Real Talk from a Wedding Photographer
Photo by Anna C. Photography
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Anna C. Photography
Why a Day Of Coordinator changes everything..
“When I was planning my own wedding back in 2023, I was under the impression that a wedding coordinator was over-the-top and expensive. They weren’t necessary because why would I hire someone to do something I could just do myself?
I’m very much the kind of person who doesn’t ask for help unless I NEED it, and I love the satisfaction of completing something on my own. So my husband and I planned our wedding entirely by ourselves, and hardly even asked our friends and family to help. Not because we needed to do it alone, but because I didn’t feel like anyone else knew exactly what was going on in my head and exactly the way I wanted things done. It would be too difficult to explain, and I didn’t want to inconvenience them by asking them to help out.
And I can honestly say that the most stressful days in my life were the day before and the day of my wedding. I could hardly enjoy myself because everyone was asking me questions about the photos, about the ceremony, about the music, and the order of events, and the food.
I felt like I was rushing around, trying to make everything run smoothly, and as unfortunate as it is, I wish I had been able to relax more at my own wedding and really enjoy the moment. At that point, I still didn’t think twice about wishing I had hired a coordinator. No one I knew, none of my sisters, had had one, and it didn’t really cross my mind. It just was what it was, and you planned your own wedding alone.
Fast forward one year. I was hired as the wedding photographer for a wedding in Kalispell, and I became instant friends with the coordinator — Macy. This was the first (and so far the only) wedding I shot that had a coordinator, and I did a 180. I went from thinking there was no point in having a coordinator because they’re expensive and just the sprinkles on the cupcake to firmly believing they are one of the most important parts of a wedding.
As a photographer, I got a whole new perspective on the situation. I knew exactly who to go to with any questions, I didn’t have to bother the bride and groom hardly at all, and everything just flowed so smoothly. The bride and groom thoroughly enjoyed themselves and had SUCH a good time, and that’s largely due to the fact that they didn’t have a single thing to worry about.
I usually shoot solo, so I don’t have an assistant to help me with photos and just to be around when I need someone. With Macy there, I was able to quickly get through family photos, she had a day-of schedule of events for me (that I eventually lost haha), and she made sure everyone ate and was taken care of. She was running around like a chicken with her head cut off, getting everyone in order for the ceremony lineup, helping the bridesmaids with minor inconveniences, telling me where everyone was and helping me corral people — but that’s literally her job.
She is there to make sure everything runs smoothly so YOU DON’T HAVE TO. And that’s something I wish I had known 12 months earlier because I would have been much a more sane, not so bridezilla, bride, and everyone would have benefited from that.
Coordinators should not be at the bottom of your list and the first you nix. They should be at the top right next to your photographer and caterer.
If you want to have a good time at your wedding, and you don’t want people tapping you on the shoulder every five minutes because the groomsmen lost their boutonnieres or the DJ needs to know when to start the first dance or the caterer needs to know how much longer the photos are gonna take so they can start serving food — then a coordinator is a must.
They take all the weight off your shoulders and they become the person everyone goes to for their questions so that you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
I’ve said it time and time again — it is SO hard to be both the host and the guest at your own wedding. Having a coordinator helps take the role of host greatly off your shoulders and allows you to just be honored.”
-Anna C.