What is Wedding Management?
You’re in the thick of wedding planning, and realizing you need some help. You and your partner want to be more involved in your planning process, but who is going to make sure all of the pieces of the puzzle come together?
On your wedding day, while getting ready to marry your person, you definitely don’t want to be worrying about whether or not everything is in the right place for your ceremony or reception, and you certainly can’t be in multiple places at once. This is where wedding management comes into play.
Photo by Brittani Elizabeth Photography of Cassidy and Sean’s Lake House Inn wedding
What is Wedding Management?
On your wedding day, a wedding manager will be your point person to oversee setup, place your personal belongings, and help keep the flow of the day on track. This means that you (and your VIPs) get to relax and follow the timeline. That’s right – no last-minute scramble to light your candles, or forgetting to grab your cards. A great wedding manager has your back.
Wedding management is a good option for couples who don’t want a full-service planner, but still want to enjoy their wedding day. You don’t necessarily need (or want) someone to plan everything, but you need a little guidance towards the end of the planning process, and you want someone to keep everything on track.
Photo by Brittani Elizabeth Photography of Cassidy and Sean’s Lake House Inn wedding
Wedding Management vs. Day-Of Coordination
I know what you’re thinking… “What about day-of coordination?”
You probably have friends and family who got married and told you “Make sure you at least hire a DOC!”
Well… they’re not wrong.
Wedding Management is the modernized (and more accurate) term for day-of coordination.
In fact, “day-of coordination” is a bit of a controversial term in 2021. The term “day-of” implies that the role only happens on the wedding day, when in fact, it takes many, many hours of work and preparation to be ready to do the job on the wedding day.
There is no such thing as a professional coordinator that just shows up on the wedding day, waving a magic wand, and hoping it all comes together.
It takes time, resources, communication, coordination, and planning to prepare for a wedding to be executed well. Working together prior to your wedding day means that your Wedding Manager knows exactly what vendors you’re using, and has been in touch with your vendor team so that everyone can be on the same page. To have a well-executed wedding day, and for you and your partner to be able to step back and enjoy it, your Wedding Manager helps coordinate with all of your vendors to make sure that the behind-the-scenes set-up is on track to turn into your beautiful wedding by the correct starting time.
While you might still see “day-of coordination” in some places, adjusting your language to Wedding Management or a title to Wedding Manager is a great way to show that you know the value of the role. This makes it clear that you understand that this person is helping you manage all of the things, and is also a partner along the way – not just stepping in unprepared at the very end.
Even with all of the prep involved with wedding management, there is still a difference between this and a full-fledged planner. Different companies offer different versions of this service, so be sure to ask questions when reaching out. For example, I offer both management and planning services, with different package options.
Photo by Brittani Elizabeth Photography of Cassidy and Sean’s Lake House Inn wedding
Why you deserve to have a Wedding Manager on your team
When you’re investing tens of thousands of dollars on one day, it helps to have someone on your team to make sure it’s all coming together nicely. Hopefully, your goal is to actually enjoy the day (along with your VIPs) that you’ve spent so much time and money working towards.
The last thing you (and your VIPs) should be worried about is whether or not the transportation will arrive, or if the decor is placed where is best, or whether all of the candles are lit on each table.
Have a planner or coordinator at your venue? That’s great, but this person often fulfills a MUCH different role for you than your wedding manager. (I wrote more about these differences – and why a Wedding Manager is YOUR advocate – here).
Photo by Brittani Elizabeth Photography of Cassidy and Sean’s Lake House Inn wedding
When you should hire your wedding manager
The sweet spot to hiring your wedding manager is six to nine months prior to your wedding date, although sooner is often better.
Keep in mind that 2021 and 2022 are out of balance because of postponements from 2020 and 2021. So you’ll want to inquire early to secure your date on the calendar.
Wedding managers want to be able to assist you through this process, so starting earlier allows you to stay on track – ESPECIALLY if they offer recommendations and guidance throughout your wedding planning process. Ultimately, it’s about YOU feeling confident every step of the way.
How to get started
If you’re an awesome couple getting married in the Lehigh Valley, Bucks/MontCo, or Philly area, and feeling like you need a little extra help, I’d love to be your person! You can read more about my wedding services here. And find out if you can afford to hire a wedding planner here.
Get started here or email danielle@dpnak.com to set up a free consultation.
Working together is based heavily on date availability, so reaching out sooner is better.
