As I’m building up my business, I’m also starting to network with other vendors to get to know more people in the wedding industry.  Jennifer Cox contacted me recently with the same goal, and we met up in Inman Square in Cambridge to chat over coffee.  She is the owner of a budding wedding coordination business, Esq.Events, where she specializes in month and day of coordination.  I learned more about her line of work and some of the weddings she has coordinated recently.  I liked her right off the bat–from speaking with her you can tell she really enjoys assisting couples, loves meeting new people, and just has things figured out.  She’s also laid back and has an awesome sense of humor, which I’m sure is a big draw for clients!

After coffee we headed out for a portrait shoot.  Luckily, the trees were still colorful, and Inman itself was a fun backdrop.  I thought it’d be helpful to do a little Q&A with the photos as a way to get to know Jennifer better and learn more about wedding coordination in general.

How did you get started with Esq.Events? My friends from law school and I always used to think of interesting careers we could pair with our law degrees. My favorite was always the Legal Lunch Truck, where we could dispense legal advice AND sandwiches, but Esq.Events is a close second. While I was planning my own wedding, it became very obvious that the skills I honed in law school were applicable to wedding coordination: negotiation, organization and long term planning were invaluable to me. Esq.Events is the result, and I hope to eventually expand and have a Legal Services arm of the company for Wedding Professionals.

What types of services do you provide to your clients? Esq.Events focuses on Month of and Day of Coordination. This service has gotten a lot of press in the last few years, but I view the role as stepping in the shoes of the bride or groom and helping them execute their perfect day. We worry about all the little details so you (and your mom) don’t have to!!

What is the difference between a coordinator and planner? A full wedding planner is normally hired by a couple at the very beginning of the wedding planning process. Planners suggest everything from venue and vendors, help with design and decor, assist with budget and then often manage the wedding day or weekend. Planners are perfect for couples who do not have a lot of time to spend researching and designing the wedding. Planners can also be invaluable if the couple is getting married out of state or is having a destination wedding. Full Service Wedding Planner fees do vary but can cost between $2000-10000.

Wedding coordinators are normally brought in later in the planning process (Esq.Events is normally hired 4-6 months in advance) and focus on any last minute details and wedding day organization. Coordinators are perfect for the couple who has spent a lot of time and energy planning the wedding and wants to ensure that it is executed exactly as they planned. You can expect to pay between $400-1800 for a Coordinator depending on the package.

Why might those who haven’t considered hiring a wedding coordinator/planner want to do so? Esq.Events’ tagline is “wedding coordination for the detailed-oriented bride.” I always joke the that the typical client is one that wakes up one day and realizes that he or she is not going to be able to oversee the table setup or the reception decor on the day of the wedding because there are more important things for a bride or groom to do that day. Even though you may have other vendors who can handle reception decoration, it is really ideal to have a personal advocate. It is the goal of Esq.Events that by the time our clients get to their wedding day, we are just has invested in the look and feel of the wedding day as our clients.

What do you love most about the work that you do? I love meeting new vendors. There are amazing people in this industry. I also really love the creative ideas and projects that my clients have for their day! They inspire me!

Any last piece(s) of advice for those planning a wedding? Don’t become overwhelmed with all the trends and the information available to you and don’t continue to change your plans to incorporate the newest big thing. Stick to your own personal visions and be confident that your day will be about you and your new spouse.

Jennifer is available for wedding coordination services in Boston and the surrounding New England area.  Contact her at jennifer@esq-events.com!