Let’s cut to the chase: yes.
If you’re planning a wedding on Maui (or really anywhere that involves more than two people and a plan), you absolutely should have a coordinator.
Before you scroll away thinking, “We’re chill. We don’t need one,” let me paint a quick picture for you.
It’s your wedding day. You’re glowing, your partner is dashing, the ocean breeze is perfect… and then someone walks up to you and asks:
“Where should the florist put the arch?”
Your best friend is holding your lipstick.
Your mom is tearing up just looking at you.
You’re trying to remember your vows.
And suddenly you’re making logistical decisions in full glam with a mimosa in hand.
No, no, no. This is not the vibe.
Something Will Go Wrong (And That’s Okay)
Weddings are magical and wonderful and full of love—and they’re also full of vendors, timelines, weather patterns, and that one uncle who will try to give an impromptu speech even though he wasn’t asked. So something is bound to go a little sideways, but a coordinator is the person who quietly absorbs that chaos like a wedding day sponge.
They fix things before you even know they were broken. The florist is late? They’ve already rearranged the timeline. The DJ’s stuck in Kihei traffic? They’ve got a Bluetooth speaker and a backup playlist. Your cousin’s kid dumps juice on the guestbook table? They’ve summoned fresh linens and disinfected pens like magic.
But guess what?
If you don’t have a wedding coordinator, all of that stress trickles down to the nearest responsible adult. And nine times out of ten, that’s going to be your mom. Or your bestie. Or (shudder) me.
But Can’t My Photographer Just Coordinate Too?
Listen. I love you.
I’m honored you trust me enough to think I could wrangle a wedding and also shoot it.
But here’s the thing:
You do not want me managing your vendors.
What you do want is me tucked in behind the scenes, silently ninja-ing around with my camera, catching the way you laughed during your vows, the way your partner squeezed your hand, the way your grandma dabbed at her eyes.
You do not want me mid-convo with the cake delivery guy, asking “So… where were you thinking of putting that?” while the first look is happening. Because when I’m doing that? I’m missing moments.
And that’s what your photo gallery is made of—moments. Not timelines, not boutonnières, not chairs being moved.
If I’m wrangling groomsmen who “forgot” about the ceremony start time or pinning corsages on the aunties, the gallery will suffer. And I don’t want that. You don’t want that. We both want magic.
Day-Of Coordination: The MVP You Didn’t Know You Needed
I get it—wedding budgets are real. Not everyone can swing a full-on wedding planner who walks with you every step of the way. If that’s not in the cards, consider a day-of coordinator.
They’re like the superhero version of a wedding planner. They swoop in the week before, gather all the moving pieces, and on the big day, they’re there managing the timeline, the vendors, the setup, and the inevitable “surprises.”
They’re basically the wedding equivalent of having someone in charge of the grill at a BBQ. Could everyone fend for themselves? Maybe. But it’s gonna be chaos, someone’s gonna burn the veggie burgers, and no one’s gonna be happy. Just get the grill master, folks.
But My Venue Has a Coordinator…
That’s awesome! But let’s clarify: a venue coordinator is focused on the venue. Their job is to make sure their space is running smoothly—tables are where they should be, the power works, no one breaks the rules.
They’re not coordinating your photographer’s timeline, making sure the bridal party has their bouquets, or texting your cousin to find out where the rings are. A wedding coordinator works for you. And that makes a huge difference.
Let Your People Enjoy the Day
This might be the biggest reason of all: your people deserve to just be your people. Your mom should be watching you walk down the aisle with nothing in her hands but a tissue. Your best friend should be double-fisting champagne and cheering you on from the front row—not holding your phone and whispering to the DJ about adjusting the playlist.
A coordinator gives everyone—you included—permission to be present.
They’re the human buffer between you and all the questions, all the drama, all the minor hiccups that would otherwise land on your lap. They create space for you to breathe, laugh, cry, kiss, dance, and take it all in.
So, Should You Have a Coordinator?
If you want a wedding day that feels like a celebration instead of a logistical bootcamp?
Yes.
If you want photos that tell a full, rich story of joy and connection—not photos of me chasing down the caterer while your dad is giving a toast?
Yes.
If you want your friends and family to be fully immersed in the magic of the moment with you?
Yes, yes, and yes again.
Whether it’s a full-service planner or a rockstar day-of coordinator, having someone whose sole job is to make your day flow seamlessly is one of the best investments you can make in your wedding.
And I’ll be right there with you—camera in hand, eyes peeled for every tiny, beautiful, fleeting moment that matters. I can’t wait to document it all.
But please—for the love of cake placement and sanity—get yourself a wedding coordinator.
So now you need help picking a wedding coordinator? Here’s a list of the ones I recommend!
Want more Maui Wedding inspiration? Check out this Maui Pineapple Chapel Wedding or this Wailea Beach Resort Wedding.
