Wedding Management or Signature Coordination: Which is best for you?
While there a few different ways you can work with me, the two most common options are Wedding Management and Signature Coordination. Since planning services aren’t quite as obvious as other vendor categories, I’ve broken down some ways to determine which might be the better fit for you. In addition, I’ve expanded on different ways we can customize the experience to exactly what you need — and nothing that you don’t.
Before we go any further, please don’t feel like you need to figure this out on your own before reaching out. Each relationship starts with a free consultation to chat, share, and determine what might be the best fit for you.
Where are you currently in the planning process?
There are several “unofficial” stages throughout the wedding planning process.
Stage one is often where you’re thinking about “big picture” decisions like your guest list, vibe, date, and venue. From there, you tend to start booking your high-priority vendors which often includes photography, videography, entertainment, accommodations, and florals. Next, it’s about securing any remaining vendors you might need for the day and honing in on some more detailed decisions. As you get closer to the wedding day, you’re focusing on buttoning up all those final decisions, getting in all your RSVPs, and skipping towards your wedding day with all the excited feels of a child on Christmas Eve.
If you’re in the first few stages of wedding planning — you likely have your date, venue, and even a few stellar vendors booked — then, Signature Coordination is the best fit for you.
If you’re closer to the final stages of wedding planning — all of your vendors are booked but you’re feeling the pressure of all the questions they might be asking — then, Wedding Management could be the best fit for you.
What type of venue are you getting married at?
Venues that are more DIY in nature often require more help to plan a day that’s truly seamless and enjoyable for you and your guests.
What makes a venue “DIY”? Most often, it’s a venue where you need to bring in services like catering and rentals. Perhaps, it also requires some bigger installations like tents and flooring. Or, maybe they just supply a space, but you need to bring in everything else to make it exactly what you want.
On the other hand, you have what some call “turnkey” venues. These spaces provide you with almost everything you need to have a great event, most specifically including food, drink, and at least basic rentals like tables, chairs, and linens. You still need to bring in your own photographer, entertainment, florals, and any other customizations you may want. But, the foundational pieces are in place and working as a well-oiled machine.
By nature, turnkey venues don’t require as much coordination, planning, or preparation as venues that are more DIY. And this isn’t always an either/or thing. Some venues are a mix of each and that’s okay, too.
If you’re getting married at a DIY venue, Signature Coordination services will be what you need. If you’re getting married at a turnkey venue, it will depend where you’re at in the process for us to determine whether Signature Coordination or Wedding Management services are a better fit for you. (Also, some venues are MUCH more hands-on than others, so we’ll factor that into things, as well.)
Either way, we’re going to start with a free consultation and figure out the best for you together.
What’s included in Wedding Management services?
Wedding Management services are always tailored specific to your needs and the details of your event.
Regardless of customizations, you always receive:
Unlimited email communication — From the moment we agree to work together, you can email as often as you like with any questions you have. There are no limits here and I welcome as much communication as you need to feel comfortable and confident in your decisions. Plus, you typically hear back from me within one business day, and often just a few hours if I’m in the office.
Vendor coordination — While you stay in complete control of WHO you work with and any personal choices, I lead the charge on coordinating details that your vendors will need to have a smooth-flowing day. This includes talking through things like delivery, setup, power needs, vendor meals, timelines, and more.
Timeline creation and guidance — Detailing out the timing of a wedding day is one of my super-powers. We work together, along with the helpful input from your venues and vendor team, to build a very detailed timeline that doesn’t just look good on paper (though it is DOES look pretty spectacular on paper). We make sure it can flow smoothly in real-life and takes into account how YOU want to navigate the day.
Final Detail Meeting — Around 3-5 weeks before your wedding day, we meet to talk through every detail of your day. It’s a total reconciliation so the final weeks before the wedding day are focused and as stress-free as possible.
Vendor confirmations — The week of your wedding, I touch base individually with each of your vendors to share your timeline, re-confirm all start/end times, and make sure they have details about things specific to your event like parking, venue rules, and more.
