Day Of Coordination Explained

Q:  My friend had a Day Of Coordinator for her wedding, and I'm trying to decide if I need one for my wedding.  What does a Day of Coordinator do? One of the venues I'm considering has a venue coordinator.  Wouldn't the venue coordinator be the same thing?

A:  As a wedding planner, Day Of Coordination is by far my most popular package.  A lot goes on behind the scenes at a wedding, and the last thing a bride wants is to handle the logistics herself or be bombarded with questions on wedding day.  With Day Of Coordination, the bride plans the wedding herself but hires a Day Of Coordinator (DOC) to manage the event on wedding day.  While its tempting to have a friend or family member serve as your DOC, just keep in mind that the person you choose may not be able to fully enjoy the wedding as a guest. 

The DOC oversees the setup of the event, ensuring that everything, from the centerpieces to the matches for the unity candle, are in place.  She pins on boutonnieres, arranges programs and escort cards, gives instructions to the bridal party, gets the guests seated on time, and cues when everything, from the ceremony start to the cake cutting, happens.  She is the go-to gal for all questions from the vendors and makes sure that the event stays on schedule.  If the Mother-of-the-Bride's strap breaks on her dress, the DOC is there to pin it back in place.  If the bride forgot to order a corsage for her grandmother, the DOC is there to get one made at the last minute.  That is just a taste of the DOC's responsibilities on wedding day! 

If your venue has a venue coordinator (also often referred to as the catering manager), that is usually not the same thing as a DOC.  The venue coordinator is there primarily to oversee the venue's event staff.  She is really the advocate for the venue, ensuring that all rules and regulations are followed.  She oversees the venue setup and the food preparation.  And she helps to make sure that the meal comes out when scheduled. Typically, she will leave before the end of the event and pass the duties on to the banquet captain. 

When I'm hired as a DOC, I view my role as part manager, part advocate for the bride, and part personal assistant.......

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