5 Things Your Venue Manager Won’t Tell You (But I Will)

When you book your wedding venue, you’re often introduced to a venue coordinator or event manager who walks you through the space, answers your questions, and helps lock in your date. They’re a valuable part of the process - but here’s the truth: they’re not the same as a wedding planner, and their role has a different focus.

I’ve worked alongside plenty of wonderful venue staff who do their job brilliantly. But as your wedding planner, it’s my job to advocate for you. So, here are five things your venue manager might not tell you (but I absolutely will):

1. “We’re Responsible for the Venue—Not the Whole Day”

Venue managers are primarily responsible for their space: unlocking doors, coordinating catering (if in-house), and ensuring their lights turn on. They won’t wrangle your vendors, make sure you don’t go over budget, or keep Aunt Karen happy. That’s where a planner steps in.

If I’m your wedding planner, I take care of every detail for you, end to end. If I’m your coordinator, I create a run sheet for your whole day, manage every vendor’s timing, and handle last-minute issues—so the day flows beautifully no matter what happens.

2. “We Might Not Be There on the Day”

Often, couples meet a lovely venue rep during the tour and assume they’ll be present on the wedding day. In reality, venues may rotate staff or assign a different person to oversee your event. Often times, they will only have one or two in depth discussions with you from the day you book your venue to your wedding day and it’s possible you’ll speak to a different person each time!

I work with you from day one and remain your go-to right through to pack-down. No handovers. No surprises. Just consistent support from someone who knows your day inside-out.

3. “We Don’t Coordinate External Suppliers”

If you’ve booked a DJ, florist, cake maker, or hire company separately, the venue isn’t responsible for chasing them, confirming arrival times, or ensuring they know where to go. They won’t confirm payment schedules with these vendors, nor make sure they’re totally across all of the special elements of your day.

I confirm all vendor logistics, create clear timelines, and act as the main contact on the day - so you don’t get calls about a missing cake while you’re getting ready!

4. “We’ll Set Up What You’ve Hired from Us—But That’s It”

Some venues include basic styling or hire items, and while they’ll usually set up what’s theirs, they often won’t style your personal items—like signage, welcome tables, or guest favours. Forget about the beautiful draping you’ve envisioned!

I offer styling and set-up services to make sure everything looks polished and purposeful, from your ceremony arbour to your champagne tower.

5. “We Pack Down Fast—and Might Toss What’s Left”

At the end of the night, venue staff are on a tight turnaround. Anything not collected or packed by your bump-out time might be boxed quickly—or accidentally thrown away. You’re also on a very short turnaround to collect items the next day, which can put a dampener on your post-wedding bliss!

I offer ‘petite packages’ for end-of-night or next-day pack-downs, so your keepsakes, styling elements and hire items are handled with care (not chucked into a lost property box). I can also arrange to return them back to you or hang on to them for a short while until you have the time to collect!

Planning Tip:

If you’re not sure what your venue is covering, ask this simple question:

“What happens if something goes wrong on the day?”

Their answer will show you exactly where your wedding planner steps in.

Need help bridging the gap between venue and vision?

I’m here to manage the full picture—so you can relax, enjoy, and be fully present on your wedding day.

Let’s plan something beautiful, stress-free, and unapologetically you.
Contact me to chat about how I can support your day—from styling and timelines to set-up and supplier wrangling.