"...and you do what?": Part I (of 4)

Planner, Coordinator, Designer, Consultant... it all means the same thing right? 

Not so fast.  So often when meeting with Brides and Grooms (or Event Hosts) who are just becoming acquainted with the events and weddings industry we(Wedding Pros) find ourselves clarifying a few misnomers about the roles, responsibilities and the generally "who does what"s in the planning and production process.  That's why I wanted to do this short (4 part) series entitled "...and you do what?".  In it, I'll clarify some of what certain Event Professionals (such as Planners, Coordinators, and Designers) do.

Before diving into our first installment I'd like to ask you a questions.  If a little kid asked you, "What does a Mechanic do?", would you feel comfortable describing the basics idea behind their job?  Now, most of you probably just answered, "Yes, of course".  And no surprise there, most adults have had to take a car to one (and for most of us probably more than once). We know what Mechanics and Repair People do because we see them somewhat regularly basis.  They are services that fit into and we use throughout our everyday personal and professional lives. 

We may not know each exact process, technique, training, tools, skills and so on involved in what they do but we do have an expectation of what will be done.  We have a general understand of what their job entails, trust them to know what they are doing and to do it correctly.  We do this so regularly in fact that we often just take what we know about their duties (such as which ones to go for which needs, who specializes in what, etc.) for granted.  The same can be said about other professions like Hair Stylists, Food Service, Clothing Boutiques, etc.  We run into these service providers hundreds of times in life.  And although these services are far, far more customized, elaborate, specialized, and usually complex for a wedding we still have some idea of what these Professionals will be doing. 

Ever been to a concert or a dance club before?  Then you have some idea of the type of services a DJ or a Band may provide.  Sure, it's more than just playing music, it's transitioning between activities, facilitating and communicating with your guests throughout the evening however, you also understand that it will be very different for a wedding environment and you will have to trust their expertise.  And if you've ever had a "Bad Picture" taken at the DMV, in a class picture, or in a candid photo with some friends then you know what a "Great Photographer" could do for you.  Again, you also know their services may require different equipment, assistants, and skills for capturing those "once in a lifetime" moments on camera.

So, maybe it's because large, structured events like weddings just don't happen every day.  For most people wedding planning requires working with professionals and processes they've seldom deal on a daily basis.  And with so many different professional titles like Wedding Planner, Consultant, Coordinator and Designer (all of which have slightly different responsibilities) there's often some misunderstandings about "who does what", who may provide the right service for the right needs, and confusion about their specific training, skills, duties, processes, techniques, etc.

Yes, most people may not run into Planning Professionals every day... or so you think.  I believe it's the various "titles" and the romanticized idea of Parties and Weddings that are misleading.  Say words "Wedding Planner" and images of glamorous parties, television shows, and funny little movie characters pop into most heads.  However say, "Project Manager" and you'd have quite a different image (more in the next post).  The truth is, these are two jobs that have similar duties and responsibilities but because of event industry terminology and the fact that weddings are (let's face it) such a fun occasion for the Client, the newly engaged may not see the similarities at first.

Next up we'll bust some myths, define the some roles, outline responsibilities, and help you start to identify which Event Pro may be the right fit for your needs when it comes to planning services starting with one of the most misunderstood... the "Day of Coordinator".

Oh, I'd like to leave you with a question...

"What do you think of when you think 'Day of Coordinator'?"

Feel free to leave your "Comments" below... cheers!