Getting started in wedding & event planning assistant
Steps to go from zero to your first paid day-of or month-of coordination client.
- 1
Pick your service tier
Decide whether you're offering day-of coordination, month-of coordination, partial planning, or some combination — don't default to 'full planning' since that's a different pricing model (a % of total budget) and a much bigger time commitment per client.
- 2
Get liability insurance
General and professional liability, often bundled as a BOP, is typically required before a venue will let you coordinate on-site — get a policy that can produce a same-week Certificate of Insurance (COI), since venues often ask for one close to the event date.
- 3
Set up your contract and payment templates
Draft a standard coordination agreement (see the contract template above) and a retainer/final-payment schedule in a CRM like HoneyBook before taking your first client, not after.
- 4
Build a portfolio
If you don't yet have paid weddings to show, offer a discounted or free day-of coordination to a friend's or family member's wedding specifically to get photos, a testimonial, and a real walkthrough of your process.
- 5
List yourself on the major directories
The Knot and WeddingWire are where most couples search for a coordinator — a complete profile with real photos and reviews matters more than which directory you pick first.
- 6
Build your day-of kit
Emergency kit (sewing supplies, stain remover, pain relievers, tape), a portable printer or laminated timelines for vendors, a walkie-talkie or group-chat system for the wedding party, and signage/design templates in Canva.
- 7
Set your rates using the calculator above
Start from your target hourly rate, then price your day-of package against your actual coverage hours — check it against what similar-experience coordinators charge in your specific market before finalizing.
- 8
Consider certification once you have a few weddings under your belt
Programs like the Wedding Planning Institute of Certified Consultants (WPICC) or membership in NACE/ILEA aren't required to work, but can help justify a rate increase once you're past your first few clients.