What does day-of wedding coordination cost?
Use provider offers as examples of scope, not as a nationwide average. Southern Starfall Events publishes a 2026 starting price of $600 for eight on-site hours, timeline creation and vendor contact one week before the wedding. Toast's Dallas Essential package starts at $1,995 for up to eight event hours with a lead and assistant plus an hour of rehearsal coordination.
The difference shows why “eight hours” alone does not describe the purchase. Staffing and preparation also matter. Confirm the offer for your date and location, especially when booking a future year. Starting prices can change with the required service.
Why day-of coordination starts before the day
A coordinator needs time to learn the plan, obtain vendor contacts and identify conflicts. The handoff window varies: MICKNICS describes preparation beginning about three weeks before its wedding-day packages. Ask when your coordinator becomes responsible for vendor communications and what information you must provide first.
Prepare a shared packet containing contracts, confirmed arrival times, the venue plan, the guest count, contact details, ceremony cues and the packing list for personal decor. Mark incomplete decisions clearly. A coordinator cannot reliably execute a decision that no one has finalized.
Map paid hours onto the real timeline
| Time | Task | Coverage question |
|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. | Rental delivery and setup | Who supervises before the coordinator arrives? |
| 1 p.m. | Coordinator arrives | Is setup already complete or still part of the shift? |
| 4 p.m. | Ceremony | Is another person needed at the reception site? |
| 9 p.m. | Contracted shift ends | Does coverage end before the final formal event? |
| 10 p.m. | Reception ends and breakdown begins | Who handles cleanup, rentals and personal items? |
This is an invented schedule, not a recommended wedding timetable. Its purpose is to expose gaps. Ask for a longer shift or a separate setup or breakdown team if needed, and compare the revised total before booking.
Price overtime and assistants before they are needed
A useful quote records the base shift, the extra-hour rate, billing increments and who can authorize an extension. It should also state whether overtime is charged for the lead alone or each team member. “One extra hour” can mean two staff-hours when an assistant is present.
FeeHQ illustration: staffing changes the total
Assume a $1,200 package, two extra lead-coordinator hours at $100 each, four assistant hours at $40 each and $60 travel. The total is $1,200 + $200 + $160 + $60 = $1,620.
These are hypothetical rates, not a provider offer. Tax, tips, rentals, catering and decor purchases are excluded. The assistant's start and end times should be written into the quote.
A checklist to send with your inquiry
- Wedding date, venue addresses and number of guests.
- Requested arrival and departure times, including setup and cleanup.
- Whether the ceremony and reception overlap with work at another location.
- Which vendors are booked and which decisions are unfinished.
- Rehearsal date, length and location.
- Amount of personal decor and who transports, installs and removes it.
- Required assistants, accessibility needs and the venue's access restrictions.
- A request for the total fee, deposit, cancellation terms and overtime rates.
Is day-of coordination enough?
It can fit a wedding whose decisions and bookings are largely complete. If you still need vendor sourcing, budget development or design work, ask for those services explicitly. A low coordination price is not a bargain if it excludes the work you actually need.
Compare the broader options in our wedding coordinator cost guide. Choose the scope first; then compare packages with the same handoff window and event coverage.
Compare wedding venue fees in 50 destinations
Choosing where to celebrate? Our new wedding venue cost guides by city explain named venue prices, ceremony permits, package inclusions and extra charges, with primary sources and dated fee notes.
Start with New York City, Charleston or Las Vegas, or browse all 50 destinations.
Sources and review notes
- Southern Starfall Events: 2026 coordination packages ↗
- Toast Entertainment: Dallas eight-hour coordination example ↗
- MICKNICS: preparation and coverage windows ↗
We checked these primary sources on October 28, 2026. Published provider prices are examples, not a national average or an endorsement. Availability, scope, taxes and terms may change. FeeHQ calculations are labeled illustrations. How we research fees.