Should You Hire a Wedding Planner, Wedding Manager, or Day of Coordinator?
Here is our honest opinion on why we are such big fans
Photo Credit: Caitlin Steuben
Deciding whether to hire a wedding planner depends on your specific needs, budget, and vision for your wedding. Here are some key considerations to help you make the decision:
First lets clear some things up. Here at La Joya Dulce we recognize that each option (Wedding Planning, Wedding Management, and Day of Coordination), are significantly different. This is our experience, so keep in mind every wedding professional will offer different services and expertise. So lets take a look at what we are excited to provide at La Joya Dulce.
Client Portal
We are proud to be the only Rocky Mountain wedding venue we know of who will create a customized client portal for each and every one of our couples. While most venues with “preferred” vendors receive some sort of compensation for having those vendors on their preferred list? Our joy comes from seeing each of our couples have a unique experience with a professional team curated just you (and your budget!). We don’t take a cent from our vendors. Our client portal is created on Aisle Planner and includes everything from checklists to vendor contacts to design boards to layouts and more. All of our couples get this and can use this invaluable, money-saving tool (more blogs on this in the future!)
Photo credit: Kathie Jacobsen
Wedding Planning
Wedding Planning at La Joya Dulce starts as soon as you say YES to us. We hold your hand through the entire planning process and customize your experience and recommendations based on your individual vision for your wedding. You receive a customized planning portal on Aisle Planner and our amazing wedding planning team. We specialize in organizing, coordinating, and managing all aspects of your wedding to ensure our couple's special day is flawless and stress-free. Our planners act as a bridge between you and your selected vendors, and handle everything from vendor selection to creating timelines and layouts so that we may execute your wedding day vision to perfection. We also offer wedding design as a service to assist if you don’t have a clear vision.
Photo Credit: Epic Photography
Wedding Management
Wedding Management here at La Joya Dulce starts six months out from your wedding day. Wedding management is set up for our couples who need a little less involvement in the initial planning steps but still want someone to help polish and structure all the selections and plans they have for their wedding. You are the type of person who wants to be involved in tracking down and finalizing your vendors and design yourself. When you select wedding management we communicate with the vendors you have in place, fine tune your wedding timeline help to create and adjust your layout and oversee the logistics leading up to and throughout your entire wedding day. We execute your plan as if it were our own.
Photo Credit: Sarah Beranek
Day of Coordination
Typically, a Day of Coordinator (DOC) is a wedding professional who comes in after the planning has been done to execute the timeline that has been created. They will run your day based on the plans you provide them. Typically, they start 30 days prior to your wedding.
Our standard at La Joya Dulce is to hold your hand and make sure that the wedding you are dreaming of comes to fruition. We want you to be relaxed and present on your day, and with a DOC? They start asking all the questions at 30 days prior, only adding to the “what if’s” running through your head! Thus, we do not offer DOC because our intention is to be far more involved and invested with your plan to ensure you can be peacefully present at your wedding, knowing that your planning team has everything completely in hand because we have spent the time with you to truly know it.
Designers
Yes, we do have a designer on staff! And, there are wonderful companies such as Little Mad Events and Lighting and Design by Scott who can also help you to design your Pinterest worthy dream wedding.
Outside Planners
YES! We love working with outside planners and our Silver Saddle Experience is designed for those couples who either already have a planner or will hire one themselves. We even can give you recommendations like Bryn Swanson with First Look among others we know and love. Our goal is that YOU are happy during the planning process. Your planner is a critical member of your team, and we want you to have the best fit for you.
Some Final Thoughts:
Should you hire a wedding planner, wedding manager or DOC. Our completely biased opinion is YES! This is your wedding! you should enjoy the whole thing, not be trying to find joy around managing the day. Whichever wedding professional you go with though, that completely depends on your personal needs and wants. Whichever you choose we hope your choice serves you well and that your wedding day looks and feels like it jumped right out of your dreams! We cant wait to see how we can help this happen!
about la joya dulce
At la joya dulce, we are proud in being an independently owned and operated, local wedding venue. When you choose la joya dulce in Steamboat Springs, you're not just booking a venue—you're working directly with the owners, who are dedicated to making your day perfect. You are not just a transaction to us - you become a member of our ranch family. We’re committed to creating memories and intentional moments for you and your family. We believe in supporting our community, which is why we collaborate with other independently-owned venues and businesses.
We also believe in being the “real deal.” Our photos that are shared by our wonderful photographers are the real deal - there is no AI involved in their creation. Come take a look for yourself - the reality is often better than the photos!
We hope to use our platform to create awareness for the value of supporting locally owned wedding venues. You can help support amazing locally owned wedding venues across the country by writing a Google review, following their social media accounts and referring locally owned wedding venues whenever you have the opportunity. We sincerely appreciate your support and want to share a shout out to some of our wedding venue owner colleagues around the country. Please consider a locally owned venue, you can find locally owned wedding venues featured on this wedding venue map.
Celebrations Event Center, Bell Tower Falls, Harris Glen, and All 4 One Farms.