A Wedding Photographer’s Take On Wedding Coordinators
When you hire a Wedding Coordinator, they’re going to be working with you, as well as your other vendors. Wedding Coordinators are the middle man (or woman!) who makes sure everything goes smoothly. It’s important to know that your coordinator can work well with the other vendors you’ve hired. I chatted with an amazing photographer, Sarah Coffey Photography, to get her thoughts on working with a Wedding Coordinator. Before we get into the juicy stuff, here’s a little bit about Sarah!
Get To Know Sarah Coffey Photography
Q. Tell me a little bit about Sarah Coffey Photography!
A. SCP exists to offer joyful, timeless wedding photography, bright and colorful brand imagery, and authentic portraits. I’m a southern raised girly-girl with a heart for all of the little details and that definitely spills over into my work!
Q. Looking back, what started your passion for photography?
A. My parents gifted me a point and shoot camera for my 12th birthday, and ever since I have loved both the creative and technical aspects of capturing a great image. It’s almost therapeutic for me.
Q. What sets you apart from other wedding photographers?
A. I am a HUGE details girl, and I do my best to bring that into every aspect of the SCP experience. Whether it’s educating my couples through our pre-wedding meetings and informative blog posts,
Q. If you were a bride looking for a wedding photographer, what things would you look for?
A. Really funny because I JUST had to answer this question. My brother is getting married this year and I’m a bridesmaid, so for the first time since my own wedding I have been on the client side of the experience. There is so much I could say on this, but my top two are:
1. Think about what you like to see stylistically in your images and choose a photographer that matches that style. Not sure if you are a “dark and moody” kind of bride or a “light and airy” or somewhere in between? Look at your Instagram feed. What filters do you use most often and what do you like about them? This should be a good indicator.
2. Make sure your potential photographer includes a personalized wedding day photography timeline (yes, even if your planner/coordinator is also creating a timeline) and be sure that they will send some form of questionnaire so you can give them your family formal shot list. When I got married 4 years ago, I wasn’t shooting weddings and certainly didn’t know a thing about planning them. My photographer was so sweet and talented, but offered next to no communication prior to the wedding. As a result of that, we had no list for family photos and I don’t have any professional photos of me and my brother together or any detail shots from my reception. It pays to look for someone who is not only talented, but organized and good with communication.
Q. What is your favorite moment to capture on a wedding day?
A. It’s a toss-up between the bridal details and the bride and groom portraits. I love seeing and arranging all of the little things that a bride has chosen for herself, and I adore seeing a couple of giddy newlyweds enjoying the best day of their lives!
Q. What is your favorite photo from your own wedding day?
A. One of the very last ones taken! We chose dried flower confetti as a send-off and the look on our faces as we were running through family and friends tossing lavender and roses at us was priceless. It was a great end to our perfect day. :)
Sarah’s thoughts on Wedding Coordinators…
Q. How does having a wedding coordinator on the wedding day help you do your job better?
A. It allows me to focus on what I do best…capturing beautiful photos! When a coordinator is present, I know I won’t have to worry about tracking down stray groomsmen, digging for that much-needed safety pin (although I do keep those in my shoot bag just in case!), or be the only one corralling everyone for family photos. While I’m more than willing to do any of the above (and have!), every minute I spend doing those “extras” is a minute I’m not capturing the day. A coordinator allows me to be as present as possible for my couple.
Q. What is one thing that a wedding coordinator does to help relieve stress for you?
A. I can’t say this enough…the TIMELINE! Having a coordinator to keep track of the order of events is invaluable for me. Photographers spend so much time with the bride and groom and are involved in essentially every aspect of the day. A coordinator allows me to do my job more efficiently by keeping things flowing smoothly in the background. Not having to glance at my own timeline constantly is such a relief.
Q. Tell about a time when you were glad there was a wedding coordinator present:
A. A recent wedding required some things to be taken from the church to the bride’s getting-ready location. Since I was the only one headed in that direction, I fully expected to have to track the items down and load them into my car with my second shooter before leaving. By the time I was done shooting the ceremony details, the coordinator had already asked my second shooter for my keys, found a groomsman to load what needed to be transported, and delivered my keys back to me. It might not seem like much, but the little things are SO. HELPFUL. on a hectic wedding day!
Q. Tell about a time when there wasn’t a wedding coordinator and you wished there was:
A. In my time as a wedding photographer, I’ve been super fortunate to have amazing clients who are easy-going and relaxed. However, the stress of a wedding day can get to anyone. One early memory in particular included a couple who woke up to a torrential downpour on the day of their wedding. Arrangements were already made to have the wedding and reception indoors and we still captured beautiful portraits by extending our time in the “getting ready” location, but the poor bride-to-be was very stressed about getting to the church on time, making sure everyone stayed dry and had what they needed, etc. I couldn’t help but think that a lot of that stress could have been avoided if a coordinator had been present!
Q. What difference does it make in your client’s planning process when they’re working with a wedding planner?
A. I try to have at least one or two phone calls with the couple throughout the planning process, and I can usually hear the difference in their voices! When they tell me that a coordinator or a planner will be taking on some of the responsibilities, there is definitely relief on both sides. I often find that couples who use a planner/coordinator come to me with a more defined vision for their wedding and are less stressed about making all of the ideas in their head come together.
Q. Anything else you want couples to know about hiring a wedding coordinator or planner?
A. Just as you invest in flowers to make your ceremony look beautiful, catering to feed your guests, or a photographer to make sure your memories are captured, investing in a coordinator will alleviate stress in the planning process and on the day. Trust me when I say you NEED a coordinator. You won’t regret handing off those responsibilities so that you can be fully present and enjoy the most important day of your life!
Sarah is such a beautiful light in the wedding industry and she is without a doubt incredibly talented! I have loved working with her and have so much respect for her as a businesswoman. Give her a follow on Instagram and share this post with a friend if you found it helpful!
Next up on the blog is A Wedding Caterer’s Take on Wedding Coordinators!
xo,
Joelle
