It has occurred to me that I should probably define some terms that I will frequently use, just to be sure we are all on the same page.
On-Site Coordinator – this person is employed by your venue, not you. There are generally three types of on-site coordinators.
- Key Holder – this person let’s you in and locks up at the end of the evening. That’s it.
- Catering Manager – this person is primarily concerned with the catering staff. If they are able, they may help with other things but first and foremost it is all about the food.
- Full Service – this person will do pretty much everything you need. Sometimes this can still pose a problem if you ask them to think outside the box. They do hundreds of weddings at their location and know what works (or so they think) and can sometimes be inflexible on what can (and can’t)be done. There are a few venues in the Austin area that have true full service on site coordinators.
Wedding Planner – this person is employed by you, not the venue, and generally is for the couple that doesn’t want to be bothered with the details of planning the wedding. They don’t know where to start and need a lot of hand holding and help along the way. I don’t blame those couples –it can be a daunting task!
Day Of Coordinator (DoC) – this person is employed by you and not the venue. A DoC is for the couple that wants to plan everything but doesn’t want to worry about the details the day of. They may need some referrals or suggestions along the way but have a clear idea of what they want their day to be like. There are various levels of Day of Coordinators – be sure to choose one that is right for you.
I hope that helps clear things up!
Be Carefree,
Suzanne
Be the Carefree Bride 