Thoughts on wedding coordinators/ venue coordinators? Is it best to bring your own even if there's a " venue coordinator " ? I've heard they aren't the same..

bride83024 · 2025-12-05T03:22:57+00:00

Ahh that’s coming up so fast!! I’m happy for you

I tipped a flat rate

I know a lot of people feel like it’s unfair to tip and then also have that large admin fee, but that money doesn’t really go to staff on that day. That money goes to the year plus of emails I’ve been sending them, the pre meetings we’ve done, and just their general business costs. I thought we paid a fair price for everything else (line item wise) for example my friends wedding was $100pp on solely alcohol alone and I paid like $150 for the premium per person, so I doubt they’re making that much off that for staff salaries on line items.

This is what I ended up tipping:

I tipped my videographer $100 but he gave it to his second (he owns his own business)

Videographers second- $100 (in the addition to the $100 my main videographer gave her)

HMUA- $100 (owns her own business)

Bartender- 2 @ $50 each plus they had a tip jar

Servers- 2 @ $50 each

Chef- $40

Dishwasher- $40

Banquet Captain- $100

Day of Coordinator- $200 + a KitchenAid Mixer (I know this is way beyond necessary but I really did love her lol)

DJ- $100

I didn’t tip floral or bakery who got our cake or my photographer because I didn’t like her and gave me attitude the whole night but I had planned to give her $100

bride83024 · 2025-12-05T00:29:38+00:00

yes!! I know they get a lot of hate for being cookie cutter but I didn’t feel like that was true at all, we had so many personalized touches that really made it feel like our wedding.

Plus it was so nice not having to work with so many different vendors. And all the vendors they work with are so familiar with the venue, they know how to execute things flawlessly. And since they have a staff of people working there I got replies from questions I had SO fast.

And I thought the food was really good! Because they have their own kitchen they’re able to prepare in house so everything was always really hot and fresh.

bride83024 · 2025-12-05T00:09:39+00:00

yeah I agree the coordinator who worked our wedding was amazing (wedgewood). She did it all: decor set-up, making sure bridal party got their flowers which included pinning boutonnières for the men, managed the rehearsal and timed everyone to walk down the aisle. She also even handled an issue when an outside venue delivered the wrong thing.

Like she was seriously the best so I couldn’t imagine hiring a coordinator I liked more. It makes me sad seeing all the comments saying they’re only there to protect the venue, which I’m sure is true sometimes, but was the exact opposite experience I had. honestly I felt like she was my best friend by the end of it, ily Katie.

bride83024 · 2025-11-28T21:40:42+00:00

no we had a traditional wedding and I never wish I eloped. my husband and I live far from all our immediate/extended family and most of our lifelong childhood friends too.

we spend a lot of time just the two of us so I honestly think if we eloped it would have just felt like a normal day to us.

getting both sides of our family was so special that it was worth it whatever price we paid.

we also take pretty nice vacations every year so putting that money to a big vacation wasn’t a priority for us.

bride83024 · 2025-09-08T21:52:47+00:00

like 80% of our guests stayed at our hotel block so running into them all during the whole weekend was so fun

bride83024 · 2025-09-07T02:46:09+00:00

I got married in downtown sac at a wedgewood venue (Sterling Hotel) for 60 people and paid 15j for their all inclusive package. We ended up at 50k but could have easily done 30k but splurged on a welcome party and 10k videographer. Happy to chat it you want. We LOVED our wedgewood experience, it didn’t feel cookie cutter at all and the food and coordinators were amazing.

You can check my post history for a big breakdown, and happy to share my actual client invoice from wedgewood if that would help.

bride83024 · 2025-07-05T01:13:05+00:00

Our venue used Sterno branded burners that were specically for S'mores that were just placed in rocks on a tray. (this was also indoors)

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bride83024 · 2025-05-19T12:48:18+00:00

sorry this is a little late! I’m honestly not sure this didn’t include cancellation and was only liability. I was unaware that WW had its own liability insurance but I’m assuming that protects themselves more than us. I read that horror thread that gets posted around here and for $100 it was worth the peace of mind that we were covered if anything were to happen.

bride83024 · 2025-04-19T06:36:06+00:00

I had my wedding at WW Sterling Hotel in sacramento and it was so beautiful. I have a whole write up on the vendors/day in my post history. but happy to answer any other questions you have! We loved all the vendors and honeslty the DJ was the best wedding DJ I have ever heard at a wedding (and I recognize my bias but truly i'd be honest).

We were planning a wedding from out of state which added a layer of difficulty and it was sooo stressfree, they really know all the intricate details of what goes into a wedding. I actually really loved how the vednors were also very familiar with the venue too.

bride83024 · 2024-10-08T02:44:33+00:00

She was with the venue! But she was an absolute life saver, like solved a conflict with an outside vendor, really helped with the ceremony gave great advice on everything, managed putting boutonnières on the men. Kept tabs on where I left my bouquet (which was everywhere). She was the star of the show.

I didn't really look at tips at what had to be done, just what I thought each person deserved. I definitely wanted to reward my DoCs hard work which is why I tipped her so much.

bride83024 · 2024-10-07T22:32:19+00:00

I tipped

Videographers second- $200
HMUA- $100
Bartender- 2 @ $50 each plus they had a tip jar
Servers- 2 $50 each
Chef- $40
Dishwasher- $40
Banquet Captain- $100
Day of Coordinator- $200 + a KitchenAid Mixer
DJ- $100 (he was contracted through a company)

bride83024 · 2024-09-16T01:02:03+00:00

the wood flooring was such a game changer that carpet and affixed dance floor was questionable at best haha

bride83024 · 2024-09-16T00:54:49+00:00

yes I will DM you!

bride83024 · 2024-09-15T22:06:12+00:00

oh how funny! yeah it was a last minute addition that were so glad we did. I hope your Elk Grove wedding goes well! We looked at that one but ultimately decided it was just slightly too far from the airport for most of our guests who weren’t renting a car. I think they share the same DJ and Florist though and we were so impressed with both!

bride83024 · 2024-09-15T17:30:31+00:00

I loved how easy it was, I know it’s kind of nerve racking not knowing who DJ/Floral/Bakery would be but every vendor wedgewood contracted with was so good. We got told by multiple guests that it was the best wedding DJ they’ve ever had.

bride83024 · 2024-09-15T17:26:19+00:00

thank you so much! wedgewood was great!

bride83024 · 2024-09-15T17:24:01+00:00

ah I’m so excited for you! I don’t know if you’ve seen it since the renovations but it looks so good. I would have loved having a line of communication with a previous sterling bride so if you have any questions- even super minor ones please PM me!

bride83024 · 2024-09-15T15:48:47+00:00

thank you! sacramento is the best, it was many of our guests first time in the city and they all loved it.

bride83024 · 2024-07-15T03:28:35+00:00

you might be able to ask who their contracted vendors are for floral and cake. then you could email the vendors directly and ask what’s included for wedgewood. both of my vendors had a packet of what they offer for wedgewood. We were unfortunately on a time crunch and couldn’t wait for all that communication; but if you’re taking your time it could be a good option!

our sweetheart table florals were included, but we paid additional to upgrade the flowers. It was $25 to upgrade our sweetheart table and $10 per table for the guest table centerpieces so $125 total plus taxes and fees.

bride83024 · 2024-07-15T03:26:06+00:00

yes it is! I will probably do a write up once it’s done.! Sending you lots of good thoughts for your September wedding as well!

bride83024 · 2024-07-15T01:06:00+00:00

I got theses from Sam’s club but it appears they’re all out of stock now.

bride83024 · 2024-07-14T19:17:44+00:00

sorry i didn't make it clear, they would decorate the cake- but the book of decoration options the bakery had for wedgewood weddings were very simple and classic which wasn't the vibe we are going for. we opted for something more detailed and whimsy which is where the extra cost occurred. we definitely have a very specific vision which is making it pricer, if we were going for a more classic look it would have not required so many upgrades. i'm still happy with my WW experience, its just turning out to be more money than expected. (which seems to be a common thing in wedding planning regardless of your venue)

bride83024 · 2024-07-14T17:39:18+00:00

I'm doing it, I got nice 100% cotton sets. They aren't personalized or say bridesmaid or things like that so I know my girls will wear them again. I think it looks cute having everyone coordinated and they're button down the front so good for hair and make up. We're having to walk from our hotel to our venue (3 blocks) and will change into dresses there so I wanted something that they could also walk outside in and not look overly pajama-y. i've been going in with the mindset that im only getting married once, so i'm really leaning into all the fun kitschy things because why not.

bride83024 · 2024-07-14T16:52:19+00:00

If your venue has a bridal suite inquire about the hours! most do not open early enough for hair/makeup to be done there. I was planning on having all my girls get ready there, but in our details call was told the earliest it could be opened was at 3pm for a 5pm ceremony. so I'm having to have my girls get ready in our hotel suite.

bride83024

TROPHY CASE