When Should I Hire A Day-Of Coordinator?

I do a lot of day-of coordinating of weddings.  I have been hired six weeks before the wedding and I have been hired 18 months in advance.  What is the optimal time for you to hire a day-of coordinator for your wedding?

Your day-of wedding coordinator should know your taste.

That is a complicated question, but one thing I know for sure is that you should not wait until two weeks before your wedding to hire someone.  I have gotten calls from (rather desperate-sounding brides) who need to hire someone right away.  Unless it is the depths of winter, chances are a good coordinator is already booked within six weeks.

Most of the calls I get for coordinating are from couples getting married within six to 12 months.  I don’t generally book a job if it is much more than a year away.  (There are exceptions to that rule, though, so if you know that you want to hire me, feel free to get in touch.)  But any time within that range is usually a good time.

My rule of thumb is that you should have your date chosen and your ceremony and reception locations booked before you hire a coordinator.  That way you can lock in a date with the coordinator.

Of course, if you are planning to hire someone to help with the planning, in addition to coordinating, that is another matter.  Hire that person as soon as you start planning.

One thing I have noticed is that couples get a lot more service from me if they book farther in advance.  Because my contract always includes unlimited phone calls and e-mails, if you hire me a year in advance, you will get a full year’s worth of advice, counsel, recommendations, and feedback from me–at no extra cost to you.  The nice thing to me about that is that I really get a chance to know you and know what you want, like, and expect.  That way, when it comes to your wedding day, I understand your taste and your wants and can make sure things are the way you like them.

To me, coordinating your wedding is all about communication.  The more time we have to communicate with each other, the better the result will be.