Everything You Need to Know About Hiring a Month-of Wedding Coordinator

Are you and your partner thinking about hiring a month-of wedding coordinator, but don't know where to start? Although day-of wedding coordinators are popular (and for good reason), you should not rule out adding a month-of wedding planner (or coordinator) to your wedding's dream team.

"While it might seem like month-of and day-of support is the same, it's really difficult for couples to pass their plans over if their coordinator isn't brought into the process beforehand," explains Shelby Donald, month-of wedding coordinator and founder of Shelby Donald & Company in Boise, Idaho. "So, typically day-of coordinators can support what needs to happen, but they're less effective in leading and managing your vendor team since they aren't as privy to all your vendors' responsibilities and plans." If you can allocate a budget for a wedding planner, day-of coordinator and month-of coordinator, you'll be golden.

Luckily, you can search for and reach out to many different types of wedding planners and wedding coordinators (including month-of wedding coordinators) on The Knot Vendor Marketplace. Once you input your location (or marrying location), you can filter by planner (or coordinator) type and service types to explore a list of matching vendors. You'll even be able to see The Knot Best of Wedding awards winners, too.

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In addition to Donald, we tapped a handful of other month-of wedding coordinators to learn more about what exactly a month-of coordinator for a wedding is and what responsibilities you can expect them to assist with leading up to your big day.

In this article: What Is a Month-Of Wedding Coordinator? | Month-Of Wedding Coordinator Duties | Is a Month-Of Coordinator Worth It?

What Is a Month-Of Wedding Coordinator?

A month-of wedding coordinator is quite literally a wedding coordinator who helps couples put the finishing touches on their wedding ceremony, wedding reception (or both) with one month remaining until your wedding. "A month-of coordinator steps in during the final stretch of planning to bring all the pieces together," says Maren Doernbrack, owner and lead coordinator at Bow Valley Weddings in Canada. "While the couple (and sometimes their wedding planner) handles most of the planning on their own, I come in to manage logistics, liaise with vendors, build a detailed timeline and handle everything on the wedding day. It's that final handoff so the couple can let go and fully enjoy what they've created."

Month-Of Wedding Coordinator Duties

It's important to have an understanding of common month-of wedding coordinator duties to ensure the investment you've allotted to cover the month-of wedding coordinator cost not only offers you the best return, but will be put toward a pro who will stay true to your wedding vision. Read on to gain more insight into month-of wedding planner duties, so you can work with the individual whose packages (typically outlined and defined in their month-of wedding coordinator contract) and expertise align with your goals.

Coordinate With Vendors to Organize Timing

While a day-of wedding coordinator might ensure your wedding vendors arrive and complete their necessary tasks when they said they would, as outlined in your vendor contracts, your month-of planner is in charge of confirming and handling the last-minute details to discuss with pros. "I reach out to each vendor to confirm arrival times, setup details and contact information," Doernbrack says. "This ensures that no one is left guessing, and the couple isn't stuck fielding last-minute calls or emails in the days leading up to the wedding when they're likely already juggling guest questions, beauty appointments and trying to pack their bags without forgetting anything important." This also includes making sure any transportation you've arranged for you (or your guests) will be on time, adds Tracie Morris, CEO of You're The Bride, based in the metro Detroit area.

Walk Through Your Wedding Venue in Advance

Although you and your partner may have taken a tour of your wedding venue, there's a good chance that you weren't looking at it through the same lens that a month-of coordinator would to consider all of the logistical components. This is why many month-of wedding planners prioritize visiting your venue ahead of time to evaluate the landscape and outline a plan. "I do a site visit when possible and then build a super-detailed wedding day timeline down to the minute so that everyone involved knows what's happening and when," Doernbrack says. "It becomes the master playbook that guides the whole day and that all vendors involved in the wedding use."

Furthermore, this visit allows your month-of wedding coordinator to familiarize themselves with the venue's team. "This is where we get to see the vision of the couple live and in the space where we will make magic," adds Jakob Wachter, a month-of wedding coordinator and co-owner of Waltz Events in Boise, Idaho.

Finalize Your Wedding Floor Plan

The last thing you want to happen on your wedding day is to arrive at the venue to see that there aren't enough tables, chairs or place settings to accommodate all of your guests who sent in their RSVPs (which the month-of coordinator for your wedding usually tracks). "A month-of coordinator can ensure all table counts and items are clearly shown and ordered for the wedding day," says Cassie Horrell, owner of Wedding Pro Cass Planning near Pittsburgh.

Donald notes that since your wedding-day weather can be unpredictable, problem-solving is a major duty of a month-of coordinator. That said, visiting a venue in advance gives them ample time to think about potential backup options in case you experience inclement weather on your wedding day.

Help With Your Rehearsal

Horrell notes that one of the main duties of a month-of wedding coordinator is running through your rehearsal to ensure your wedding party, musicians, and you and your partner know what to expect. "This is the hardest part, because we have established trust with the couple, but in one night we need to do the same with their families and their wedding parties, which is not an easy task as no one wants a stranger telling them what to do on their first meeting," Wachter says. That said, everyone involved (including your month-of planner) typically feels a lot better and a lot less nervous after a dress rehearsal, Doernbrack explains.

Is a Month-Of Coordinator Worth It?

Yes, a month-of coordinator is worth it for most couples (especially those with larger weddings with larger budgets). Although there are many benefits of hiring a wedding planner, there are also many benefits of hiring a month-of coordinator (which you can do on The Knot Vendor Marketplace) so you and your partner don't have to spend time worrying about any last-minute stressors that you might encounter as your wedding day approaches.

When you hire a month-of coordinator, you'll be able to hand the day-of wedding duties to your day-of coordinator or planner without having to fret about any loose ends since everything will already be taken care of. "I check in with them [the couples] more often, which makes them feel at ease, and anything they are dealing with, they can bring to my attention and I can help them work through any issues," Morris says.

Similar to the questions to ask wedding planners, some questions are recommended for interested month-of coordinators to confirm they'll be worth it for your wedding.

According to Donald, some questions you should ask month-of coordinators include

• Do you provide any planning support before one month out?
• How many hours of coordination do you include?
• Do you have a broader team?
• Do you manage the setup and teardown of our personal decor, and if so, what setup isn't included (catering items, tables and chairs, etc.)?
• How many weddings have you and/or your team coordinated?
• How do you approach collaborating with other wedding vendors?
• Do you offer planning services we can upgrade to if we need more support?