What’s the Real Difference?

The venue coordinator unlocked the space. The wedding coordinator styled every single detail you see here.

So you just toured your dream venue and the rep says “Don’t worry, we have a venue coordinator who handles everything!”
Amazing, right? Well… not so fast.

Here’s the truth: venue coordinators and wedding coordinators are not the same thing. And if you’re not sure where one ends and the other begins, you could end up with serious gaps on your wedding day.

Let’s break it down in plain English (and maybe a little sass), so you know exactly who does what—and why having both might just be your wedding day superpower.

🏛 What a Venue Coordinator Actually Does:

Think of your venue coordinator as the host of the space. They’re there to represent the venue’s interests, make sure their policies are followed, and that things like food, beverage, and venue rules are taken care of.

Venue Coordinator Responsibilities:

Unlocks the building and ensures it’s clean and ready
Oversees in-house staff like catering or bar service
Answers venue-specific questions (parking, restrooms, lights)
Ensures the venue rules are followed
May offer a list of preferred vendors
Sometimes sets up venue-owned tables, chairs, and linens

👉 Who they work for: The venue
👉 Their goal: Protect the venue, run their internal operations smoothly

👰 What a Wedding Coordinator Actually Does:

A wedding coordinator works for you. Our job is to make sure your entire wedding vision comes to life—not just what happens at the venue.

We’re the ones obsessing over your timeline, handling vendor communication, managing setup and decor, keeping things running on schedule, and making sure you don’t have to answer a single question on your wedding day.

Wedding Coordinator Responsibilities:

Builds a detailed wedding day timeline
Communicates and confirms arrival/setup with all vendors
Coordinates setup of all personal and rented items (escort cards, signage, florals, ceremony arch, guest book, etc.)
Cues the ceremony and reception flow
Solves problems discreetly so you don’t even know they happened
Manages your wedding party, family, and guests
Stays until breakdown (yep—we’re usually the last ones to leave)

👉 Who they work for: YOU
👉 Their goal: Execute your wedding vision, keep you stress-free, and make magic happen

🚨 The Problem When You Rely Only on a Venue Coordinator

Venue coordinators are amazing at what they do—but they don’t:

Confirm or manage outside vendors (like your florist, DJ, or photographer)
Style or set up your personal decor
Cue your ceremony processional
Handle guest questions
Run errands or troubleshoot last-minute problems
Stay through the end of the night

If your cake shows up late, your best man goes missing, or your arch needs to be relocated due to wind—they’re likely to say “that’s not our responsibility.”

But your wedding coordinator?
That’s exactly what we’re here for.

🎯 TL;DR — Here’s the Cheat Sheet:

TaskVenue CoordinatorWedding CoordinatorManages venue staff?✅ Yes❌ NoManages all vendors?❌ No✅ YesBuilds and runs the timeline?❌ No✅ YesSets up decor (signage, favors, florals)?❌ No✅ YesCues the ceremony?❌ No✅ YesWorks for YOU?❌ No✅ YesStays through the end?❌ Often not✅ Always

💡 The Dream Team: You Can Have Both

In a perfect world? You have both. A venue coordinator ensures the space is perfect. A wedding coordinator ensures your wedding is perfect.
Different roles. Different goals. Both important.

Venue Coordinator vs. Wedding Coordinator: