page 101 X metropolitan weddings
X winter / spring 2026 the basics:
SO LET’ S START WITH THE BASICS- WHAT TYPES OF WEDDING PLANNERS ARE THERE?
A FULL SERVICE WEDDING PLANNER This person is with you from the moment you say“ yes” through the sparkler send off. A wedding planner coordinates months of planning and day-of timelines, helps you budget( and stay within your budget!), manages day-of logistics, coordinates with vendors, helps with decor selection, and often has trusted connections. A wedding planner is more involved in arranging all the details of your wedding, under your guidance of course, helping you make your dream come true. Jessica Pond specializes in full service wedding planning.“ I guide couples through every detail of their wedding journey— from concept and design to vendor selection and timeline management. Transforming their vision into a stress-free, beautifully designed wedding, with a personalized plan that reflects their style and story, and a final day that is flawlessly executed is my goal, creating weddings that are beautiful, intentional, and unforgettable.”
Misty Willinger, of Misty Willinger Events, also specializes in full wedding planning and wedding management.“ One of my favorite things is when parents call to book wedding management as a gift, often to themselves! Truly, they want to be fully present on their child’ s wedding day instead of worrying about setup, vendors, or timelines. The day is too meaningful to miss a single moment.” Misty says she has spent the last decade refining their wedding management experience so couples can look back on their wedding day with complete gratitude- remembering how present, calm, and cared for they felt.“ We take on the stress so you can soak in every moment.”
A DAY-OF WEDDING COORDINATOR This person focuses just on your wedding day. They are the ones who can hand out the payments and tips to the vendors, make sure you stay on schedule, handle questions as they pop up so that you are not bothered with a million and one things. Kayla Sheets says,“ My speciality is day-of coordinating- making sure everything runs smoothly so couples can truly relax and enjoy their day. I also offer rentals and design, which ties everything together beautifully. Couples love that I can help with both the logistics and the overall look, so the whole day feels cohesive and stress-free.”
Taking a load off of the bride is what prompted Jordyn Gianopulos, of Jordyn Ann Events, to jump into the wedding coordinating business as well.“ I saw how stressed my friends were who were getting married and did not have a day-of coordinator. I love to plan and no bride or groom should have to stress on this important day.” Jordyn advises couples to find a coordinator who is willing to be your advocate and voice- no matter what.
A DESTINATION WEDDING COORDINATOR This person works where you intend to have your wedding and coordinates all the details from afar so that you do not have to. You can just show up to your paradise and say“ I do!” the questions:
BEFORE YOU HIRE A PLANNER OR COORDINATOR BE SURE YOU ASK THESE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS!
Are you available on my wedding day? If you have an emergency, who is your back up? This seems like a minor detail, but you want to make sure they are at your event or at least know what Plan B is.
Have you worked with my venue before? If so, they probably know the logistics of the venue and even have a relationship with the owners and / or staff which will make things a lot easier. If not, make sure they are willing to work with your venue and vendors to make your dream wedding come true.
How many weddings do you typically plan / coordinate in a year? Are they too busy to give you the time and attention you need?
How long have you been in this business? Someone experienced may have more connections, but do not discount those new to the industry. Quality over quantity!
What are your prices and do you offer any packages? A full package may be out of your budget, but there may be other packages that your coordinator can offer that will make your day go much smoother.
How many meetings will we have? You need to be clear about the level of involvement you expect. Are you hands-on with every detail or would you rather give them your vision and let them run with it?
Would we get a discount if we work with any of your recommended vendors? It is always smart to ask if there are any discounts or packages available by working together with trusted businesses.
What tasks are we responsible for after we hire you? Make sure you are aware of exactly what your planner’ s responsibilities are and what they expect of you. You would hate to show up at your wedding and you both thought the other person was booking the DJ!
Do you have a complete list of what is included in your fee? A seasoned professional will be happy to share this with you.
Do you have a list of references we could contact? And definitely call these references. Ask them how satisfied they were with their coordinator and would they hire them again.
You’ ll want to make sure you find the right wedding planner or day-of coordinator for your unique wedding needs. Thankfully, there are quality, experienced ones to choose from here in the 417 area. We’ re here to help you choose the perfect detailed planner for your special day, taking a load of stress off of your shoulders.
HOW TO HAVE A STRESS-FREE WEDDING wedding planning & coordinating
Cassidy hope events Jordyn ann events misty willinger events Signature event rental & Coordinating your events by jess
X xoxo