You may have seen my recent post “Benefits Of A Day-Of Wedding Coordinator” by Elizabeth Northrop of Kindred Blooms and wondered to yourself, what’s the difference of a day-of coordinator and a wedding planner? Well today, Britt Jones of Britt Jones Co. Weddings is here to give us a little insight into those differences! As an Arkansas wedding planner that has been featured in numerous facets of the wedding industry, most recently having her Britt Jones Bride featured on the cover of Arkansas Bride Magazine, she has a lot to say about the benefits of hiring a wedding planner for your wedding!

So without further ado, welcome Britt!

Hello sweet bride – so glad you are here! My name is Britt Jones and I am a wedding planner based in Northwest Arkansas. I am here today to chat with you about what the difference is between a day-of coordinator and a wedding planner. Let the fun begin!

So to be completely honest with you… day of coordination is most definitely a myth. You’re probably looking at that statement like what is this girl talking about? I know sister, but I do speak the truth, and I’ll give you 3 reasons why.

1. There is NO possible way someone who you just met can show up on your wedding day to ensure it goes smoothly. There is always going to be multiple meetings to discuss floor plans, timelines, vendor communication which brings me to my next point…
2. A big service on the wedding day is vendor communication. If the planner was not involved in the vendor selection process, did not make the timeline, and does not have the contacts for these people – that is a recipe for disaster.
3. It is NEVER just the day of. If you want your wedding day to be seamless, your planner is most definitely going to have to be involved at least 4-6 months out – at least.

So now that we know day-of coordination is not really a thing, we can chat about planning services that may be the best fit for you and your special day. Also since we just talked about myths, let me give you one more. Hiring a wedding planner is NOT going to break your budget. Buying tablecloths that are $300 more expensive than they should be, seaking a photographer from out of town because you “don’t know anyone good in the area” with crazy travel fees, and not having a software system that breaks down every facet of your budget – that’s what does it. Lucky for you, you’re finding out about this before it’s too late! Hire a planner, YOU CAN’T AFFORD NOT TO HAVE ONE. Totally looks like I was just screaming at you, but I guess I kind of am lol.

The rant is over so let us continue. Some planners are solely full service while some planners offer partial services. I would not only recommend picking a planner that has a service that best fits your needs, but pick someone you get along with. This is a crazy journey, so choose someone who can comfort you, hold your hand, and be a friend throughout this process. With that said, if the planner you connected with more is $500 more expensive than the other – go with your gut! I say this to say that it’ll be a lot more enjoyable for both parties if you choose your wedding planner based on factors beyond just cost.

As I mentioned earlier all planners are slightly different in their processes and services, but I will give you an overview of what all a full service planner does. Most full planners are incredibly present whether that means meetings, phone calls, emails, etc. We are typically the ones communicating to the vendor team as well as setting up appointments and managing relationships across the board. If you do not have a planner, this responsibility would fall on you.  

Planners are also the source of organization. Contracts, important documents, pricing guides, etc. would all be printed out and filed by the planner for reference. This gives the couple peace of mind knowing that they do not have to deal with any paperwork. Review, sign, and out of mind. It’s that simple!

A full service planner is also very hands on with the wedding design. The planner is giving you options, making mood boards, showing you different types of flowers, and the list goes on. Often I have brides say – I know what I want, but don’t know how to make it happen. As a full service planner, we are here to bring that Pinterest board to life. Why can’t your dream be a reality?

I said this before, but I will say it again due to how important budgets are when it comes to weddings. Your planner can really guide you to make better financial decisions rather than going through the process blindly. If I know of a website that you can buy chargers for cheaper than you can rent them from a rental company – I am absolutely going to give you that insight. You might be very organized, incredibly creative, and know what you want, BUT if you do not have the wedding planning experience – you’re going to struggle.

 I say this all to give you a little taste into the wedding planning world. Just to enforce this again, all planners work differently. My services may be totally different from the next and so on. However, the main principal is always there.. We want to make sure you feel taken care of on your wedding day. At the core, it is about our couples we love so dearly!

Thank you, Britt, for sharing your perspective on coordination vs. planners!

If you’re interested in hiring Britt for your wedding, be sure to check out her Instagram and website to see all the beautiful weddings she has had her hand in planning!

And if hiring a wedding planner is not something your wedding budget allows for, hiring a day-of coordinator is the next best thing! Find someone that has experience in running weddings. I PROMISE it is 100% worth the investment!!