Advice is an important aspect of our publication so that you can make educated wedding planning decisions. One tip that we tell all of our couples, no matter their budget or guest count, is to hire a wedding planner.

The roles of a full-service wedding planner and a day-of coordinator are vital yet distinctly different. Understanding these differences is crucial, as many couples mistakenly think a day-of planner has similar roles to that of a full-service one.

“Full-service wedding planning is a relationship, whereas day-of coordination is a date and time. Both exist to fulfill certain roles based on the needs of the couple and are typically paid a flat fee for a certain level of planning or an hourly rate based on estimated time. Most luxury weddings or those with several moving parts will require a full-service planner as they are largely involved from the outset, planning months (or years) in advance by helping to acquire the venue, vendors, space, and decor. Day-of coordination is simply to make sure the event runs smoothly the day of with a clear itinerary and a proactive approach to the timeline. The best way to proceed is to decide which is best for you and what is in the budget.” -Brandon Wheeler, Gulf Beach Weddings

“There are so many differences between day-of coordination and full-service coordination, so it is important to understand what is most important to you. Do you enjoy planning and organizing, especially in regard to email correspondence and vendor research? Do you have enough time in your personal work schedule to allocate a decent amount of time to wedding planning, especially in the first two to four months after selecting your venue? Do you like designing and understanding your vision? Do you want to be involved in less of the planning and coordinating and more of just decision making with less stress? These are just a few questions to start with!” Lauren Gertz, of MDP Events

To learn which type of planner best suits your needs, we asked our preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay wedding planners for insight on the differences between a day-of and full-service wedding planner.

“Despite the name, there is no such thing as a true ‘day-of’ coordinator. These services typically begin at least a month before the wedding to ensure everything runs smoothly. During this time, we gather all the necessary details, create your timeline, confirm vendors, and design the floor plan. The week of the wedding, we send a detailed email to all vendors with essential documents, load-in information, and final instructions. The best way to think of a day-of coordinator is as the executor of your planning. You handle all the pre-wedding decisions, and we step in to oversee the day itself. Our role is to be the liaison between you, your guests, and the vendors—allowing you to relax and enjoy your day without having to answer questions or troubleshoot issues. However, we are not involved in the design process, vendor selection, or pre-planning beyond timelines and logistics.” -Delaney Driver, Wilder Mind Events

“Day-of coordination – the lifesaver for last-minute details! This service is perfect for those who’ve handled most of the planning themselves but want to make sure everything runs smoothly as the wedding day approaches. Different planning companies offer varying levels of day-of coordination or event management. Generally, your coordinator steps in around one to two months before your wedding, tying up loose ends, confirming vendor contracts, and crafting a detailed timeline to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. Many local planners also provide helpful tools like checklists and recommended vendor lists, acting as your personal guide to navigate the final stages of your wedding planning with ease and expertise” -Ashley Johnson, B Eventful

“Day-of coordination is an odd name. Our team prefers wedding day management. No one can walk in on the wedding day and know everything you’ve contracted for, family dynamics, and how everything fits together. We invest a reasonable amount of time working with the couple leading up to the wedding. Not only to learn about who they have hired and what the expectations are but to make sure you haven’t missed anything. There are many times that couples still need to finalize details with wedding vendors and have last-minute details that fall off of their radar. We help pick up the pieces so things run smoothly on the wedding day. Wedding day management is all about troubleshooting and organization.” -Tammy Waterman, Special Moments Event Planning

“You should hire a day-of coordinator, but it’s important to understand that day-of coordination, or event management as we call it, has a number of limitations. This package is a service level that focuses on the weeks leading up to and on the wedding day only. Whether they hop in two weeks out or 60 days before, the role stays the same: to what you’ve planned and make sure it actually happens the way it should. You’ve made the decisions—now it’s time to hand over the clipboard and breathe. They’ll review contracts, cross-check invoices, fine-tune your timeline, confirm with vendors, and troubleshoot any last-minute, ‘what is this?’ surprises. On wedding day, they’re the behind-the-scenes boss making sure everything runs like a well-oiled, flower-filled, prosecco-powered machine—so you can stay fabulous and chaos-free.” -Staci Mandikas, UNIQUE Weddings + Events

