Save Your Sanity…Hire A Coordinator
I promise that what I’m about to share isn’t a burn to the couples who think their wedding day will go off without a hitch without a coordinator.
It’s incredible when you feel great about the venue you’ve selected, the food you’ve chosen, the photographer you’ve been following on Instagram for years, the band or DJ that’s going to keep the energy up — the details you’ve spent months carefully curating.
But here’s the BEST thing you can do to make sure your day runs smoothly — Hire. A. Coordinator.
If not for you, do it for your family and friends. Gift them with the opportunity to fully enjoy your wedding day instead of relying on Aunt Linda to figure out how to move 75 chairs from the ceremony site to the reception. She’s been worried about her back for a week and it’s too much pressure. Let her enjoy her wine!
Hi. I’m Shea and I’m here to take away the pressure and run your wedding day.
I started my career in Hospitality and Weddings as a Banquet Server in a beautiful, historic, 4-star hotel in downtown Kansas City called the Hilton President. The hotel originally opened in 1926, was shut down in the mid-70’s, and then re-opened after a full renovation in 2006. It’s shocking that I have been in and out of the wedding industry for almost 20 years now, but I can’t math my way out of this fact.
I couldn’t have asked for a better venue to learn how to work in the wedding industry. We had a 12,000 square foot ballroom on the 12th floor of the hotel overlooking the Power and Light District. I learned what top tier service looked like and was trained by Hilton to serve on the left, clear from the right, and always make sure the bride and groom were happy. If you’ve ever worked in a Hilton property, you’ll forever remember the 10-5 rule. At 10 feet, you look up and smile at a guest. At 5 feet, you say hello. Hospitality 101.
In this corner of Colorado, weddings look quite different compared to the hotel settings so many couples opt into when they live in cities. Couples choose Southwest Colorado to escape from the sounds and smells of big city traffic and have the mountain wedding they’ve always had in mind.
With those mountains though, comes great logistical responsibility. Hire the coordinator.
Here’s why:
Because weddings don’t run themselves. As much as we wish our family and friends were listening to the bride and grooms instructions and are thoroughly reading the checklists they spent hours making and assigning, the truth is, your family members are also on vacation and excited to enjoy the wedding! As Mel Robbins says, Let Them!
Someone has to cue the day. Every wedding day has a number of hidden cues the typical guests know nothing about. Coordinators dance through a wedding day, gracefully moving the guests as they go. We ask them to take their seats for the ceremony, we pass the bride a tissue she didn’t know she needed to tuck against her bouquet before we fluff her dress and send her down the aisle. We let the catering team know that we’re on time or need 10 more minutes for photos. We manage the vendors, the guests, and ensure the bride and groom are only focused on each other and the group of friends and family they’ve gathered together for the momentous occasion.
Coordinators know the unexpected is actually…expected. When you’ve been in weddings as long as I have, you know that something unexpected is expectedly going to happen! Here’s the thing though — the bride and groom don’t need to know. And that’s why you hire a coordinator. (Fun story - I once pulled a raw turkey leg out of the bride and grooms dogs mouth mid-cocktail reception. The parents and grandparents of the bride witnessed it, but we all agreed the dog should go back to the lodge and we’d tell the couple about it the following day.)
You actually should enjoy the day. No offense, but the most organized couples are often the ones who think they don’t need a coordinator for their wedding day. Your best laid plans are the reason you should have one. Your coordinator will read your checklists, will listen to your requests, and will guarantee that you’re relaxed, confident, and above all happy on your wedding day. Hiring a coordinator means you get to enjoy the day without the pressure of hosting. Your Coordinator is on YOUR team.
At Millie’s, we offer day of coordinator packages starting at $1,500 when catering is paired with the event and tiers of pricing available for the couples just looking for someone to run your big day. We’re taking on bookings for 2026 and are eager to work with couples that want to take away some of the stress of the day!
You only get one wedding day.
It shouldn’t be spent answering vendor questions, watching the time, or handling the unexpected. Get in touch so I can quietly keep everything running smoothly and Aunt Linda can enjoy her wine!
(Special Note: While it’s helpful to have a coordinator for the very intimate weddings, it’s not always necessary, but if you’re hosting for 30+ guests, it’s definitely helpful!)
