Hire a day-of wedding planner – Lesson Learned #4

Groomasaurus, our wedding coordinator Nicole, and Groomasaurus Gal

Think of the last party you planned, be it a halloween party, holiday party, birthday party or some other special event. Of course, there was probably a bunch of stuff involved leading up the party. Inviting people. Cooking. Preparing the drinks and booze. Cleaning. Clearing a space in your house where people can actually sit and relax (sometimes a challenge in our house, as we have too much stuff). And on and on.

Now, think of everything you have to do as host of the party. You are answering the door constantly. Hanging up coats. Pulling things in and out of the oven and fridge. Tending bar. Taking out the trash. Trying to keep your dogs from humping or body-slamming everyone that walks through the door. Making sure your brother doesn’t break anything when he gets completely housed. Etc. Etc. All this time, you are trying to sneak in conversations and engage with your guests, but every conversation is cut short by a keg that’s kicked, a spilled drink, a running toilet, a new arrival, etc., etc.

Now picture this x100 with lots more people and loads more money involved, and you have your wedding.

On your wedding day, you have two goals: 1) to actually (and legally) get married, 2) to enjoy your guests. In order to accomplish those two things, you need to be able to focus solely on them, which I guarantee you won’t accomplish if you also are coordinating everything on your wedding day.

Believe me, even if you were the world’s leading Type A, got-your-shit-completely-together multitasker (which is pretty much the definition of my wife), you will never, ever be able to pull off being a great host/hostess and a great coordinator. You might be a great host, but then you’ll probably be an average coordinator, or vice versa. And, believe me, no bride wants “average” associated with anything related to their wedding day.

We had a day-of-coordinator (who actually worked for our destination wedding venue, Vallarta Adventures, through which we had an all-inclusive wedding), and she was fantastic. When my wife needed to be walking down the aisle, BAM, Nicole was on it. When people needed to be rounded up for photos, she was a veritable turnstile. When everyone needed to be seated, she was pulling out chairs for people. When the cake needed to be cut, she was handing us a knife. And not once did we have to consult the kitchen, chat with the bar staff (except to pour me another shot of tequila, and there were many) or consult the DJ, because she was all over it. That way, we could focus on each other and our guests and have the time of our life.

Even if you are the most penny-pinching miser, hiring a day-of-coordinator is a no-brainer and a bottom-line value, mostly because you are actually making the most of a big investment (your wedding) by having them there helping. If money is time, then if you are spending time coordinating your wedding day, you are losing loads of money by not being able to enjoy yourself and your guests. So for just a small investment, you ensure that you will make the most of your big day.

So, thanks a million Nicole for making our wedding day so memorable, and the rest of you, find a Nicole-like clone so you can enjoy your wedding, too.