Wednesday, June 21, 2017

The Duties of a Venue Coordinator vs. Those of a Wedding Coordinator

by Sameer Ahmed

Make sure you’re ready and prepared through every step of the wedding process. Knowing that all aspects of your wedding have been planned seamlessly will give you the sense of reassurance and ease the stress that comes with planning the big day. Throughout this article you will discover the several benefits of having your wedding coordinator present throughout each step of the way.

According to Every Last Detail, venue coordinators are simply there for the venue, not the bride. However, a wedding coordinator is there for the sole purpose of the bride. While the venue coordinator will coordinate and ensure the seamless processes of everything provided by the venue including food and setup, your event coordinator would be there with you every step of the way to ensure that everything is executed to your specifications. The venue coordinator does not coordinate the wedding. However, they do manage the venue, keep the kitchen on track, and prevent the disruption of any of the policies kept by the venue.

The jobs of a wedding coordinator vary. From managing the timeline: telling you when the cake will be cut, the bouquet will be tossed, toasts will be made and more, the wedding coordinator will be there throughout the entire celebration to decorating the venue and pinning the corsages. Wedding coordinators are there to work for you, and you only, and will help you through every step necessary to ensure that the wedding turns out just as you had desired.

Venue coordinators typically do not stay for the entirety of the celebration and do not provide the personalized and individualized support and attention that is shown of a wedding coordinator. Keep in mind that the venue coordinator is there to represent the venue, and not the bride and groom entirely. Venue coordinators may also be managing more than one event at a time, so you may only see them for a brief period of time on the day of your event or they may even be touring other engaged couples on the property. Knowing that you have your Wedding Planner to be there beside you will give you the peace of mind necessary for the big day.

Every Last Detail provided a prime example that may assist with the distinction of the duties of both coordinators. As stated by Every Last Detail, “A wedding coordinator contacts your vendors before your wedding to make sure everyone is confirmed and knows what time they will be arriving. A venue coordinator may contact vendors that have to do with setup of the reception, but it’s not common. Other vendors, like your photographer or hair and makeup, would not be contacted by your venue coordinator.”
 
Planning a wedding requires teamwork and professionalism. Dance for Joy Events will simplify every process and be a tremendous help along the way. You can trust Dance for Joy Events to plan a joyful occasion while also helping you to sparkle in the spotlight when its time to kick up your heels and dance because Dance for Joy Events has merged with The Wedding Dance Specialists! Please feel free to contact Deborah at danceforjoyevents@gmail.com or 703.626.7016 if you have any questions.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

The Cost of Attending a Wedding

According to The Knot, the most trusted wedding brand and marketplace used by 8 in 10 couples, unveils wedding guest spend from gift spend to travel, bachelor and bachelorette party costs, and more. Here's what guests are spending per wedding celebration according to The Knot 2016 Wedding Guest Study:
  • $888: Average wedding guest spend per wedding
    • Wedding gift spend: $118
    • Wedding attire: $81
    • Wedding travel: $321
    • Wedding accommodations: $322 
  • $1,154: Average bridesmaid & groomsmen spend per wedding
    • Wedding gift spend: $177
    • Wedding attire: $207
    • Wedding travel: $342
    • Wedding accommodations: $293 
  • Wedding gifting...
    • Nearly half of Americans (47%) report needing help to figure out wedding gift etiquette
    • Once ready to make a gift purchase, wedding registries continue to be the most popular place to select a gift
      • 37% of wedding guests and attendants purchase a wedding gift directly from a registry
      • Cash and check are also popular gift options, with nearly one-third (29%) of guests gifting either cash (21%) or writing a check (8%)
      • One in ten (10%) wedding guests and attendants provide the couple with a gift card and 7% contribute funds to the couple's honeymoon
    • To make gifting easier for guests and allow couples to register for any type of gift imaginable, The Knot Newlywed Fund is now available
      • In addition to providing traditional retail registry options and charity registry choices on The Knot, the Newlywed Fund helps couples build their new life together, whether they want cash for honeymoon excursions, a nest egg to buy a home or funds for date nights to come
      • Couples can now register for anything on The Knot and guests can shop all of a couple’s wedding registries in one place on the site!
    • Millennial guests want a gift that gives back. Wedding guests ages 18-39 are more likely than guests ages 40-64 to donate to a charity the couple has included on their registry, rather than buying a traditional gift
      • The majority of millennial wedding guests (93%) are also more likely to purchase a gift from a couple’s registry if a charity contribution is included free of charge.    

  • Beyond the wedding day...
    • Bachelor parties cost 44% more than bachelorette parties, on average
      • Bachelorette party attendees spend $472
      • Bachelor party attendees spend $738
    • If travel and accommodations are required for the pre-wedding celebrations...
      • Bachelorette parties ring in at an average of $1,106
        • Party spend: $472
        • Gift spend: $125
        • Travel spend: $217
        • Accommodation spend: $292
      • Bachelor parties tip the scale at an average attendee spend of $1,532
        • Party spend: $738
        • Gift spend: $167
        • Travel spend: $356
        • Accommodation spend: $271
This article is compliments of TheKnot.com