“Day of coordination is all about hiring a team to manage the logistics and timing of your day so you can relax and know it’s all taken care of. It’s the service you choose if you feel like you can manage designing and planning your wedding but don’t want to be worried about any of the details on your wedding day. Typically, this starts anywhere from 30-60 days from your date, so all of the planning is done. Your coordinator should be helping you wrap things up, create your timeline, and be present to manage the event. At a minimum, a day of coordinator is a must have and some venues even require it. Planners are here to guide you, offer advice, expert knowledge and support in making informed decisions on every aspect of your wedding. You will manage all the vendor communcitions during the planning process but you have an expert arming you with all the knowledge and support to make those connections. Your planners will be there on your wedding day to coordinate all the details.” -Karen Cerboni, EventFull Weddings

“Day-of coordination is meant to help with the actual day of only. That being said, some planners offer month-of coordination and will answer any email questions or give vendor recommendations along the way. We assist with putting together the timeline, floor plan, seating design, vendor details, and vendor contact information for your stress-free big day! We start working together four months out and also do a venue site visit to make sure everything is all set for your celebration. Your DOC is there to manage all of your vendors so everyone understands where they are going, what they are setting up, and how the timing of the day will run. They are there to make sure you don’t have to worry about anything, and you can just get ready, enjoy pictures, and take every moment in without any stress. Instead of having family and friends set up all of your personal details, hire day-of or full-service planning so everyone at your wedding can celebrate you and not have to worry about the details. However, all coordination options are different, and there are lots of options in between that you can determine are best for you.” -Lauren Gertz, MDP Events

“There are so many levels of ‘day of coordination’ or ‘month of management’ and they are all misnomers. You should always hire a professional who is willing and able to review your wedding details, your vendors, and your event logistics far in advance of ‘the day of.’ In order to manage and take over communication with your vendors, a coordinator needs to step in before vendor-given deadlines, so you have the proper number of rentals, centerpieces, linens, meals, etc.” -Amber Schryver, Oh My Occasions

“Partial planning is for the couple who started off strong—maybe you booked the venue, locked in a few vendors, and built a killer Pinterest board—then realized, ‘Okay, this is… a lot.’ A partial planner jumps in whenever it makes sense for you (early, mid-way, or deep in the overwhelm) and helps bring clarity, direction, and structure to the process. They’ll review what’s been done, fill in the missing pieces, offer pro-level advice, and keep the momentum going. You stay in the driver’s seat, but now you’ve got a seasoned co-pilot keeping things on track and making sure nothing (and no one) falls through the cracks. It’s a good option for couples who have a somewhat flexible schedule and are comfortable with the planning process but still want the experience and expertise of a wedding planner involved. Not all wedding planners offer this, so it’s important to gather initial package and pricing information from any wedding planner that you are considering, so you understand the different levels of service that they provide.” -Staci Mandikas, UNIQUE Weddings + Events

“A partial planner focuses on transforming your vision into reality. With our partial planning package, we collaborate with you on design and aesthetics, ensuring every detail is cohesive and thoughtfully executed. Think of this as the ‘pretty things’ package—it’s all about the look and feel of your day. We work directly with design-related vendors (florists, rental companies, etc.) to bring your creative ideas to life. Additionally, we provide checklists and regular check-ins to help you stay on top of your planning responsibilities, ensuring no detail is overlooked.” -Delaney Driver, Wilder Mind Events

“The role of a wedding coordinator includes so much. If you’re just doing day of coordinating, we typically start helping at about 60 days out. We always try to help with simple questions along the way, but having a full wedding planner is truly a blessing because we help from day one. We can literally help with everything, including logistics, creating a vision with a mood board, and finding the best vendors to make your wedding day dream come alive. We help by attending all meetings with the vendors, getting them booked, aligning them with your budget, and making all the details come to life. We also help with contracts and all the details. The great thing about full planning is it helps keep your overall design in line throughout the entire process. Not only with the florals and decor but also through stationery, save the dates, and website design. It truly entails so much and helps with everything from day one. Plus, having a professional who you can trust from day one with everything is so great. It really takes the event from start to finish and takes so much of the stress of all the details off your shoulders ” -Katy Martin, Coastal Coordinating

