Do I Really Need a Wedding Planner?
What to Know If Your Venue Comes With a Coordinator
Here’s my two cents—as a wedding planner, a bride, and an ex-venue manager. ☺̈
(If you take anything from this: you deserve someone who is there for YOU and someone who outlines everything early so you're not hit with surprises!)
The Truth About In-House Coordination
You might be thinking, “Perfect, I don’t need a planner, my venue already comes with someone for that.” And while I totally get the appeal... here's the thing:
Even if your venue has a dedicated coordinator (separate from the venue manager), it’s not the same as having a planner in your corner. You’ll probably get one meeting a few months before the big day to walk through logistics you were expected to already handle. There’s no design strategy, no timeline flexibility, no deep vendor research. Just a checklist.
At the end of the day, if a fire happens at the venue (real or metaphorical), that person is responsible for the venue… not your florist, not your DJ, not the guest with a gluten allergy. They’re making sure the lights are on, bathrooms are stocked, and the power doesn’t go out. That’s their job.
Once upon a time, in-house coordination meant a bit more. But with the rise of outside planners, venues have scaled way back. And honestly? You often don’t even see them much day of.
Trust me. I was that in-house person. I ran venues. I managed teams. I tried to make it personal, but it wasn’t enough. The system didn’t allow for it. It’s more transactional and to the point, especially when you’re managing hundreds of weddings a year. That’s why I left and built something better for couples.
(Also: sometimes their coordination packages are priced close to what you'd pay for a real planner. Just saying... make that money count.)
What a Planner Actually Does (and What It Costs)
A planner isn’t just someone who shows up to run a timeline. Our team (and other great planners too!) starts early. Even in a smaller package, you should be getting:
A kickoff call to break down your budget, priorities, and expectations A custom vendor list built for your vibe and price point Planning tools and realtime support (not just a "we'll talk again in 3 months")
The stress doesn’t start on the wedding day. It starts months before: When you accidentally book a vendor who doesn’t include setup staff, When you realize your caterer doesn’t provide glassware, When your photographer’s package is too short and you need to add time last minute…
A good planner gets ahead of all of this.
Planners also take fewer weddings per year, so we’re actually available and focused on more individual experiences. We help you enjoy your engagement instead of you having to project managing a 10+ vendor team.
Oh, and yes, we can save you money…just not in the way you’re thinking. Not by handing out coupons and negotiating, but by helping you avoid costly mistakes and pointing you toward better fit vendors who don’t break the bank.
Typical full partial service planning runs $3k–$8k, will full service starting at $8-10k+.
But the peace of mind? Worth every penny.
"DayOf" Coordination (Spoiler: It's Not a Thing)
"Day-of coordination" is kind of a myth. No professional coordinator is walking in cold on your wedding day and running the show. If you find someone who offers that for cheap, expect corners to be cut—and expensive problems to follow.
Real coordination packages start at $2k-$3k, and begin 60-90 weeks out. You hand off all your planning, and they make sure nothing falls through the cracks. It’s still work for you until then, but a huge relief when the handoff happens.
Even with a package like this, I will always suggest to at least book a consulting call early on to get ahead of all of the things we mentioned, to set you up for success.
Already Booked In-House Venue Help? Here's Your Backup Plan (WITH THE LABEL AFFAIR):
Okay sooo... what if you already booked that in-house team? No stress.
First, we can usually still come in as your outside coordinator. Most venues allow it, and we're happy to take the lead. But if that's not an option, we offer virtual consulting.
That means expert support without the full package. We can: Meet monthly or as needed Review your vendor contracts and timeline, help with room blocks, design planning, venue research, and set you up with our custom tools and templates
Basically, you still get our brains and experience, just in a more flexible format.
Final Thought:
Whether you’re all in on planning or just trying to stay afloat, please know: you don’t have to do this alone. The process doesn’t need to be overwhelming. You deserve someone who sees the big picture, catches the little things, and helps you feel like you’re not just surviving the planning process…you’re enjoying it.
If you ever have questions, I’m an open book and always happy to help.
Ryleigh@thelabelaffair.co
Love, Ryleigh
Founder & Lead Planner, The Label Affair