The Wedding Planner

One of the most effective analogies I've found to explain the different roles of a wedding coordinator during initial consultations is that of "The Wedding As Hollywood (or Stage) Production".

First, understand that every good wedding will have a Writer, a Producer and a Director.  If you're the mother or father-of-the-bride, you may be laughing now and asking "what about investors"?  That's true too, but we're going to break this down into the simplest possible equation for ease of management.

The Writer

Someone has to write the wedding "script".  This usually starts with the to-be-weds themselves.  They determine their theme, how they dream the day will progress and what important elements need to be included if they are going to tell their fairytale story to their guests exactly as imagined.  In full-service coordination, the Wedding Planner as Writer considers the draft copy carefully, and polishes the script with expertise and skill.  Her goal is to capture the essence of the wedding day as described by her clients so that it can be effectively interpreted by the actors or wedding pros who will "speak" the lines and execute the plans. 

The Producer

Once the script is written, someone must look at it critically and figure out the logistics required to make it come to life.  When a planner is hired to provide productions services, she is charged with researching and interviewing vendors, negotiating contracts and watching the bottom line on behalf of the investors.  Some couples will choose to handle the bulk of these tasks themselves, but will hire a partial-service planner to act as an advisor through frequent consultations and check-ins.  The Wedding Planner as Producer uses the knowledge and skill gained from experience and cultivated vendor relationships to translate a couple's "dream" into functional reality, while assessing funding and considering input from multiple sources. 

The Director

It amazes me how often couples put so much work into writing and producing their weddings, and then totally neglect to select a skilled Director.  Intricate planning and extensive notebooks amount to wasted time and piles of dead trees if the plans aren't executed properly, or at all.  Someone must be assigned to follow the script, familiarize herself with the production process and assertively, with an air of professionalism, execute the plans, if couples truly desire to achieve a "stress-free", "magical" feeling on the wedding day. 

This is where I generally launch into my two favorite arguments: 1) that wedding day management or "day-of coordination" NEEDS to be on the must-have list of wedding services right along with photographer, caterer and officiant and 2) that for numerous logical reasons, this person should be a professional (and a real one - not someone who did it themselves once for a friend).  But I digress.

The Wedding Planner as Director holds the script in hand and has familiarized herself with what has occurred during production.  With her team of assistants and her professional vendor colleagues, she carefully monitors how the script is being followed, "feeds lines" to wayward attendants or busy vendors, guages "audience" reaction, finesses investor VIPs (the M-O-B or F-O-B or other designated "backstage passholders") and makes sure that the , set builders, caterers, makeup artists, and others are in place before the curtain rises when the leading lady takes her first steps down the aisle.  When the orchestra misses a beat or an actor in a supporting role doesn't show, she must calmly determine how to regain the rhythm and dynamics of the day, or figure out who will be called in as understudy.  She doesn't generally get a chance to take a bow, and if she's done her job really well, you may not even realize she's there.  Her role is critical, and one that should not be lightly assigned.

If basic film and stage terms are easier for you to decipher than the fluffy terms of today's weddings, I encourage you to use them when you think about who you have selected or will select to fill key roles. Making the right choices about these positions early on in the planning process can ensure a successful, "star-quality" wedding day for you and the ones you love.

Williamsburg Wedding Design offers complete wedding planning services from Wedding Day Management to Full-Service Coordination in Williamsburg, Virginia and the surrounding region.  Our professionals will travel to perform Wedding Day Management services.  We also provide business-to-business event and administrative support.  If you would like more information about our services, please visit our website: www.williamsburgweddingdesign.com.

Comments

[Wedding Planning San Francisco]

Thank you for all the information, great post.