Do I Need a Wedding Planner?
If your answers to the above 4 questions on the second slide are “No”, you’ve got your answer.
These were exactly the same questions that I asked myself when we decided to engage an actual day coordinator. Yes, they do count as wedding planners!
Your coordinators typically steps in about 2-3 months before the wedding to review your schedule, offer helpful suggestions and eventually run your event for you. We opted for actual day coordination rather than full planning as I wanted to be as hands on as possible during planning, as I am clear of the things I want, the programme I want to run, as well as the venue I want to go for. Cost was definitely a big factor (and this isn’t exactly cheap), but I’d say it was money well spent. I’ll explain the questions below—save this post if you think it might come in handy later!
🗒️ Are you an easy going bride who is chill about your big day?
A big no from me. I can be easygoing about many things, but not my wedding day. I’m someone who can’t afford for things to go off-plan, especially on such a significant day 🥺. That alone made it clear that I needed a professional to help run things smoothly.
🗒️ Do you have friends that you can comfortably put stress on for the whole duration of wedding planning & eventually running your actual day?
Let’s be real, we’ve all heard stories about friendships falling apart after weddings. Whether it’s the couple or the friends at fault, we didn’t want to risk that happening. Our friends mean the world to us, and we know how stressful it can be to be a bridesmaid or groomsman. Plus, they wouldn’t get to truly enjoy the day as our guests. That’s why we didn’t assign those formal roles. Instead, we called them our “helpers” (yes, I know it doesn’t sound as glamorous, but it helped us keep expectations manageable). We gave them lighter tasks (I hope haha!) such as replicating the reception table, overseeing decor and buffet setup, handling angbao collection, and even being our emcees! As for the more intensive tasks: keeping us on schedule, liaising with vendors, crowd control, programme transitions, and managing AV—they were all handed over to the professionals. Our friends got to enjoy the day with us, and safe to say, we’re still friends 🤣
🗒️ Are my programmes and timeline straightforward?
Again, another big fat no! Ours spanned an entire day with two different ceremonies. Even though our timeline seemed simple on paper, we didn’t want to take any risks—especially with such a long day. Giving that responsibility to a professional also took the pressure off our friends. Given that our coordinator’s package covered 10 hours (excluding the intermission), this allowed them to manage both ceremonies seamlessly.
🗒️ Do I want to be an anxious bride on my big day?
🌚 I already deal with anxiety on a regular basis, so no thank you on the wedding day too! Having a professional in charge allowed me to actually enjoy the day as a guest, and I mean that wholeheartedly. I wasn’t running around stressed or sweaty 🤪
Even when some AV issues cropped up, the team handled it with the venue vendor like pros. I didn’t even bat an eye. In fact, they were so capable that when small hiccups happened, I ended up reassuring them 🤣 That level of chill is just not me on a regular day LOL. As a bonus, the team also acted like bridesmaids—keeping my dress and makeup in check, checking in if I was thirsty or hungry. I truly appreciated all those little gestures!
We engaged Manna Weddings (which is under the same group as our buffet vendor Manna Group), and we even got a discount. We paid $2,700 (as of Sept 2024) for 10 hours of actual day coordination, and honestly? Worth every cent. Their professionalism was top-tier, and we couldn’t have done it without them. (Edit: Our planner and coordinators have moved to themodernmatrimonyco on ig, do check them out instead!)
Of course, this won’t apply to everyone. Some couples may not feel the need to engage one. It really boils down to your comfort level with spending vs managing the day yourself.
Whatever your decision, just remember: you don’t have to do it all alone. Don’t overwork yourself, delegate what you can, and enjoy your big day! 💛
From my experience, deciding whether to hire a wedding planner depends largely on your personal preferences and the complexity of your event. For small weddings, some may assume that a planner isn’t necessary, but even intimate celebrations can benefit from professional coordination to ensure the day goes smoothly. One thing I learned is that having a day coordinator really helped me focus on enjoying the moment rather than worrying about logistics. It’s important to consider not just your comfort level with managing stress but also the demands on the people you’d ask to help. Friends can be wonderful, but placing the bulk of wedding responsibilities on them might strain relationships and take away from their ability to celebrate with you. Even if your wedding timeline is straightforward, unexpected hiccups like AV issues can arise, and having someone experienced to handle those makes a big difference. For me, the coordinator acted as an extra set of hands and eyes — keeping me calm, adjusting schedules, and even checking on my needs throughout the day. The cost may seem steep upfront, especially for those opting only for day-of coordination instead of full planning. However, the peace of mind and ability to truly soak in your wedding day can be worth the investment. If you’re the type of bride or groom who doesn’t want to be stressed or anxious on your wedding day, a planner or coordinator can be a valuable partner. Ultimately, think about your personality, your wedding’s size and complexity, and who will help you make all the pieces come together. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but don’t hesitate to delegate responsibilities so you can savor your special day fully.
hi! thanks for sharing your experience! i'm also really on the fence about having an AD coordinator so this helped me out. may i ask which company did you hire and what is their rate? thank you in advance!!