This is a hot topic! Why should you spend precious money from your budget to hire a wedding coordinator or wedding planner?

Maybe you have a friend or family member who LOVES planning, or does it for a living, or just did your cousin's best friend's wedding. Maybe you're just trying to keep your spending really low (the average cost of a wedding in Oregon is $20,000-$30,000). Maybe you just don't realize you need someone else to help do all the things!

Yes, a wedding coordinator can cost you, but a good one is worth their weight in gold with the amount of help they can give you!

Here are some great reasons to hire a wedding coordinator (like me!):

1. A wedding coordinator is going to know exactly what you mean when you're worried - and we can help! Since we have helped with more recent weddings (versus someone who hasn't helped with a wedding in twenty years), we are much more in tune with what might worry a "modern" bride and how to problem solve those issues. This could be anything from how to keep a smaller guest count or even who to ask to be in your wedding party. Wedding coordinators, like me, do this planning ALL the time, so we have experience in what to worry about - and what not to worry about!

2. Your other vendors, like your photographer, your caterer and your DJ, will be SO happy to have someone else in charge! Not kidding on this one - ALL vendors breathe a sigh of relief when they know they have a wedding coordinator on site! It means less work for them and they can focus on the job they came to do! Your photographer shouldn't have to plan your timeline for the day. Your DJ doesn't want to run your reception on their own. Let each person do the job you are paying them to do, that way they can do it well!

3. A wedding coordinator can give you positive motivation. Planning a wedding is a long, hard slog, to be honest. I can help keep you focused on the next steps, but also cheer you on when you're feeling down about the planning. You'd be surprised how great it feels to have someone encouraging you and supporting you through the process! A good coordinator can remind you of you of why you are getting married and why you are celebrating!

4. Another good reason to hire a wedding coordinator? We can sometimes predict when something can go wrong and prevent it from happening! When we give suggestions, chances are high that we've had it happen before, so we are trying to prevent it from happening to you! For example, if I say that your cocktail hour should be limited to an hour and needs to have appetizers during that time, it's because I know that if people don't have something to do and are drinking a lot without food, trouble tends to start! It's not cause I want to ruin your idea or make you pay more for something, I just know what the result could be if you choose otherwise!

5. A wedding planner or coordinator, like myself, is working for you months in advance to prepare for your big day! Even if you hire someone to help coordinate on the day of your wedding, they will want to know who your vendors are, maybe have a venue tour with you, know your layout and setup plan, know the timeline (or help you adjust it), and problem solve any issues before the big day comes. If you have more time with a planner or coordinator, then they can help you with hiring other vendors, creating a timeline, tips and tricks they've learned from the industry, answering your questions, talking to your venue rental, helping plan your layout, and lots of problem solving before the day comes. I usually ask my couples about lots of details that they didn't even think of!

6. Wedding coordinators are kind of stealthy in getting things taken care of! Missing something? I will figure out how to get it to your venue, or I might have it in my bag. Someone's late? I might not even tell you unless we have to make a major change! Ran out of alcohol? I'll send a person to safely drive to get more. Decorations are falling? I find a way to fix it! Plus, I like to tidy and/or clean up while you are enjoying your reception, so that things stay safe and clean up is easier later. Dinner isn't ready? (Yikes!) I will chat with your DJ to see if they can entertain the guests! Let me problem solve, so you can enjoy your day!

7. A wedding coordinator can keep tabs on things - where your marriage license is, finding a pen, where the rings are, where we put the bouquets, and more - plus keep tabs on your timeline! We are here to coordinate all of the things together at the same time. This gives you, your family and your friends the freedom to enjoy your wedding day, instead of working at it.

Of course, there are plenty more reasons to hire a wedding coordinator, but those are the top ones! I really pride myself on working hard for you, within the scope of what you've paid for. Prices for a wedding coordinator may feel high, but they are worth every penny!