Miss DAPHNEY LIGSAY on a collaborative coordination effort
“A completed GUEST LIST is a great help in making the rest of the arrangements go smoothly, including the daunting task of BUDGET setting.”
THE BUSINESS OF EXECUTING MILESTONES beautifully is Daphney Ligsay’s forte. The beginnings of her eponymous company, DAPHNEY LIGSAY EVENTS & CONCEPTS (DLEC), was born from her own experience as a bride over a decade ago. Realizing that events management was something she took joy in, this professional coordinator began by organizing her best friend’s wedding. From there, she gradually gathered the confidence and expertise to establish her own business, and she hasn’t stopped since. We asked and she shared some vital wedding planning knowledge.
THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO TAKE ON A COORDINATOR FOR THE BIG DAY. WHICH TYPE OF SERVICE CATERS TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF COUPLES?
Depending on the time and budget constraints for each soon-to-wed set, there is a suitable wedding planner package. The three main categories that Daphney’s company offers are: Full Coordination, meant for couples who both have fulltime jobs and/or are based abroad. Mid-year Coordination, a part-of-the-way service where the bride and groom can book some major suppliers themselves but still require professional assistance with the rest of the suppliers. For the pair who don’t mind doing most of the prep, On the Day Coordination allows them to step back and enjoy the activities on the big day itself knowing that a pro has taken the reigns.
INSPIRATIONS FOR WEDDINGS ONLINE MAGAZINE l VOLUME 6 ISSUE 11 l pp 52
HOW ARE WEDDINGS COORDINATED DIFFERENTLY FROM EACH OTHER
“The first step that I usually do is to get to know my client,” Daphney answers. “Then I suggest themes that will fit their personalities and ask them to express what they like and dislike.” To be an effective coordinator and stylist, the vision of the dream wedding of the engaged couple should be understood clearly in order to make suggestions accordingly. That theme is then followed by establishing the budget and creating further plans.
WHAT ARE SOME USEFUL TECHNIQUES TO KEEP THE WEDDING PLANNING ORGANIZED?
The must-haves that also happen to be provided by Daphney’s service include an event timeline, a budget sheet, a supplier checklist, and a detailed checklist. While having to update these lists can be challenging at first, continuously staying on top of the new developments makes all the difference in having everyone on the same page and ready to go. Couples often treat the Guest List as a minor requirement in favor of designing the aesthetics of the wedding, but it definitely deserves more careful attention. A completed guest list is a great help in making the rest of the arrangements go smoothly including the daunting task of budget setting.
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT THE COORDINATOR’S JOB? WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING?
Naturally, it’s the juggling that comes to mind. “The real challenge is to manage and control the suppliers with different objectives without creating conflict with the services they each provide,” Daphney notes. The most rewarding, on the other hand, is to see the couples’ appreciation for all the hard work put in.
