This may be one of my favorite topics to talk about on the blog! I’ve made a list of a series of topics I’d love to chat about and this was the first thing I wanted to tackle! So let me introduce to you Meleka Jolliff with MMJ Weddings & Events! She is one of my best friends just so happens to be one of the top wedding planners here in Ohio. I can still remember her framed photo of Ben Affleck in her room, us singing to Indian Outlaw and watching Selena at her dad’s house. Now days we’re getting to be boss ladies and raising babies. I’d love to share more stories from our teens but I’ll get right to be business! I interviewed Meleka and asked her to tell us a little bit more about her business and the difference between a wedding planner and a day of coordinator.  You may think they are the same thing but they are not and I’m excited to share with you the difference between the two and how both can make an impact on your wedding day!

First tell us a little bit about yourself!

My name is Meleka and I am from Dublin Ohio. I am a full service and design wedding planner here in Columbus and I’ve been in business for 6 years. I recently started branching out to do more destination weddings because I love to travel and its so fun to get a change of scenery and work with different vendors. Apart from business I have two kids and a very supportive husband. I love shopping, traveling and I love to laugh and have some wine. 

Now tell me when you first decided to be a wedding planner, what did you think your business would look like?

I had wanted to be a wedding planner since middle school, I used to carry around wedding magazines and people thought I was weird. I never thought about what my business would look like as a whole but I knew I wanted to use my creativity as a part of my job. 

Now that you’ve been doing it for several years, what is the biggest surprise about your business today?

It is a lot harder then I thought it was going to be because I juggle so many hats as a wedding planner. Its not as glamorous as people think it is. There are a lot of fun a pretty things that go along with this job but there is also a lot of stress and not so glamorous things! 

Whats your favorite part of your job?

Building relationships with my brides, some of which last beyond the wedding day. Having a bride go from a client to a friend is the best. The room reveal is my second favorite part. Getting to see all the hard work come together is so rewarding.

Now for the blog topic, what is the biggest difference between a wedding planner and a day of coordinator?

A wedding planner is with you from day one. They help you with every step along the way from your dress appointment to helping you think of favors or maybe just someone to call on a stressful day. A coordinator is only there on the day of the wedding. The word “day of” is sort of deceiving because A day of coordinator actually starts a month or so before the wedding. We help you with the timeline and we make sure that we understand your vision so that we can execute set up that way you’ve pictured it.

What are some of the duties that a wedding planner does that a coordinator does not?

When I am hired on as a day of coordinator I see a lot more hiccups because as a full service planner I’m able to foresee issues arise and make the day go smoothly. As a day of coordinator I’m only doing timeline, light set up and day of execution. As for a full wedding day service I’m doing anything and everything. 

Now for something totally fun, what would be your dream wedding? I want details!

I would have to say California, in a tent, with the coast on one side and the mountains on the other. Of course an insane amount of florals and everything would be custom from the dress to decor. And a bride who is fun and trusts my vision. 

I had to add some of my own experience as a photographer with day of coordinators and wedding planners. I recently worked with some amazing ladies over at Bee for the Day and those two ladies were awesome. They were hired on as day of coordinators and the day went SO well. Katherine had planned her wedding herself and did an amazing job but I am so glad she hired those bees because they sewed on buttons, ran to the hotel to get a new jacket, coordinated the first look with us, made sure the flowers were where they needed to be and much more. They did an amazing job. But they also did exactly what Katherine needed which was a day of coordination. A wedding planner does all those things that a day of coordinator does but so much more. As a creative myself, we just see things differently. I’ll see an alley way entirely different then the average person. I think of the symmetry, the way the lighting hits and how its angled toward the west so the sun would set perfectly at just the right time. Planners are like that in the sense that they bring a totally different thought to the design and flow of a wedding. I love all the little details I see at a wedding when a planner is involved because they are just like us in the sense that they want to tell your story and make your day all about the bride & groom. From a photography stand point, planners and coordinators make my day SO MUCH more smoother and are always encouraged.

Huge thanks to Meleka with MMJ Weddings & Events for blessing us with her wisdom on my blog! Love getting to work with her!

Just for fun I had to post this photo! Meleka stopped by Brittany’s wedding to say hello and had a few minutes to help with our epic dress shot. Meleka ran with our crazy idea and hid behind the dress to get the shot. I was sweating. She was holding the dress. Coty was taking the shot. But it was so worth it.

#anythingfortheshot