The Truth About Your Day of Wedding Coordinator

Kelly Tiszkus
Dec 17
3 min read

There’s a common misconception that a Day-of Coordinator is simply “paid to show up on the wedding day.”

If only it were that simple.

The truth is, by the time your wedding day arrives, weeks (sometimes months) of work have already happened behind the scenes — much of it quietly, intentionally, and often unnoticed. And that’s exactly how it should be.

Day of Coordinator Sweetheart Table Set Up

Let’s pull back the curtain.

The Work Starts Weeks Before the Wedding Day with a Day-of Wedding Coordinator

Day-of wedding coordinator organizing wedding timeline and vendor logistics weeks before the wedding

Long before we step foot at your venue, your coordinator is already deeply involved in the details.

This includes:

Emailing and calling every vendor involved in your day
Being looped into venue communications to stay on top of changes, updates, and policies
Meeting with the venue coordinator to review logistics, layouts, load-in times, and restrictions
Meeting or calling with your photographer, often spending 1-2 hours total discussing timelines, lighting, travel time, and must-have moments
Multiple planning calls and meetings with you, reviewing everything from ceremony flow to family dynamics

During this time, we are constantly checking emails, answering questions, problem-solving, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Building the Foundation a Day-of Wedding Coordinator Uses to Hold Your Day Together

A huge part of Day-of Coordination happens at a desk, not at the venue.

We:

Create and organize a dedicated planning folder that holds contracts, layouts, timelines, vendor contacts, and notes
Review your floor plan and layouts to ensure everything actually works in real life
Create your wedding day timeline, often from scratch, making sure every vendor is aligned and every transition makes sense
Confirm permits and requirements, such as shuttle permits, parking approvals, or cold fusion sparkler permissions

This planning phase is where potential problems are caught early — before they ever become wedding-day stress.

Wedding Rehearsal: How a Day-of Wedding Coordinator Builds Confidence

Day-of wedding coordinator leading wedding rehearsal and ceremony walk-through

Attending your rehearsal isn’t just a formality — it’s essential.

At rehearsal, we:

Meet your wedding party and immediate family
Walk through the processional order and ceremony flow
Answer questions, calm nerves, and make sure everyone understands their role
Take note of personalities, pacing, and any potential challenges

This allows your wedding day to feel calm, confident, and organized — because nothing is happening for the first time.

Preparing for Every “Just in Case” Moment

Before the wedding day, your coordinator is also:

Packing a full emergency bridal kit, including everything from fashion tape to stain remover to pain relievers
Preparing checklists, notes, and backup plans
Mentally walking through the day from start to finish — multiple times

This preparation is what allows us to handle the unexpected without you ever knowing it happened.

Then Comes the Wedding Day (Where the Magic Happens)

Only after all of that preparation do we arrive to “make the magic happen.”

On the wedding day, we:

Set and fine-tune decor details
Ensure the reception space is perfectly ready for your room reveal
Line up the wedding party and manage the ceremony procession
Fluff the dress train before you walk down the aisle
Run interference during cocktail hour
Help guests find seats and answer questions
Assist with relocating florals from ceremony to reception
Light candles, adjust place settings, and oversee final touches
Make sure the DJ and photographer have the timeline and know names, pronunciations, and cues

All while staying calm, professional, and out of sight.

A Full Day on Our Feet — So You Don’t Have To Be

Most wedding days for a Day-of Coordinator are 8–10+ hours on our feet, managing dozens of moving parts, answering questions, solving problems, and protecting your peace.

Our goal is simple:

You enjoy your wedding
Your families relax
Your vendors work smoothly
Your day flows effortlessly

If you don’t notice us — that means we did our job perfectly.

It’s Not “Just Showing Up”

A Day-of Coordinator is not an extra expense — it’s an investment in:

Peace of mind
Organization
Professional oversight
And a wedding day that feels effortless

Everything you see working seamlessly on your wedding day started weeks before you ever walked down the aisle.

And that’s exactly how it should be.