Nowadays, most couples are smart enough to try and stay within their wedding budget. They carefully consider which wedding details to include in the budget and which to do away with. And sometimes, a wedding coordinator is unfortunately one of the elements that soon-to-be-married couples exclude from their list.
Let’s face it, there are still couples who think they can save money by not hiring a wedding coordinator (not true; read here), and instead, they do it on their own. “We have friends and family members that are willing to help out.” That’s great! But you know, the question isn’t really ‘who is in-charge’, as mishaps are bound to happen in any wedding, but ‘how are those problems managed.’
Caterer setting up the buffet in the wrong area, gifts not accounted for, missing cake knife, lola’s invisible corsage, unattended RSVP’s – the list of unfortunate and unexpected events goes on and on. And without the involvement of a wedding coordinator, here are some of the common ‘worst case scenarios’ that usually happen during a wedding.
Family Feud. Of course they are there to help you run the wedding. They’re the reason why you didn’t hire a wedding coordinator in the first place – because you already have sufficient help. Or do you? What happens when your family members have a different vision than you and your spouse-to-be? Without someone with unbiased opinion (read: a wedding coordinator) to mediate and step in, tensions may escalate faster than you can say I Do, leaving you and your soon-to-be-spouse getting less excited about your own wedding.
Communication Meltdown. Drinks are overflowing, and everyone’s having a pretty good time. Fun night, right? Has anyone checked the bar tab yet? Or has anyone checked with the bartender to see if it has already exceeded the allotted budget? Well, without someone to keep track of that, the couple with leave for their honeymoon with an exorbitant bill from the wedding night’s revelry.
Altar Woes. Some of you may be very familiar with the scene when the same song plays over and over and over … and over again, while the guests wait for nothing. Have you designated someone to coordinate with the musicians to know when the wedding party and the bride should walk down the aisle? Okay, people, please remain seated while “Martin Nievera’s The Promise” loops back the fourth time.
Transportation Disaster. You have arranged to have your guests picked up at their hotels before the ceremony. Everything is running smoothly before the wedding – then disaster strikes. Looking over, you notice that your relatives from your mother’s side are not there yet. Then you get a phone call from the shuttle company saying that they’ve forgotten to stop at the hotel where the guests are staying. Then Auntie, Uncle, and cousins arrive very early … for the reception.
Budget Slip-ups. The reason why budget management is one of the specialties of a good wedding coordinator is the fact that they basically do it every day. They have enough experience in handling financial matters to make sure that every wedding detail is covered and taken care of. It’s also a fact that most couples overshoot their budget, mainly because (of course) it’s their first time planning a wedding.
And let’s not forget wasting plenty of time researching for suppliers that are within the budget. That’s where a wedding coordinator steps in. Because s/he knows so much about the wedding industry, s/he already knows which videographer or stylist is within your price range, or which caterer will give you more bang for your buck, even if you have a very tight budget.
These things aren’t meant to scare you, but that’s just a brief glimpse into what could happen if you’re going to do it on your own, or have people who are not trained in that field run the wedding for you. Wedding coordinators are there for a reason. With their expertise, it pays to consider hiring one for your wedding.
Weddings and Events Republic 