Booking

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When someone is considering booking me as their day-of coordinator, we’ll first communicate via email or phone. Usually it’s a phone call. I’ll go over what I offer with my coordination package, answer any questions that they have, provide references if needed and let them know where they can find additional ones online. I can also schedule a brief meeting with them if they want. Once they decide that they would be interested in having me coordinate their wedding day, I email a contract to them to review and schedule the Initial Meeting.

 

Initial Meeting

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At the meeting I’ll first go over any questions with the contract and then they can sign it and handle the deposit. I get so caught up in discussing the wedding details during this meeting, I can forget the business part of things! That’s why I always take care of it first.

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During this meeting I discuss with the couple (or the bride and her mother, the bride and her friends, or whatever combination works best for them) what they have planned so far for the wedding and what they will still need to make decisions about. I take notes during this conversation so that I have them to reference later. 

 

During that time, if they still need to book certain vendors, I could provide them with my recommendations. 

 

I also discuss the flow for the wedding day and if possible sketch out an initial timeline.

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Ongoing Support

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After the Initial Meeting, I work to type up the timeline for the wedding day, adding in final information for the wedding day as the date gets closer. The couple works through the wedding workbook, which I review periodically and then provide advice. I am also always available to answer wedding planning questions that come up via email and phone.

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I share an individual Dropbox folder with each of my clients. This is a place where they can upload all of their wedding contracts so that I can review them and print the most up-to-date copies to have on hand for the wedding day. This is done with a simple email invite that I send through Dropbox. They just click on the link, it lets them create a login (if they aren’t already a Dropbox user), and then they can drag and drop files into the folder.

 

Site Survey

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About 2 months-6 weeks out from the wedding date, I work with the client to schedule a time for the Site Survey. We coordinate with the venue, because it’s really important to host this meeting in the space so that everything can be squared away.

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During the site survey (approx. one month out from the wedding date) we meet at the wedding venue to walk through exactly where all of the tables will go, where decor items will be and how the ceremony/reception will flow. Depending on which vendors the client chooses, they might attend the site survey as well (sometimes they are so comfortable with the venue that I just need to confirm the details via email).

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Vendor Check In

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Two weeks before the wedding day, after the timeline has been finalized, I check in with all of the couple’s vendors via email (or phone if needed) to confirm their arrival times and answer any questions that they have. They also receive an emailed copy of the timeline from me.

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Rehearsal

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I will ALWAYS attend the couple’s rehearsal. Unless there is already someone at the venue or church that would handle directing the ceremony, I direct the rehearsal. I am always incredibly flexible regarding the rehearsal time. The only time that I ever have had to restrict my availability for the rehearsal is when I have booked a Sunday wedding when I also have a Saturday wedding on the same weekend (and the client would always know about this before booking me for that date).

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In my experience it is preferable that the officiant/minister is in attendance during the rehearsal. While it can be done with or without the officiant/minister, it’s always easier on everyone to have them there, this way they will know exactly what is going to happen on the wedding day.

At this point I also go through any last minute questions and review. If the venue doesn’t allow the couple to leave items for the big day I will pack them in my car so I have them to install bright and early on the wedding day.

 

Wedding Day

 

On the day of the wedding, I am on site to check in with the vendors as they arrive and give them a printed copy of the timeline with their specific parts highlighted and any additional notes that I’ve added for them. I place any small decor items (gift card box, guest book, items for the cake table, etc.).

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I am there when the couple and wedding party arrives to attend to any last minute needs (I have my wedding day emergency kit handy, too!). I am also accustomed to being on “groom watch” to make sure he doesn’t see the bride or helping to coordinate the first look for the photographer.

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If the ceremony and reception are in different locations, I’ll plan my time accordingly for each space.

As the ceremony time gets closer, I supervise as the guests enter the ceremony space and confirm that they are all inside before starting (no stragglers in the parking lot, always happens!). I then line up the wedding party and send them in based on the timing that I have discussed with the couple (while providing transition cues to the DJ or musician).

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Following the ceremony, my focus shifts to expediting any after-ceremony photography, and checking in on the reception. If the ceremony and reception are in different locations I will get the photographer and the couple started and head over to the reception site. I will ensure everything is ready to go, decorations, flowers, tables, etc. I will then ensure the couple gets snuck in for a first look with the photographer so they can approve the room and the photographer can document it.

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After the introduction of the wedding party, I then follow the timeline (or adjust it as needed) for the rest of the evening’s activities (meal service, dances, tosses, send off). My goal for the night is to ensure the couple doesn’t have to worry about anything at any point. I make sure the right people know when we’re about to do toasts, and I go and grab the toss bouquet when it’s needed. I also do my best to ensure that the couple is neither hungry nor thirsty, which takes more work than you would think since they’re so popular that night!

At the end of the night, I always make sure all of the gifts are packed into the right car and that the personal decor items go home with the appropriate person.

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Wrapping Up

 

Whew! That was a long description but I do a great deal as the Day-Of Coordinator.

 

That is a pretty good summary of what I do for each of the weddings that I coordinate. Things are guaranteed to be slightly different at each one, but I always adapt and do my very best to make sure that the wedding day is exactly what the couple had in mind (if not better). There are literally hundreds of little things that I do before and during the wedding that if I listed there would be way too many pages. Something most of the couples I work with by is that they had no idea there would be so many things to think about and take care of and that they have no clue what they would have done on their own. I say this not to brag or be immodest but to try and help paint a picture of what an asset I am on wedding days.

You can plan your wedding day, but it’s really hard to direct it while you’re enjoying it. That’s where I come in, and that’s what I do. If you have any questions, please let me know! It would be an honour to be a part of your special day and to make it as perfect and stress free as possible.

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Happy Wedding Planning!