“If you have a busy personal or professional schedule, then full-service wedding planning is a great option for you. It is the ultimate, all-in, ride-or-die package. A full-service planner is with you from, ‘We’re engaged!’ to ‘Last call at the after-party!’—managing every moving part along the way. They’ll scout venues, build budgets, create timelines, handle vendor emails, manage contracts, solve problems before you ever hear about them, and make sure your wedding is equal parts flawless and fun. You focus on cake tastings and fabulous shoes—they handle the logistics, the people, the plans, and the pivots. It’s comprehensive, stress-free planning tailored to you—executed like a pro, so you can party like one. There are much fewer limitations within this level of service, as the planner takes on the full responsibility of all of the planning of the wedding. It can take an additional 10-20 hours a week to plan a wedding, so a couple must ask themselves, do they have the time to take on the time equivalent of a part-time job? And, being available during business hours will also need to be required as multiple emails, phone calls, and meetings will need to take place during the week, during the typical 9-5 hours. Wedding vendors are very busy on the weekends doing events, so they will do most of their ‘office work’ and meetings during the week, and most of them have very limited availability during the weeknights, as they have families themselves.” -Staci Mandikas, Owner, UNIQUE Weddings + Events

“For us, full-service wedding planning is about building relationships. There is a lot of time invested by our team and the couple, and you want to be a good fit for each other. Part of our responsibility is to help you create an event that reflects the two of you. It’s not our day! We’re here to assist you in finding the best wedding vendors, keep planning on track, and make a day that’s all about the couple’s cultures, families, and personalities.” -Tammy Waterman, Special Moments Event Planning

“Full planning services are like having a personal guide who leads you through every step of the wedding process. With this service, you hand over the reins to an experienced wedding planner who works alongside you throughout the entire journey. From choosing the perfect venue and color scheme to creating the guest list, managing vendors, and handling every little detail, like signage and layouts, it’s as if a wedding expert is weaving their magic to bring your dream day to life.” -Ashley Johnson, B Eventful

“If you have the budget, hiring a full-service planner is ideal and recommended for the ultimate in all-inclusive stress-free wedding planning. A full-service planner takes all the heavy lifting of sourcing, quoting, contract negotations off of your plate giving you the gift of time. Some full planners also offer design service. I tell my clients you can be as hands on or hands off as you like in the process. Full-service planning typically includes additional services like mailing invitations, tracking RSVPs, and preparing welcome bags for hotel guests. Every company may have different services included so be sure to compare the details. When deciding which is right for you, consider not only your budget but how much time do you really have or want to devote to the business side of wedding planning like sourcing, calling, and emailing vendors. An average wedding can have 10-15 vendors. If you get just two quotes from each that’s a lot of phone calls and emails.” -Karen Cerboni, EventFull Weddings

“For lack of a better term—this is your ‘hand-holding’ package. We are with you every step of the way, managing the entire planning process from start to finish. This service is perfect for busy professionals or anyone who prefers to be in a decision-making role rather than handling the logistical heavy lifting. With full-service planning, we oversee vendor communication, review contracts, track your budget, and handle all the nitty-gritty details. Our goal is to take the stress off your plate, making the experience seamless and enjoyable.” – Delaney Driver, Wilder Mind Events

“If you don’t get much enjoyment out of the outreach, planning, organizing, and also don’t have much time in your own personal and work schedule, full-service may be for you if it is in your budget! It is important to know that although it is full-service, and we provide complete management, you still have the final answer and vision behind your own wedding day. Full-service manages all of your vendor recommendations and outreach, all correspondence to inquire and edit proposals, your design from florals and rentals to invitations and day of details, all of your guest transportation and accommodations, your welcome bags and budget spreadsheet, and of course, your wedding day from start to finish as well as everything in between!” -Lauren Gertz, MDP Events

