Day of Coordinator | Dallas Wedding Photographer

What’s a Day of Coordinator? 

I’ve had a lot of brides work with wedding planners, and a lot of brides work without them. It really depends on your personality type and the amount of time you have to put into wedding planning. But one thing I can say for certain is that every bride can benefit from a Day of Coordinator (DOC). 

Simply put, a DOC is a person you hire to make sure your wedding day runs smoothly. Wedding planners include day-of-coordination in their packages, but you can also hire someone for only the actual day if you aren’t working with a planner. DOC’s can help with anything from coffee delivery that morning, setting up the reception space, and making sure vendors know where to be.

Why should you consider one?

DOCs are extremely helpful. You may think they’re unnecessary, since you already have someone at your venue assigned to help coordinate things that day. But someone who works for the venue is mainly looking out for the venue. They’ll most likely be more concerned with making sure the venue is cleaned at the end of the night and no rules are broken than making sure your baker knew what time she needed to deliver the cake at. Some venues have DOC’s as part of their packages that will help you but most of them do not. Having someone you hired, who you’re paying directly, can help make sure they’re focused on you and the flow of events.

One great thing about DOCs is that they’re perfect for brides who don’t necessarily want a wedding planner for every step of the way. If brides want to be the ones hiring vendors, designing the look of their wedding, and managing the small wedding-prep details, they can hire a DOC without feeling the need to bring on a full-on wedding planner. It’s also a more affordable option for brides who just don’t have a planner in their budget. They become the point of contact for the day so you can relax and enjoy your day.  

If you choose to hire a Day of Coordinator, one of the main benefits they bring is vendor coordination. Your DOC can send your timeline to your vendors, make sure they know when they need to arrive, and coordinate with the venue. Your wedding should be the best day of your life, not a day spent panicking over place settings. 

DOCs can also specifically help your photographer. By keeping things on schedule, like hair and makeup, they help ensure that everyone is ready at the designated time photographers need. They also make for more relaxed mornings and less wrangling by the bride. Which means prettier getting ready photos and an overall more joyful, calm feel. They can help decorate the venue as well as keep things organized when it’s time to pack up.

DOC’s are worth it!!

You definitely don’t need a DOC, but hiring one is a major benefit to your wedding. From a wedding photographer to a bride-to-be, I’d encourage you to at least explore the possibility. 

Here is a list of a few Dallas area DOC’s I love working with:

Barbara – Joined By Love

Blake – Occasions Event & Design

Donna – Emerald Aisle Events

Kelli – Ever Thine Events

Krystal – Krystal Clear Coordinating (She’s Bilingual too)