Why use a Wedding Coordinator?

When I got married, I started the planning process all by myself.  I am a rather creative and very resourceful person, and thought I could handle putting together all the details of my wedding myself.  Within a couple months, the details and to-do-lists became so overwhelming that I decided I needed some professional help.  Immediately after hiring my coordinator, a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.  I had so much more time to actually enjoy the planning process.  Although hiring a coordinator was not included in my original budget, what I spent on my coordinator actually paid for itself in the discounts she was able to get me from other vendors, not to mention the time she freed up for me was priceless.  So, in short, speaking bride to bride, I say, “Don’t hesitate or delay….hire a coordinator as soon as you start planning your wedding.”  It is one the most important vendors you will hire.  My only regret was that I thought I could do it all myself and in the end wasted time and money trying to do so.

“Calm Before the Storm”

Here is the unbelievably talented and so very professional Keely Thorne. In a planning session with her assistant the day of the wedding.

Eight years after I got married, I am on the other side of the equation.  I have recently had the pleasure of getting to know some amazingly talented coordinators in Austin, Dallas, and Houston and I can honestly say, they make my job as a photographer so much easier.   The difference between a wedding that is professionally coordinated and one that is not is NIGHT AND DAY! There is no reason you should be bogged down with extra work and worries on one of the most important days of your life.   As far as photography is concerned,  having a coordinator allows me to plan how photography will fit into your day, allowing me to get all the fantastic images you want without being obtrusive or taking up too much time.  It frees me up to focus (no pun intended) on the job I have at hand. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve stood around a cake table and the couple turns to me and asks, “How do we do this?”   I try to explain and at the same time take their photos.  It’s not an ideal situation.  It’s not that I don’t mind helping out, in fact I enjoy helping out when I can, but it’s not good when it interferes with my job of taking photographs.  As a professional photographer, coordinators make ALL vendors jobs so much easier.  They also come up with the prettiest details for me to photograph, which is way more fun for me

In short, I am now offering incentives to brides if they book me and are using a professional coordinator.

Here are just a few coordinators that I have had the pleasure of knowing, and I believe they are amongst some of the best (in alphabetical order):

BZ Events (Becky Brock and Cortney Zeiky)

Keely Thorne Events

Lizze Belle Events (Aimee Villa)

Lucie’s Events (Wendee Robbins Sawran)

Of course, Austin is such an amazing area to get married; there are plenty more extremely talented coordinators, too.  You can find them at NEAWP and AWEC.