Wedding planning basics: Hiring a planner or doing it yourself

Full-service planners, partial planners and day-of coordinators do very different jobs. Many DIY couples hire a coordinator for the final weeks.

The key points

Full service starts 12+ months out
Partial planning fills gaps mid-way
Day-of coordination runs your plan
A venue coordinator is not a planner

Quick answers

Do we need a wedding planner straight away?

No. If you want full-service planning, book one early; otherwise, a day-of coordinator in the final months is often enough.

Just engagedAll questions

When should you hire a wedding planner?

Book a full-service planner a year or more ahead, before most other vendors. A day-of coordinator is usually booked two to four months before the wedding.

Vendors & contractsAll questions

Should we hire a day-of coordinator?

If you don’t have a full planner, it is the single most useful hire. They take your timeline and run the day so you and your family don’t have to.

Vendors & contractsAll questions

Do we need a day-of coordinator?

If you don’t have a planner, yes — it is the difference between hosting and enjoying.

The wedding dayAll questions

Wedding planning basics: Hiring a planner or doing it yourself

Read more about hiring a planner or doing it yourself

Quick answers

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