What a wedding planner does
A planner works with you over months to design and organise the wedding. They shape the vision, set and manage the budget, find the venue, source and book every vendor, and build the structure of the day. A full planner is involved from engagement to send-off; a partial planner picks up part way through.
Think of a planner as the architect and project manager. They make the hundreds of decisions a wedding requires manageable, and they carry the research, the contracts and the problem solving so you do not have to.
What a wedding coordinator does
A coordinator focuses on running the logistics, usually in the final weeks and on the day. You do the planning; they make sure the plan happens. They confirm vendors, build the run sheet, manage the rehearsal and then direct the day so nothing falls to you or your family.
On-the-day coordination is the most common form, and despite the name it typically starts 4 to 6 weeks out. It is the lightest-touch level of professional support and the one most DIY couples are relieved they booked.
A coordinator also keeps your suppliers on schedule on the day, which matters most for time-sensitive vendors like your Adelaide wedding videographer, who needs to be in the right place for every key moment.
Which one do you need?
If you have the time and enjoy planning but do not want to run the day, you need a coordinator. If you are time-poor, planning from interstate, or want an expert managing the whole thing, you need a planner. If you have started and stalled, partial planning sits neatly in between.
Venue type tips the balance too. A full-service venue with an in-house team needs less than a dry-hire barn or vineyard where everything is brought in. The more blank the canvas, the more a planner or a strong coordinator earns their fee.
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Get a Planner QuoteWhat each costs in Adelaide
Indicatively, a coordinator in Adelaide runs from around $1,200 to $4,000 depending on the level, while full planning ranges from $4,000 to $12,000 or more. Partial planning sits between at roughly $2,500 to $6,000. The right spend is the one that removes the right amount of work for you.
Not sure which you need? Tell us your date, your venue and how much you have done, and we will match you with up to 3 vetted Adelaide planners or coordinators at the right level, free and with no obligation.
