Catering Managers vs Wedding Planners with Amanda Douglas

Who’s job is it to create your timeline? Be the point of contact for your vendors? Cut your cake or work with your guests on their food allergies? Do these jobs fall to your catering manager or wedding planner? In this episode, we’re chatting with Amanda Douglas, the Director of Catering and Conference Services at the Four Seasons Ko Olina on Oahu, about catering managers vs wedding planners, and the benefits of having a wedding at a hotel vs an offsite event. If you’re considering a wedding at a hotel (or even if you’re not yet thinking about it), this episode is a MUST. 

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Catering Manager vs Wedding Planner - Who’s job is it?

• Roles of your Catering Manager - manages your food and beverage needs, should be informed of any allergies, schedules your venue walk through, creates a floor plan, assists with cake cutting, room blocks and champagne pours.
• Roles of your Wedding Planner - creates wedding day timeline, point of contact on the wedding day, assists with budget planning, runs the rehearsal, sets up your day-of items like favors, welcome sign, place cards, and assists with your personal needs like bustling your dress or tying your tie.
• NOTE: Amanda talks about a DMC (destination management company) - they assist with tours and activities during your stay.
• What’s the main difference between catering managers and wedding planners? Wedding planners will take it all on - all vendors and services from start to finish. Their job is to take the burden off the couple and to manage all aspects of the wedding. Hotels and catering managers focus on delivering on their food and beverage, service, and venue space.

Hotel vs Off-Site Wedding - The benefits of having your wedding at a hotel.

• Hotel weddings are a lot more inclusive and convenient for your wedding planning - little things you wouldn’t normally think about are included, like extra forks, napkins, glassware, tables, chairs, linens, etc. 
• The collective experience for your guests at a hotel is easier. Room blocks at a hotel allow guests to all stay together, and also you and your guests to drink responsibly and get back to their rooms safely. Transportation isn't needed for your guests.
• Overall hotel amenities include air conditioned reception sites during summer, air conditioned bathrooms, a staging area for the couple, and indoor backup spaces if needed. These perks are not often available at off-site venues!
• There are less restrictions on sound and music at indoor venues so dancing late into the night is totally doable.

Amanda’s pro tip - you can plan as much as possible beforehand, but on the wedding day, try to enjoy yourself and let it go! 

Links and Musings from this episode:
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