Coordination Myths: 7 Things People Get Totally Wrong About Wedding Coordinators
And what you deserve to know before assuming you can “just have a friend do it.”
Myth 1: "My venue has a coordinator—so I’m good."
This is probably the most common wedding planning mix-up I see, and it makes sense: a venue coordinator and a wedding coordinator sound similar. But they very, very different roles.
Here’s the difference:
A venue coordinator works for the venue. Their job is to make sure the space, staff, and timeline stay on track—for the venue’s priorities. That often means unlocking the doors, managing lights and possibly making sure tables are set or keeping the kitchen informed.
A wedding coordinator, on the other hand, works for you. My job is to know every detail of your wedding plan inside and out, from where Grandma is sitting to which vendor is arriving when to how to bustle your dress when it’s go time. I’m your behind-the-scenes ninja.
Pro Tip: If someone asks, “Who’s your day-of person?”—they mean a wedding coordinator, not the venue contact.
Myth 2: "My friend is super organized—she can do it!"
I love that you have amazing friends. Truly. But asking a friend or family member to be your coordinator is like asking them to be your wedding planner, stress manager, and problem solver all at once. It’s a recipe for burnout—for them and you.
Even if your friend is Type-A and loves logistics, she’s there as a guest. That means she deserves to eat cake, not carry a clipboard.
As a professional coordinator, I come in with systems, checklists, backup plans, and the ability to run interference with tact and experience. I’ve navigated vendor delays, groomsmen MIA, torn dress straps, and thunderstorms—and kept everything running smoothly without involving the couple.
Let your people be your people. Let me be your coordinator. 🤍
Myth 3: "I’ll just do all the planning and hand it off the week of."
This one’s actually mostly true! That’s the whole idea behind wedding coordination—you plan, and I execute. But here’s where people get tripped up:
Even if you want to DIY your entire wedding, it’s almost impossible to “hand it off” to someone last-minute unless they know what to expect—and have been looped in early enough to spot gaps.
When couples hire me for coordination, we connect a few times before the wedding—not just a couple days before. I help review the timeline, confirm logistics with vendors, build contingency plans, and make sure we’re not relying on assumptions.
Pro Tip: You don’t need to hand over the reins until you’re ready—but giving your coordinator a few weeks of lead time makes all the difference.
Myth 4: "It’s just one day—how hard can it be?"
It’s not just one day. It’s 12+ months of decisions, condensed into 10 hours.
On your wedding day, someone has to manage:
Setup and teardown
Vendor arrivals and final payments
The ceremony lineup and cueing
Timeline changes and delays
Emotional dynamics with family
Guest questions (a lot of them)
Last-minute problems (they always happen)
Your coordinator is the person who catches things before they become problems, troubleshoots calmly behind the scenes, and keeps you out of the chaos.
🕊️ Think of it this way: You’re paying for peace. Not perfection. And peace is worth it.
Myth 5: "It’s not worth the money."
I get it—weddings are expensive. But here’s the truth: not having a coordinator often costs you more.
Not always in money (though I’ve absolutely caught expensive mistakes), but in stress, time, and emotional labor. You’ve invested thousands in your vendors, your dress, your florals, and your photos. A coordinator helps protect that investment by making sure everything actually comes together the way you dreamed.
Wedding coordination is not a splurge. It’s a safeguard.
I’ve had couples tell me the one thing they’d spend more on, if they could do it again, is having a coordinator for even longer.
Myth 6: "Coordinators are just for high-end weddings."
You don’t have to be having a ballroom wedding with a $50K budget to hire a coordinator. In fact, I work with couples planning outdoor weddings, backyard weddings, intimate cabin weddings, and everything in between.
Whether you’re planning for 30 people or 300, coordination is about keeping things moving—so you can be fully present with the people you love.
It’s not about luxury. It’s about clarity, calmness, and knowing you’re not doing this alone.
Especially in Wisconsin? Many of my couples are having rustic, down-to-earth weddings. I know how to coordinate those authentically.
Myth 7: "I’m type-A—I don’t need help."
I love a spreadsheet queen. Seriously. But even if you’ve planned everything down to the minute… you can’t run the show and star in it.
Your wedding day isn’t the time to be checking on seating, texting vendors, or answering “what’s next?” from your wedding party. A good coordinator takes your well-organized plan and turns it into a well-run day—so you can finally stop thinking and start celebrating.
Pro Tip: If you’re the planner in your family, that’s even more reason to give yourself a break on your wedding day.
What I Do as Your Wedding Coordinator
If you're reading this and thinking, "Okay... maybe I do need someone," here’s what I actually do:
Review your planning and vendor contracts
Confirm logistics and arrival times with everyone
Create a detailed day-of schedule for your team
Be the go-to person for questions and hiccups
Oversee setup and décor details
Cue your ceremony and keep things flowing
Solve problems quietly and quickly
Help with clean-up and end-of-night wrap-up
And most importantly?
✨ I’m the one who makes sure you can be the couple, not the coordinator.
Real Talk: What You Deserve
You deserve a wedding day where you don’t have to worry about whether the DJ found the right entrance song, or if the cupcakes are still in the fridge, or whether your cousin sat next to your ex by accident.
You deserve to feel present, calm, and celebrated.
That’s what coordination really is—it’s not fluff, it’s freedom.
Let’s Bust These Myths Together
If you’ve been on the fence about hiring a wedding coordinator, I’d love to talk. My job isn’t to take over. It’s to help you feel empowered and supported.
✨ Want to chat about whether coordination is right for your wedding? Reach out here.