Wedding Planners and Doula are both amazing and helpful in their own ways. I like to pull from the childbirth world to help explain the difference. A birth doula is a person dedicated to supporting the pregnant couple before, during and after labor and delivery. The birth doula is there with you, able to provide ideas of how to plan, and also how to cope with the uncertainties, the pain, the unmet expectations as well as celebrate the joys and successes. During the labor and delivery, they rarely leave your side. They help to advocate for what you need and protect your inner peace. During my first birth, my doula diffused essential oils, helped massage my back and suggested positions to labor in.

The doctor (or midwife) is responsible for a safe and successful birth. Their focus is on the metrics, numbers, reducing risk of complications and infection. They engage the right people to get your needs met, but don’t have time to talk to you too long about your feelings. During my first birth, I barely saw my midwives because they were busy handling several patients’ needs at the same time.

As you may be able to tell in this analogy, the birth doula is the wedding doula and the doctor or midwife is the wedding planner. They actually work best together! With one managing the hospital logistics, while the other focuses on the emotional and physical well-being of the people involved.

I feel it necessary to say that these are generalities and no two planners or doulas are the same (nor midwifes, doulas or doctors!). Sometimes you find wedding vendors, including planners, filling the “wedding doula” role as well as they can with the time and resources they have. This is wonderful! But can be hard on the vendors. Perhaps this is why every wedding vendor that I’ve told about Intuitive Wedding Doula has said to me “that is so needed!”

So whether you choose to hire me or a planner, neither or both, remember to make space for your own inner journey. Acknowledge and honor what you are losing, what you are gaining, and all the feelings that come with that. I know you’ll do great. You’re reading this after all, which means you care and are curious. Two essential ingredients to growth and love.

Wedding Planner *	Wedding Doula
Handles wedding logistics: coordinating vendors, etc…	Supports the engaged couple on the emotional journey of planning a wedding and being engaged
Helps to coordinate guests on the day of the wedding and usher the couple and family to photography	Focus on the emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of the engaged couple  and their families.
Can “take control” of the wedding planning process (to help it go smoothly)	Offers reflections and suggestions to consider to help maximize enjoyment.
Uses a “Sympathetic yet Pragmatic” approach to communicating with Brides and Grooms	Uses a coaching/counseling approach, taking the time to explore and resolve feelings along the way.
Offers opinions on flowers, colors, decorations, cake, etc…	Teaches practices to promote calm introspect that support you to feel confident making decisions that resonates best with your heart.

*Taken from Wedding Planner’s Handbook website:. http://www.theweddingplannerbook.com/what-does-a-wedding-planner-do