How much work does a wedding planner do on the day of a booking?

I get lots of emails from people looking into becoming a wedding planner and I try to reply individually to them all, but one questions I have been asked over and over again is “How much work goes into a ‘On the Day’ or 'Big Day Back Up’ booking?” So, I will try and answer this question here for wedding planners and brides alike!

Generally you will be on your feet for approximately 12 hours, sometime more – so I always make sure I wear flat shoes! I make sure I take plenty to drink as usually the bar is full of guests and it never looks good for the wedding coordinator to be seen propping the bar up! I try and take easy to eat snacks that I can eat on the go and don’t make any mess and always wear a suit. That way I look official and not like a guest. My initial jobs will be to meet up with the venue staff and run through the plan of the day, set up all tables after the venue has laid them with linen (average 100 guests, so 10 tables of 10) welcome suppliers and help them with any questions or problems and ensure everything is as it should be. I will then either stay at the reception venue or go and visit the bride to help her dress or just to calm her nerves! The bride then chooses if I go to the ceremony venue ahead of her to check everything is ready for her or go back to the reception venue and make it ready for the arrival of her guests. On the occasions I stay at the venue I will be fielding questions, taking phone calls from suppliers or lost guests and generally making sure everything is ready and perfect. Then the guests arrive. I check everyone is happy, everything is ready for welcome drinks and canapaes, pull people together for photos, direct people to cloakrooms, toilets and the bar and follow the bride around to check her dress remains clean, and give her a break from holding her bouquet and make sure her and her husband have a drink! Make last checks to reception room and ask venue if they are ready for guest to be seated. Time for dinner – help guests find their places, field questions, announce bride and groom in. Make any announcements, check venue are having no problems with serving and remind them not to bother the bridal party with questions or problems and collect presents and cards and put them in a safe place. Welcome evening suppliers and field questions, help any guests who have queries and set up evening reception room. Announce speeches, help give out gifts, welcome evening guests and make sure bride and groom are happy. Announce cake cutting (after checking there is a cake knife on the table!) and informing guests of time of 1^st dance. Help venue turn around the room for the evening party and field questions from guests and suppliers. Collect more presents and cards and put in safe place. Ask DJ to announce first dance and check venue are ready to bring out evening buffet at correct time. Check Bride and groom are happy and everything is running smoothly. After goodbyes and final checks – head home!

This is certainly not written in detail as I do about 1000 other jobs in the course of the day too – but I hope this gives people an idea of what we do for our money! Look out for similar write ups of real weddings in the future!