We are thrilled to share Mark and Susie’s Ponte Vedra Beach wedding with you all today! But what’s even more exciting, is that this is also a guest blog post by London Bloom. London owns London Bloom Weddings and as an Indianapolis wedding planner who recently moved from Ponte Vedra Beach. It was such a small world that she was originally from Indy (where we are from) but was living in Florida and working for Ponte Vedra Inn & Club when we traveled to Ponte Vedra Beach for Mark and Susie’s big day. We are thrilled London is back in Indy and planning weddings in the Indianapolis area! We’ll let her take it from here, but we’re looking forward to more weddings together over the next few years! -Emily

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You’ve decided on forever. Now that you’re engaged, it’s time to jump into the planning process. But where to begin?

The first hurdle that many newly engaged couples must face is often related to finances and the overall budget of their wedding. Every couple must go through the important process of prioritizing the many aspects that encompass their wedding celebration.  Often, this leads to tough decisions on what to keep and what to cut, where to save and where to splurge.

A common thought for many people planning their own wedding is that an easy and obvious way to save money is by eliminating the need for wedding planning and coordination services. Many brides set out to plan their own wedding with no professional help and assume that the day-of responsibilities will be handled by the Venue Coordinator.

First, let’s start by defining the responsibilities and general role of both the Venue Coordinator and the Wedding Coordinator, in order to highlight the key differences between the two. I have worked with many Venue Coordinators, who are very good at their job and prove to be a vital asset to the overall success of the wedding. However, it is important to remember one key fact. The Venue Coordinator works for the venue and not for you. In most cases, the Venue Coordinator is responsible for services the venue provides. Often, this includes food, beverage, set-up, and teardown. These are very important tasks that must be completed and usually require the full attention of the Venue Coordinator. Because of this, the Venue Coordinator should not be expected to help with setting up décor, directing the ceremony, or serving as the point of contact for all vendors. Often, a Venue Coordinator’s job is complete after the meal has been served and the cake has been cut. On the other hand, a Wedding Coordinator will be with you throughout the complete journey and most importantly, there for you during your entire wedding weekend, from the rehearsal to the sparkler send-off. More specifically, a Wedding Coordinator will handle key aspects such as directing the rehearsal, ceremony, and reception in accordance to the timeline, supervising vendor set-up while serving as their main point of contact, ensuring correct set-up and placement of décor, and constant communication with the bride and groom, as well as with their bridal party and family. Long story short, if you hire a Wedding Coordinator, they are there to take care of anything and everything, so that you can truly enjoy your special day

There are many advantages to hiring a Wedding Coordinator / Planner that extend beyond the day of the wedding. A Full Service Wedding Planner will provide help throughout the entire engagement journey including creating the budget, timeline and event design, as well as venue and vendor selection. Although many couples take on these preliminary steps themselves, it is important not to underestimate the time, resources, and amount of organization required to keep everything in line. Furthermore, remember that a Wedding Planner is an expert in his or her field and has most likely developed relationships with many of the venues and vendors in the area. Because of their knowledge of the market, they are very familiar with the quality, style, and price point for each venue and vendor. This valuable advantage can ensure that the best options are selected to optimize your vision, while remaining in line with your overall budget. The best and most experienced wedding planners may even be able to negotiate on your behalf to create more room in your budget. 

As a Wedding Planner and Coordinator, who has also worked as a Venue Coordinator in the past, I can’t emphasize enough how great of an investment hiring a Wedding Planner / Coordinator truly is. When I work with my clients, I can easily see how much they are able to fully enjoy the day and how much stress I am able to take off their shoulders. I’ve had brides tell me that although they thought they could do it themselves and that hiring a Wedding Planner / Coordinator seemed like a splurge at the time, looking back, they can’t imagine doing it without me. Hearing this is the most fulfilling comment I can receive because I know I have made their wedding even more of a special experience. London Bloom Wedding and Events would love the opportunity to make your big day the best one yet.

-London Bloom, London Bloom Weddings

Thank you, London!