I'm still new to the whole wedding vendor thing, but I have a few good
ideas on how to spot a bona fide wedding coordinator. So, my wonderful
O.C.D.ness and I have created a list for you.
- Ability to roll with the punches: Think of your first appointment with a coordinator like a job interview.
You're the bossman and the coordinator is the interviewee. Give them
scenarios and ask them how they would cope. Ask them to tell you about
a professional situation where they had to improvise, communicate
effectively with others, or diffuse a problem. You need to know they
are good on their toes.
- Wedding survival tool kit: Every wedding coordinator should have a wedding day survival kit and it should include more than just
garment and beauty fix items. [If you missed my survival kit post, click here. It's pretty stinkin' awesome if I do say so myself. Also check out The Original Pink Box to find this super cute tool kit.]
- Experience: I don't have a lot of first-hand-by-myself wedding coordinating experience. And I'll
be the first one to tell you. However, I'm experienced and skilled in
other planning/coordinating areas. I have planned and coordinated
several events from parties to meetings to university functions. I
have managed co-workers and learned how to dissolve situations through
working in the hospitality and event industry. These experiences have
taught me excellent customer service skills and given me grace under
pressure. Try to look at your planner's whole repertoire of experience
to make a educated decision. And if you're not sure about something,
ASK! A good coordinator/planner should be happy and willing to discuss
their resume with you.
- Sense: We all know people that have all the book smarts in the world but not a lick of common
sense. Your planner should have common sense AND business sense. You
want your coordinator to speak professionally and intelligently to the
other vendors you have hired. Your coordinator will be dealing with
them on a first hand basis and you don't want to break up a fist
fight. Sounds like common sense [ha!], but you'd be surprised how
ditsy people are sometimes. This goes along with #1: Ability to roll
with the punches.
- Your gut: It's hard to do sometimes, but you're first impression and gut reaction to someone are
normally spot on. Even if they meet all the other requirements on your
checklist, do you like them? Do you get that warm, fuzzy feeling? Do
you want to hold hands and skip through a meadow with them? Also, it's
O.K. to have a good feeling about a less experienced coordinator
(a.k.a. someone like me) instead of a stuffy coordinator that can't
remember you apart from the last five brides she met with. Choose
someone who you feel wants to genuinely give you a good experience. I
dearly love planning, coordinating, organizing, being bossy [when I
need to be], and directing people. I like to give impeccable customer
service, primarily, because I'm a diagnosed people pleaser. I want my
clients to evaluate my services and tell me how great I was and that
they couldn't have done it without me. That means more to me than a
big fat paycheck [well, almost. They're neck and neck].
I think I've got all those things to make a great coordinator--and it's working out well so far! What do y'all look for in a wedding planner?
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