Hudson Valley, Catskills & Connecticut Wedding Planner: Do You Need Full-Service Planning or Wedding Management?
Hi, I’m Katie, founder of Service Matters North East, a luxury wedding planning and wedding management company serving the Hudson Valley, Catskills, and Connecticut. If you’ve recently gotten engaged and are beginning your vendor search, one of the most valuable investments you can make is hiring a professional wedding planner or coordinator.
Couples often ask: Do we need full-service wedding planning, wedding coordination, or something in between? Let’s break it down so you can choose the service that best supports your vision, lifestyle, and peace of mind.
What Does a Full-Service Wedding Planner Do?
A full-service wedding planner takes on the responsibility of planning, designing, and executing your wedding day, and often your entire wedding weekend. This is a true luxury service and ideal for couples who know what they want but don’t want to manage the logistics themselves.
As a planner and designer with nearly two decades of experience, I often forget that not everyone enjoys spreadsheets, timelines, and vendor negotiations. Full-service planning is for couples who want their wedding expertly handled from start to finish.
Full-Service Wedding Planning Includes:
Establishing and managing your wedding budget
Venue research, site visits, and booking
Curating and executing a cohesive design concept
Sourcing, contracting, and communicating with vendors
Creating a detailed wedding day timeline
Guest list organization and RSVP tracking
Anticipating and resolving unexpected issues with calm expertise
Rehearsal coordination
Wedding day flow management and run of show
Overseeing setup and cleanup of personal items
Managing the countless behind-the-scenes details guests never see
And truly — so much more.
What Does a Wedding Coordinator or Wedding Manager Do?
Wedding coordination is often misunderstood. At Service Matters North East, we approach coordination from a professional wedding planning background, not as an “extra set of hands.”
A wedding coordinator (also known as wedding management) requires deep industry knowledge to manage logistics, vendor communication, and real-time problem solving on the wedding day.
Wedding Coordination Services Include:
Reviewing and organizing your wedding details starting 12 weeks out- We are often your go to strategist and right hand side kick as soon as we sign the contract together. I like to be apart of the planning process, no matter what.
Site visits and planning meetings with the couple
Creating a comprehensive wedding day timeline
Vendor communication and management
Rehearsal coordination
Ceremony and reception flow management
Venue preparation and logistics oversight
Setup and cleanup of personal items
On-site problem solving and decision making
While coordinators don’t plan your wedding from the beginning, we step in early enough to ensure nothing is missed — and that your day runs seamlessly.
Partial Wedding Planning: The Best of Both Worlds
If you’re looking for something in between, partial wedding planning may be the perfect fit. This option is ideal for couples who have booked some vendors but want professional guidance, structure, and support throughout the planning process — without full-service involvement.
Most luxury wedding planners, including our team, offer customizable partial planning packages based on your needs.
Serving the Hudson Valley, Catskills & Connecticut
Whether you’re planning a Hudson Valley estate wedding, a Catskills barn or tented celebration, or an elegant Connecticut wedding, having an experienced wedding planner or coordinator allows you to truly enjoy your engagement — and your wedding day.
At Service Matters North East, we believe wedding planning is about hospitality, intention, and creating an experience that feels effortless for you and your guests.
If you’re searching for a luxury wedding planner or wedding coordinator in the Hudson Valley, Catskills, or Connecticut, we’d love to support you.