Often, couples ask what the difference is in Park City, Utah, between a full service wedding planner, an event designer, month of wedding planner, and day of wedding planner. It is usually followed by them saying that their venue comes with a coordinator. This is a great question.

When it comes to wedding planners or coordinators, there are many choices. You should start to think about which type is best for you. There are many types of professionals that fall under the wedding planner and coordinator title. Many of them offer different skills and specialties. Always be clear of the services and expertise the planner is able to provide for your wedding weekend.

Here is a list of services that are offered for brides and grooms to decide which type of planner is best for them.

Full Service Wedding Planner

A full service planner is for couples looking to work with a local wedding planner from now until the wedding day. Their planner would be assisting them in every aspect needed for the entire wedding weekend, from start to finish.

This includes design and coordination. The wedding planner communicates with all the handpicked wedding professionals during the planning process. The team also manages the wedding budget and design concepts. They negotiate the wedding professional packages and contracts which include venue/lodging, celebrant/officiate, florist, photographer, dj, band, ceremony musicians, transportation, invitations and calligraphy, hair & make-up artists, rentals (chairs/linens/lounge/furniture/lighting). They do design consultation for your overall look with florals, lighting, linens, paper details, layout and floor plan. They would have unlimited communication via phone, in person meetings, and email with you. Meetings and conference calls are set up in advance. They create room blocks for lodging and coordination with the hotel. Acquire group rates for transportation and transportation coordination. Create seating chart and floor plan design. Seating and place card production. Provide local marriage license information. Completes a one hour site inspection of ceremony site and reception venue in advance. Review vendor deposits and payments due. Construct a personalized wedding day timeline. Distribute personalized wedding day timeline to all wedding professionals. Distribute personalized wedding day timeline to bridal party and family. Confirm each vendor and their timeline. Venue liaison and review banquet event orders. Relay final headcount and confirm floor plan. Receive and set up all personal items for ceremony and reception (guest book, toasting flutes, favors). Personal assistance wedding day kit “Emergency Kit”. Coordinate your ceremony rehearsal on the eve of your wedding. Have two event coordinators on your wedding day. Wedding day execution and set up. Cue your ceremony on your wedding day. Distribute final payment and gratuities to wedding professionals on your behalf. Post reception strike and cleaning.

Event Designer

An event designer’s main focus is the look of your wedding day. They do not specialize in the details of the planning of your wedding or hiring of professionals needed for your wedding day. They are truly your interior designer who is going to customize the look of your beautiful wedding day. They want to be sure your wedding day looks beautiful and is exactly the décor and look that you want. They are the creative team that is adding their little touches to make it look and smell fresh and amazing. They specialize in coming up with unique theme ideas and concepts.

Month of Wedding Planner

A month of wedding planner is perfect for the bride who enjoys planning all the details for her entire wedding weekend and wants to hand off the responsibility a professional wedding planner the month of her wedding. There are a few last minute projects that need to be handled the month of the wedding. Completes a one hour site inspection of ceremony site and reception venue in advance. The wedding planner will also communicate with all hired professionals, construction of personalized wedding day timeline, distribution of personalized wedding day timeline to all hired professionals, confirm each vendor and their timeline, relay final headcount, confirm floor plan, receive and set up all personal items for ceremony and reception (guest book, toasting flutes, favors), personal assistance wedding day kit “Emergency Kit”, coordination of your ceremony, rehearsal on the eve of your wedding, two event coordinators on your wedding day, wedding day execution and set up, cue your ceremony on your wedding day, distribute final payment and gratuities to vendors on your behalf and post reception strike and cleaning.

Day of Wedding Planner

The day of wedding planner is for the bride who has done all of her wedding planning herself. She’s looking for a wedding planner with the ability to execute all of the details she has planned up to this point. She provides the wedding planner with all her personal items that she wants to setup for her ceremony and reception. Completes a one hour site inspection of ceremony site and reception venue in advance. This includes (guest book, toasting flutes, favors). The wedding planner will communicate with all hired professionals, personal assistance wedding day kit “Emergency Kit”, coordination of your ceremony rehearsal on the eve of your wedding, two event coordinators on your wedding day, wedding day execution and set up, cue your ceremony on your wedding day, distribute final payment and gratuities to hired wedding professionals on your behalf and post reception strike and cleaning. Our day of wedding planner is for the entire wedding week.

Venue Coordinator

Hotels and resorts in Park City have coordinators that work for the property who are a great resource for brides and grooms for that particular venue. This is a very different service than your wedding planner, whether you are getting full service month of or day of. The venue coordinator will assist you with finalizing the food and beverage for your wedding, go over a layout of the property for your wedding day, recommend professionals they know such as a photographer, go over lodging if bride and groom are staying on property, and details that pertain to rules and regulations of their property.

Stein Eriksen Lodge requires you to have a professional wedding planner. The requirement is at minimum a month of or day of wedding planner. They have a wonderful list of preferred vendors to choose from that have experience doing weddings at Stein Eriksen Lodge. Having a wedding planner with experience at your venue makes a noticeable difference on your wedding weekend. They are familiar with policies and procedures the venue requires. They are familiar with the property and are knowledgeable to your family and wedding guests. The planning and coordinating goes much smoother for the bride and groom to create a seamless, relaxed and fabulous wedding weekend.

Would you like more information on what type of wedding planner you will need for your upcoming Stein Eriksen Lodge wedding? Call me at 435.901.8176 and ask for Shellie or email me at shellieferrereevents@gmail.com.