Bella Vita Weddings and Events

Are you wondering if you really need a Professional Bridal Consultant when your wedding/reception site has an on-site coordinator and staff to assist you? To help you make an informed decision, here is a breakdown of the most common duties that you can expect each to fulfill.

Your hotel or wedding site sales manager/coordinator will usually:
1. Act as your primary Hotel Contact, available to answer questions and provide suggestions along the way.
2. Act as menu consultant for all food and beverage selections.
3. Detail your Banquet Event Order outlining the event specifics.
4. Create an Estimate of Charges for the hotel outlining your financial commitments and deposit schedule.
5. Establish contact with a room sales manager for your guestroom block (if applicable), who will monitor the status of reservations.
6. Personally oversee the details of the bride and groom’s room reservation.
7. Oversee the setup of the ceremony and receptions room (s), food preparation and other hotel operations.
8. Ensure a seamless transition to the hotel’s Banquet Manager on the day of your event.
9. Review your banquet checks for accuracy prior to the completion of your final bill.
10. Recommend outside Special Event Professionals to provide music, floral, photography, ceremony officiating, invitations and professional wedding coordination.

Your Professional Wedding Coordinator will usually:
1. Assist with etiquette and protocol for invitations, family matters, ceremony and toasts.
2. Create a time line for your entire wedding day, including the ceremony and reception.
3. Work with you to organize and coordinate your ceremony rehearsal. Remind your bridal party of all pertinent instructions on your wedding day.
4. Confirm details with your contracted vendors several days prior to your wedding day.
5. Be the liaison with your family, bridal party, band/DJ, florist, photographer and other vendors.
6. Assist the bride and bridal party with dressing.
7. Ensure the ladies have their corsages and bouquets, assist the gentlemen with pinning on the boutonnieres, (necessary if your florist does not provide a full-service delivery, more about that in another blog post.)
8. Deliver and arrange ceremony programs, place cards, favors and any personal items.
9. Coordinate the grand entrance, first dance, toasts, cake cutting and other operations of your reception.
10. Coordinate with your contracted vendors and Banquet Manager to ensure the timeliness of your event.

11. Collect and/or store any personal items you may have brought at the conclusion of the reception.
12. Collect all wedding gifts and ensure they are in the appropriate location at the conclusion of the event.
13. Assist you with full service coordination from your engagement to your honeymoon.

Most full service coordinators will assist you with budget planning, accompany you to vendor appointments and attend your final dress fitting. In addition, instead of just giving you a recommended vendor list, your personal Bridal Consultant will recommend vendors after getting to know your style, personality and budget.

Many wedding/reception sites have an on-site coordinator available for the day of your wedding; however, his or her duties are generally concerned with matters dealing with the site only. Your personal Professional Bridal Consultant will work together with the on-site coordinator, caring for all the details of the entire event. I have found on-site coordinators to be very cooperative; we share the mutual goal of creating the best experience for our bridal couples. The list of services offered may vary from one Bridal Consultant to another; make sure your contract lists the duties that you expect your Professional Bridal Consultant to fulfill. Now, relax and enjoy your fabulous wedding day!

Tags: bridal consultant, on-site wedding coordinator, vendor, wedding