Wedding Planning Tips

Floral Designer vs. Event Designer vs. Wedding Planner vs. Wedding Coordinator.

When you first get engaged, it can be overwhelming trying to navigate exactly what you need to make your day perfect! Several different vendors who seem to do the same thing, so how can you be sure to hire exactly what you need? Nobody wants to spend too much and overlap services or leave a gaping hole in services either. With many different vendors in the wedding industry, here is the difference between a Floral Designer, an Event Designer, a Wedding Planner, and a Wedding Coordinator.

Floral designer

Floral design is the process of selecting the individual blooms and determining what style of centerpieces, bouquets, etc. will be included in the event and how they will flow with the overall event design. Typically, the floral designer will arrive in time to set up their centerpieces, design any floral installations, drop off those lovely bouquets, and be on their way. They are not there to make sure the rest of the wedding runs smoothly, that the cake is delivered, or that the catering staff has arrived in time for cocktail hour.
Lansing Florist

Photo: Niki Marie Photography

Event designer

Event design is the process of creating the visual, and aesthetic elements for the event. These include but are not limited to; linens, chair style, backdrops, accessory tables, and tabletop elements. By hiring a wedding designer, you will have a gorgeous, cohesive wedding that fits your style! Even if you don’t think you have a “style”, you probably do. They get to know you to ensure your ideas will fit cohesively together and not just a bunch of Pinterest ideas. Think of them as the Joanna Gaines of your wedding. They also have a lot of insight on where is best to allocate your budget so that you are putting your decor money in the most “bang for your buck” places.

Venue Coordinator or Onsite Coordinator

A venue coordinator works directly for the venue and will handle the specific daily operations of the venue only. This person (or persons) may ensure venue staff has set up the ceremony and/or reception areas as you wish. If your venue offers onsite catering and bartenders, they are responsible for making sure their staff understands their role as discussed and outlined in your contract with the venue. They typically won’t help plan an itinerary of events leading up to the ceremony and reception. That is up to you or a wedding planner/coordinator you may hire!
While onsite during the day of the event, we will gladly work alongside the venue coordinator as well as other vendors you have hired. We will work with the venue coordinator in advance to schedule our setup and strike timing that works with our schedule and the venue’s requirements. When booking with us for floral and event design only, we do not provide the service of an event coordinator.
greencrest manor - Michigan Wedding Planner

Full-Service Wedding Planner

For the couple who has no idea where to even begin, hiring a Full-Service wedding planner is a perfect fit for you! They will assist with fully hiring vendors, creating a budget, design plans, the entire day’s timeline, ceremony planning, RSVP tracking, ongoing updates, and consultation with clients about vendors’ services/products and SO much more. Once the wedding day arrives, the hours they spent behind the scenes will make your dreams come to life. They will be responsible for managing all vendors, final payments, set-up and strike, and fixing any problems that will arise.
Michigan Wedding Planner

Day of Coordinator

Typical coordinators will begin their service (roughly) 6 weeks before the wedding day. Already the term “Day of Coordinator” is a bit of a misnomer. Hiring a coordinator is perfect for the couple who enjoys the planning process but wants to ensure their family, friends, or (GASP!) themselves aren’t stuck working. Nobody wants to be setting up, running the show, or cleaning up on their wedding day. The coordinator will prepare itineraries to be provided to all vendors and handle the logistics of the day. A coordinator is the first person to arrive and turns out the lights long after the party has gone home. It is their main focus to ensure everyone else is doing their job exactly how they wish.
Michigan Wedding Planner and Wedding Florist
Did you know All Grand Events + Floral offers services under each of these designations (other than the venue coordinator)? We offer wedding planning services to an exclusive number of clients each year. With over 10 years of being one of the top wedding planners and coordinators in Michigan. Possessing extensive knowledge of vendors, timelines, to-do lists, and event management systems. Visit our contact page to inquire with us to best meet your wedding design and planning needs!
Looking for more wedding planning tips? Check out these blog posts below!

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hello@allgrandevents.com

2233 W Grand River Ave. Okemos, MI 48864

All Grand Events + Floral is a luxury wedding planner in Michigan offering floral, event design, and full service wedding + event planning. Based in Okemos and serving Michigan from Grand Rapids to Metro Detroit.