Pablo Abulaik Photography

I often get asked the question:

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WEDDING PLANNER, WEDDING COORDINATOR, AND DAY-OF PLANNER?

Professionals in the wedding business all have the same intention of providing you with a seamless, stressfree day, however it is important to know the difference between the roles when researching assistance.
All wedding planners are coordinators. Not all coordinators are wedding planners.

Wedding Planners
Despite what you may have heard, did you know that hiring a wedding planner (also called a wedding consultant) can be a huge help and save you money? If you’re planning on hiring a wedding planner, you’ll want to do so as soon as you start planning. They’ll help you search for the perfect venue and find great vendors that will fit within your planning budget. (In fact, a great planner will have relationships with vendors and will often be able to introduce you to professionals that maybe you could not find on your own.) Once you’ve booked your vendors, they’ll oversee the relationships with each, and help pull everything together. The wedding planner generally steps you through every process ranging from invitations, bridal gowns, tuxedo rentals to guest accommodations, welcome gifts, and total design of the event.

Wedding Coordinators
A wedding coordinator is a lot like a wedding planner, in that they help you organize and pull together your wedding details, but they may not handle quite as much as the traditional planner would. For example, your planner will sit down from day one to help you dream up the wedding colors, style, and decor theme and help you negotiate contracts and book vendors, whereas the coordinator may just stick to finalizing all your vendor business after you’ve made the major decisions. They will most likely handle contracted work primarily, but are not always limited to this only. Be sure you’re clear on the extent of the services they’re willing to provide when you interview them to make sure you’re going to receive all the support you’re expecting.

Day-of Coordinators
A day-of coordinator helps you get everything done on your actual wedding day, but isn’t really involved before the big day. You meet beforehand to fill them in on who’s who and what’s what and exactly how you’d like the day to play out. They will then be in charge of handling all of your vendors and set-up on the day of your wedding, as well as any type of clean-up or post wedding duties needed, so that you and your family members can just relax and enjoy the day. A bride who plans to be very hands-on in her planning process will love the idea of a day-of coordinator. It allows her to enjoy all the ups and downs of the planning, without having to worry about seeing it all through until the very end.

Perlman photography

We have drawn the winners to our Romantic Getaway. Congratulations Phil and Brianna!

This super sweet couple will be spending an amazing weekend packed full of exciting adventures including:

An engagement shoot offered by  J Perlman photography http://jperlmanphotography.com/ ,

A make- up session with Amy before the shoot that is sure to make Brianna sparkle http://www.mendocinobeauty.com

An exclusive dinner for 2 in the cliff house with a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean at the botanical gardens http://www.gardenbythesea.org/

A savory meal prepared by Karina’s catering http://www.karinascatering.com/

The décor of the cliff house will be provided by Matt Rowland Events http://mattrowlandevents.com/ along with the floral arrangements provided by Mendocino Floral Design http://www.mendocinofloraldesign.com .They finish off the feel of this private, romantic evening for Phil and Brianna.

And after a fun filled, romantic day, they will tuck into the Glendeven inn http://www.glendeven.com/  to rest up for their upcoming wedding on July 10 2010. How exciting!

Enter to win a Romantic Getaway package valued at $1500.

Book a Mendocino Weddings site tour and you will have a chance to win a Romantic Getaway package valued at $1500.

• Candlelight dinner for 2 in the Botanical Gardens Cliff House including live music, beautiful flowers by Mendocino Floral Design and a fantastic meal by Karina’s Catering at sunset.
• Engagement shoot by J.Perlman R.Lutge Photography.
• Complimentary make-up by Mendocino Beauty for the engagement shoot.
• One free night stay at the Glendeven Inn.
• Sponsored by Mendocino Weddings and Events.
• Mendocino Weddings specializes in weddings that you will remember for a lifetime.

Rules.

To be eligible to win, the client must book a $150.00 site tour with Mendocino Weddings by February 28, 2010. The site tour takes about 3 hours and you will tour 8-12 sites. These sites are secluded and private and range from the rocky coastline, majestic forests, scenic vineyards and many places beyond. The drawing for the package will be March 1, 2010 and the package must be used no later than by March 31, 2010.

Contact: Mendocino Weddings & Events | 707.937.3109 | email@mendocinoweddings.com