“Every planner offers varying services and levels of involvement in planning or managing your event. A full-service planner is with the couple from start to finish. From the initial design concept to securing vendors, managing the budget, and even handling day-of coordination, this planner ensures no detail is left unchecked. They’re essentially the ‘project manager’ of the entire wedding planning process, overseeing often 12+ months of planning. We offer a ‘complete collection’ akin to full-service that is ideal for those who have little time or desire to be involved in every detail of the planning process, and trust a professional to execute their celebration in a way that exceeds their expectations.” -Amber Schryver, Oh My Occasions

“A wedding designer is your creative visionary—the person who takes all your, ‘I just want something different’ energy and turns it into a cohesive, jaw-dropping visual experience. They’re not booking your caterer or managing your guest list (that’s planning), but they are diving deep into your aesthetic, your story, and your style. From color palettes and mood boards to tablescapes, layouts, signage, and lighting, designers focus solely on the vibe. They don’t just make it look pretty—they make it look like you. “-Staci Mandikas, Owner, UNIQUE Weddings + Events

“Not all planners are designers, and not all designers are planners. A designer is like a songwriter, behind the scenes, curating the melody and rhythm and catchy lyrics that a crowd falls in love with. The singer is putting those words into action, and they’re who you see at the concert/on event day performing and in front of the scenes. Sometimes a singer is also a songwriter, and that would be a planner who offers design, to see the whole creative vision to its fruition. Be cautious of someone who ‘offers design’ and is only showing a color palette and a handful of centerpiece photos. A genuine planner will take the time to curate a well-thought out mood board or deck to present to you with everything from signage, tabletop pairings, unique concepts, custom builds, and more, that really reflect what they know about you.” -Amber Schryver, Oh My Occasions

“Planning a wedding requires careful coordination of many details, each contributing to the success of your big day. There are different levels of wedding planning support to ensure everything comes together smoothly. To determine which service best suits your needs, preferences, and lifestyle, start by asking yourself a few key questions. How much time can you dedicate to planning your wedding? Does hiring a full-service wedding planner fit your budget? What are your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to planning, and how might a professional assist with areas you’re less confident in? Do you want someone to guide you through the entire process, collaborate with you, or just help with finalizing the details? These questions will help you choose the planning service that’s right for you.” -Ashley Johnson, B Eventful

“Choosing the right level of service comes down to your needs and planning style. Full-service planning is ideal for clients who are busy, overwhelmed, or want someone to handle everything. Partial planning is perfect for those who enjoy being hands-on but want support with design and aesthetic execution. Day-of coordination is best for highly organized, type-A clients who have planned everything but need someone to run the show. Most clients fall somewhere in between, which is why partial planning tends to be the most popular option—it offers a balanced mix of support and creative guidance. Another factor to consider is personality fit. Your planner plays a significant role in your wedding day, so it’s essential to find someone whose style and personality mesh with yours. Beyond their expertise, you should feel comfortable and confident in their ability to represent you. Trusting your planner wholeheartedly is just as important as their skill set.” -Delaney Driver, Wilder Mind Events

“How to chose the right package/service for you depends on how much or little involvement you want (or are able) to have in the planning and meetings. Budget is likely a factor in determining what sort of planner you can hire, but note a wedding planner’s cost reflects the immense value they bring to your event. Think of them as the ultimate project manager, meticulously managing every detail of your wedding, from curating and negotiating with vendors to ensuring seamless communication and coordination. They act as the central point of contact for all vendors (and guests) involved, preventing any missteps, delays, or misunderstandings.” -Amber Schryver, Oh My Occasions

“If you have the time to plan your wedding, a good sense of design, and are very organized, you may want to consider at least the day of coordinator. However, if you feel overwhelmed by the process and have a busy life and work schedule, you should definitely consider full planning. Ask any couple if hiring a full-planner was worth it, and the answer would be absolutely yes!” -Karen Cerboni, EventFull Weddings