Rehearsal guidance and direction — If you’re planning to have a ceremony rehearsal (which I HIGHLY recommend), I’m there to help your officiant and VIPs as much as needed. We talk through where everyone is standing and sitting, how the processional and recessional will work, and make sure all participants feel comfortable with their role. While rehearsals can often be the point where nerves are high, I keep things fun, easy, and smooth so you can head to your rehearsal dinner without any unnecessary tension.
On-site coordination — The DPNAK team and I are on-site for your wedding day from start to finish to make sure all the details are coming together as you envisioned them.
Setup and breakdown of your personal decor items — Any small decor items you have like place cards, table numbers, guest book, ceremony programs, and more are set up for you. At the end of your event, it’s carefully packed back up so you can easily transport back with you, including any gifts and cards.
Emergency kit bag access — The DPNAK Emergency Kit Bag — or Betty as we’ve affectionately named her — is full of everything you may need on the wedding day (plus a whole lot more). Bandaids, safety pins, bobby pins, duct tape, boutonniere pins, scissors, stain-removing sticks, hair spray, lighters, and the list goes on and on.
Wedding Management, also sometimes referred to as “day-of coordination”, is my base-level package which starts at $3750. On average, clients invest between $3750-$5500+ in this service.
What’s included in Signature Coordination services?
Signature Coordination services are always tailored specific to your needs and the details of your event.
Signature Coordination includes all services listed above with Wedding Management, along with a customized addition of any number of the following services:
Monthly accountability check-ins — You’re always welcome to reach out via email as much as you like. In addition, I touch base with you each month on or around your anniversary date to make sure things are staying on track and help with anything you might need.
Office Hours — In addition to having unlimited access to me via email, you also have a way to schedule quick phone calls to discuss anything that might be too tricky to talk through via email.
Online portal with guest list management tools — Staying organized is so critical as you manage all the details of a wedding day. To ensure you have a simple way to do that, you get access to my online portal system that includes a simple way to track your RSVPs and tackle your table assignments.
Wedding planning checklist — Each month, you have a manageable list of items to work on so you aren’t worrying about MILLIONS of little details at once. It’s more far comprehensive than anything you’ll find on The Knot AND it’s customized to your planning timeline and priorities.
Vendor recommendations — I love working with great people and bet that you do, too. Over the years, I’ve accumulated a MASSIVE Rolodex of incredible pros in every category throughout the area. So I can send you specific recommendations that match your style, budget, and needs.
Hotel room block arrangements — If you have guests traveling from out of town, I work with local hotels to help you secure room blocks and make the whole process super easy.
Coordination of rental items — Whether you’re just renting a few specialty linens, or you need to bring every little thing down to the butter knives, I meticulously manage your rental order to make sure you have everything you need and the right amount.
Professional floor plan creation — We create a floor plan that’s scaled and professionally laid out to help you visualize your space. You can also use it to easily determine table assignments to make sure Grandma isn’t next to the band and your college friends are right by the bar.
Resource library — Over the years, I’ve created a lot of helpful content and worksheets. My client resource library organizes everything, allowing you to search for exactly what you need when you need it.
Pocket timelines for you and your VIPs — Pocket timelines are my nifty little invention used to share the exact right information with your wedding party, parents, and VIPs. They’re pocket-sized versions of your bigger timeline that focus solely on the times they need to know when to get dressed, when to hop on a shuttle, when they might be giving a toast, and more.
Final venue walkthrough — The final meeting with your venue and/or caterer to review the details of the day with regard to the flow, food, and beverage, as needed.
Signature Coordination, also sometimes referred to as “partial planning” starts at $4750. On average, clients invest between $4750-$6500+ in this service.
Feel like you might be needing a bit more help?
In addition to Wedding Management and Signature Coordination services, I also offer a Premium Coordination service. Premium Coordination includes the above items, plus the option to include more meetings, a budget blueprint, and additional help throughout the planning process.
If you’re not sure what you might need help with, DO NOT WORRY, my friend. I’ve got your back and promise to help you through each step of this process, including the very first bits. Start with a free consultation to learn more and see if your date is available.
