The Importance of Hiring a Professional Wedding Coordinator

Perhaps you were recently engaged – or was one of your children?  With so many details to handle, wedding planning can be very time-consuming, and spare time is often in short supply for engaged couples who are busy establishing professional careers or attending school (or both!).  On average, planning a wedding takes 250 hours.  This is where the professional wedding coordinator comes in.

As a professional wedding coordinator that has been in business for many years, I can say that I am amazed how the field has grown.  Our profession is very demanding and difficult, yet it is also considered very glamorous and popular to those looking in from the outside.  It seems that anyone who has recently planned their own wedding thinks that they are able to handle anyone else's.  So, they have business cards printed; they create their own webpage and announce to the world their availability to help any and all brides plan their weddings.  Unfortunately, many "newbies" have recently entered our industry without proper training, and in so doing, they have hurt the reputation of wedding planners as a whole, and done a disservice to consumers.

The following criteria should be at least an introductory guide for those seeking to hire a competent and professional wedding coordinator.  Of course, there are other criteria, but these are the minimum that the consumer should look for when considering working with someone - anyone - who refers to themselves as a "Wedding Coordinator":

Experience: Look for someone with two to three years of experience, or at least someone who has worked with a minimal of 12 clients to produce weddings of similar size and budget to yours.  Ask to see photos and all the planning documents that went into a few of these weddings.  Ask for client references, and call them.

Professional Training: The coordinator should be educated, trained & certified by a nationally recognized and respected association (not a 'correspondence' course).

Professional Business: The coordinator must be a legitimate full time, independent business and not just a ‘hobbyist’.  Ask to see the coordinator's business license, and liability insurance.

Industry Organizations:  The coordinator should be an active member in at least one national or international industry association.  It is through these organizations and their meetings that ongoing education is provided, new ideas are exchanged, contacts are made and relationships developed.  Ask about the coordinator’s involvement with the organization(s) and if he/she is on any boards or committees.

Budgeting Acumen:  He or she should have knowledge of realistic financial planning for weddings.

Vendor Knowledge:  The coordinator must have familiarity and experience working with known and respected wedding professionals in your area. He or she must be able to refer you to at least two licensed and insured vendors in each vendor category that are within your budget for that service.

Ethics:  Professional coordinators do not accept or pay referral fees or commissions.

Legal Contracts:  The coordinator must be able to provide you with a thorough written contract which includes a payment schedule for the services you require, cancellation/termination clauses, and indemnification at the very least.  Ask to see copies of previous contracts before you make a commitment.

Hopefully these guidelines will help you make the right decision when you are considering hiring a wedding coordinator.  One thing to remember in these economic times is that a coordinator can actually help you save money by avoiding costly mistakes, and by leveraging on the relationships with other wedding vendors to obtain the best prices for your wedding.