes with their intended venue, they’ll be able to save on costs and not use a day-of coordinator or wedding planner. The two are definitely not the same though, so to save you some stress and frustration on your big day, I’m sharing some of the top differences between the two roles!

1. Support

While both are there to support during your event, day-of and venue coordinators go about it in very different ways. Day-of coordinators are there for YOU. You’re their client, so their entire focus is dedicated to you and your wedding. Their goal is to ensure the details of your day are in line and executed seamlessly.

Venue coordinators are there working for the venue. It’s not as if they don’t want your day to be executed flawlessly too, their job is simply to be focused on their staff and managing access to the venue. They’ll be the ones there unlocking doors, opening rooms, turning on lights, and directing staff. They’re responsible for making sure everything is functioning properly at the venue for you, your wedding party, your guests, and the staff.

2. Responsibilities

Day-of coordinators are there to handle literally every aspect of your wedding day. They’re the main contact for the venue, the vendors, you, and your wedding party, which helps keep everyone on the same page. They’re there from beginning your day with hair and makeup to breaking down your event at the end of the night. They’ve got all the details of what needs to be done and are pros at keeping people in the right place at the right time.

Venue coordinators are responsible for the venue. They’re there to manage operations of the venue and ensure that they’re upholding the terms of their contract with you. If they’re providing catering in-house, their main focus will be on getting the staff prepared and in place to prep and coordinate dinner service. Most importantly, they’ll make sure the bars are prepped and ready for the non-stop service they’ll see during your reception. It’s not uncommon to see the venue coordinator head out once meal service is complete because there are no other operations they’re responsible for doing.

3. Timeline

Your day-of coordinator lives by your timeline. They’ve worked out the flow of the day with you and your vendors so every minute of the day is accounted for. This really helps the day run smoothly!! They know when everyone will arrive, when deliveries will be happening, transportation needs, and any special requests that need to happen throughout the day.

Venue coordinators manage the timeline of your food prep and service. If you’ve ever been to a wedding, you know how important a job this is!! They have the timeline for the kitchen staff so they know when to prep, plate, and begin service for each course of the meal. Having someone dedicated just to your food ensures your guests have smooth transitions throughout the meal and aren’t sitting around wondering if they’re ever going to get food. Trust me, you don’t ever want it to get to the point where guests are complaining they’re hungry!

4. Event Styling

Don’t want to have to worry about everything getting set up for the day? Your day-of coordinator will have you taken care of!! You’ll work together on all the details of styling your day beforehand, such as your color palette, centerpieces, signage, and other decors. They’ll help you with setting up your outdoor ceremony setup and are pros are helping you figure out those tricky seating arrangements for dinner. They’re there throughout all your planning to provide assistance and share their knowledge with you!

Venue coordinators don’t help you with styling your event. They’re not there to chat about colors, centerpieces, or the other details that make your day unique. They are the pros you’ll be able to go to help utilize your venue in the best way possible.

I hope you learned a little about the differences between a day-of coordinator and a venue coordinator!! Both are important vendors to have as a part of your day, so knowing what each one does will help keep your day running smoothly and stress-free!

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