What You Need to Consider Before Letting a Friend Plan or Coordinate Your Wedding
Weddings are fun! They really are. But before the party, we all know there’s a whole lot of to-dos…
If you have a friend willing and eager to help you plan your wedding or run the show on the day of, you might be excited to take them up on their offer. Before you hand over your planning checklist or start delegating wedding day responsibilities, there are a two major things you need to consider!
1) The value of professionalism and experience: a wedding coordinator has the training and intuition to make your wedding day the best!
A professional wedding planner/coordinator will be taken more seriously and we can be assertive if needed. Without pre-existing relationships to muddle boundaries, it’s much easier for us to wrangle your wedding party without stepping on any toes or being labeled as “the bossy friend”.
Wedding coordinators can anticipate vendor needs and potential hiccups because we’ve seen it all before, and we have built a rapport with local vendors that allows us to work in sync.
Our processes are tried & true. Wedding coordinators know exactly what to ask, what details need to be discussed and what the venue needs to be informed of. We also have the tools to get you (and your vendor team) perfectly organized before wedding day — including creating a seamless timeline.
Guests enjoying cocktail hour at Ivory North Co. // Grace Byron Photography
2) The experience you want your friend to have as a guest at your wedding.
When a friend (or, good grief, a bridesmaid!) volunteers to run your wedding day, there is the assumption that this person will still be joining the party and celebrating with you.
But, if they are truly fulfilling the role of what a professional wedding coordinator would do, there won’t be much downtime to join the fun — they’ll need to be managing décor, communicating with vendors, and directing the timeline, remember?
Will they have time for hair/makeup and to join in your getting ready photos and amp you up for the day if they’re placing centerpieces?
Will they be able to stand alongside you as you say your vows if they are supposed to be the ones to cue the wedding party to walk down the aisle?
Can they relax with a drink during cocktail hour if they need to move or repurpose your ceremony décor in the reception space and help direct guests?
Will they be able to sit and enjoy their dinner when they should be checking in with the DJ, photographer, and videographer to confirm timing for speeches, prompting speech-givers, or perhaps greeting vendors like your photobooth or dessert truck?
Unfortunately, your poor friend will likely be so busy managing the details to make sure you enjoy the celebration, that they can’t actually enjoy it with you. That’s probably not how you want them to remember your wedding!
There is so much that goes into coordinating a wedding and, simply put, hiring a wedding coordinator will alleviate stress and ensure you (and your friends & family) have the best possible wedding day!
Realizing you probably need a wedding coordinator? Let’s chat and see if we’re a fit!
How can I make my friends feel included if they want to help plan my wedding?
We love a supportive group of friends! Here are a few fun ways to use their help. Your crew can…
Brainstorm décor ideas and color palettes with you.
Make DIY centerpieces and coordinate craft trips to Hobby Lobby and Michael’s.
Assemble invitations, guest favors, or welcome baskets.
Send you recommendations for their favorite hair & makeup artists, florists, or photographers from Instagram!
Create wedding party gifts.
Be a sounding board for your vows or help you pick the most so-you ceremony & reception songs.
That said, can you have a friend as your day of coordinator?
Sure, if that’s what you want! But things might be a liiiiittle more buttoned-up with a professional by your side. Wedding planners and coordinators are professionally trained and we do this for a living!
Our experience ensures your wedding day will flow seamlessly so you and your guests can truly enjoy the celebration. Not to mention, with our team on-site, your friend will be able to actually celebrate with you!
Let your besties live in the moment with you! // Mads Lizotte
If you want to enjoy the days leading up to your wedding rather than stressing over last-minute details or vendor needs, you’re going to need a wedding coordinator.
With HappiLily Events, our work perfecting your wedding day starts ~2 months before the celebration. This means you’ll have a trusted resource to professionally tie up every detail, manage vendor communications, create a seamless timeline, address any last-minute needs or changes, and ensure your plans are executed exactly as you’ve envisioned.
Celebrate on the dance floor while your wedding coordinator manages the day // Erin Rae Photography
HappiLily Events has experience planning weddings for couples from all over the Midwest (MN, Wisconsin, Chicago, North Dakota) and even a few East-coasters from Massachusetts and New York. Love is love and we celebrate all couples.
We have experience working with golf courses, brewery and winery venues, barns, ballrooms, and event centers (Ivory North, Harriet Island Pavilion, Minneapolis Event Center, The Hutton House, Hidden Greens, FIVE Event Center, Camrose Hill Flower Farm, Hidden Meadow & Barn, Villa Bellezza Winery, Madison Public Library, Nicollet Island Inn, Union Depot, Minneapolis Golf Club and the Minnesota National Golf Course — just to name a few!). We’ve also supported couples through private property weddings at their family homes and AirBnBs.
