Singaporebrides | Weddings 101
September 2023
What You Need To Know About A Wedding Planner, Stylist and Coordinator, and How They Can Help You Plan The Perfect Wedding
Learn the difference between a wedding planner, stylist and coordinator, and pick the right professional for your wedding planning.
Planning a wedding is an extremely exciting endeavour, but it can also be equally frustrating and stressful for couples who are putting together an event this large for the first time, even if you are only planning an intimate gathering of family and friends. From the conceptualisation to the actual execution, planning a wedding is a complex and time-consuming process that involves a series of tasks and decisions that you may not have the time to attend to or the expertise needed to aid your decision.
However, that doesn’t mean your wedding planning journey has to be stressful and no fun. Many couples have chosen to outsource all or part of their wedding planning to professional wedding planners, stylists and coordinators so that they can fully enjoy and savour this once-in-a-lifetime journey. But, how do you know if you need a wedding planner, stylist or coordinator? Do they offer the same services, and how do you decide who you need for your wedding planning needs?
Fret not; we have all the answers for you. While wedding planners, stylists and coordinators have a common goal of helping you achieve your dream wedding in a stress-free and fuss-free manner, they do so differently. To help you understand each professional’s role in planning a wedding, we’ve listed out their respective roles and responsibilities to guide you in your choosing of the right professional for your planning needs.
What Does a Wedding Planner Do?
Mary and Rizal’s Blooming Garden Wedding at Villa Anugrah, Uluwatu by Lydia K Photography & Nice Print Photo
A wedding planner is essentially a dedicated event manager. “He or she is in charge of the overall wedding planning, from vendor sourcing, budget, venue, program, design, and managing all the vendors, down to the execution on the wedding day itself,” Hellen, Creative Director of Rosette Design & Co. explains.
Besides working closely with the couple to ensure their wedding vision is brought to life as accurately as possible, a wedding planner draws on their years of experience and offers guidance and recommendations throughout the entire planning process, which may help stretch your budget so you get more bang for your buck, or introduce a wider selection of vendors whom they regularly work with to help you achieve your dream wedding.
A wedding planner is perfect for you if….
Pearlyn and Cody’s Romantic Blush Wedding at Ramada Wyndham @ Zhongshan Park by Supercolerolls
Couples who are unsure of where and how to begin their wedding planning should consider hiring a wedding planner to guide and help them. A wedding planner is also a great idea for couples who have a busy work schedule and may not have the time to meet up with and liaise with multiple vendors. Or, if you simply wish to kick back and enjoy your once-in-a-lifetime role as a bride-to-be or groom-to-be, having a wedding planner to handle the bulk of your wedding planning is the way to go.
Most wedding planners offer a variety of packages, ranging from a full package that takes care of your planning from the start to the end, including styling and coordination services, to one that only consists of planning and/or coordination service, allowing you to pick a package that suits your needs and budget.
What Does a Wedding Stylist Do?
Jo Ting and Ben’s Vibrant and Playful Wedding at InterContinental Singapore by The Perfect Statement
The main role of a wedding stylist is to take care of the visual and aesthetic elements of your wedding. They are solely responsible for creating a cohesive and visually appealing look for your wedding based on your preferences and vision, and are in charge of sourcing and corresponding with vendors who are directly related to the styling of your wedding, such as florists, and manginging and overseeing all styling related set up on the actual day.
“An experienced wedding stylist understands how to incorporate styling ideas that are appropriate to the wedding venue, event program and recommends function decor pieces that complements the space and occasion,” Riduan, Assistant Director of Sales & Business Development at Vynella Events shares. “Besides offering professional inputs on styling, he or she would be able to offer creative solutions in the face of any challenges, and work around them.”
A wedding stylist is perfect for you if….
Vanessa and Bryan’s Classic Wedding with White Florals and Green Foliage at Capella Singapore by Iluminen Singapore
If you want to be as involved as you can in planning the happiest day of your life, but need some expert help in the styling aspect of your wedding, then engaging a wedding stylist is your best bet. Wedding stylists often have a range of packages for couples to choose from based on their needs and budget, from a full styling service that covers all areas of your wedding venue, to a smaller package that covers just the reception area or banquet hall.
What Does a Wedding Coordinator Do?
As the name suggests, a wedding coordinator’s job is to coordinate with the people involved in putting your wedding vision together on your big day and ensure that the day goes as planned so you and your family and friends and fully enjoy the celebration without any worry.
A Japanese Inspired Sweet Summer Romance at Keyaki Garden Pavilion by Joydevi
Since a wedding coordinator’s responsibility is to run your wedding day, they are usually involved closer to your wedding, usually a month before or slightly earlier to familiarise themselves with what is being done and what needs to be done. They will be in charge of overseeing the timeline of the day’s events, coordinating with vendors like your wedding stylist or venue coordinator, and handling any unexpected issues to make sure everything goes according to plan.
A wedding coordinator is perfect for you if….
For couples who are planning and styling their wedding on their own, but need help ensuring everything goes according to plan on the their big day, hiring a wedding coordinator is the way to go. Not only is this a more budget-friendly option of outsourcing some of the work, this also frees you and your family and friends from overseeing the celebration, allowing you to fully be present in the moment and enjoy the celebrations.
Wenjin and Bayu’s Beautiful Wedding at Andaz Singapore by Liangzuo Studio
While most venues tend to come with a wedding coordinator or person-in-charge, they are usually not responsible for overseeing the aspects of the wedding that are supposed to be in your care, such as making sure your vendors arrive on time for set up, ensuring that your wedding program runs according to schedule and problem-solving for you in the event of unforeseen circumstances. They may offer some assistance, but they are ultimately not responsible for coordinating your wedding planning.
Do I Need A Wedding Planner, Stylist or Coordinator?
Whether you need a wedding planner, stylist or coordinator for your big day is entirely up to you and what you want for your wedding planning journey. “Choose what feels right for your once-in-a-lifetime celebration, as your love truly deserves it,” Riduan advises. “Go for experience rather than the cheapest package you come across, as cheapest doesn’t mean the best, especially for such a milestone celebration. Do your homework and read up on reviews before you make a decision, and you’re well on your way to your dream vendor.”
Here’s an easy-to-read summary of what a wedding coordinator, stylist and planner does for you to save on your smartphones and devices, so you can refer to it on the go!
If you and your partner have a busy work schedule that doesn’t allow you to commit much time to your wedding planning, or if your goal is to fully enjoy this special time without any worry or stress on the details, then outsourcing the planning, coordination and/or styling work to others is a great option, especially if you have the extra budget to spare.
Even if you do not have a big budget to spare, you can still outsource some of the wedding planning work to professionals, as they have different pricing plans and packages to suit different needs and budgets. Do speak to your chosen wedding planner, stylist or coordinator and be up front with what you need and your available budget, so they can better recommend a package that suits your needs most.
“If you have more budget and want to have a fuss-free planning journey, I would recommend you to go for a full planning service for both styling and coordination services,” Hellen advises. “For couples with a budget constraint, you can consider opting for either a styling or coordination package.”
Feature Image from Sandra and Eugene’s Intimate Wedding in Keyaki Garden Pavilion Filled with Cherry Blossoms by Iki Company.
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