How do I train a junior planner to run day-of coordination?

Begin with shadowing. Bring the junior planner to site visits, vendor calls and a few full event days, and explain your decisions as you go. Why did you move the family photos, and what do you check first when the caterer arrives late? Reasoning is harder to copy than a checklist, so say it aloud.

Next, hand over pieces. Let the junior run the ceremony line-up, the vendor check-in or the evening timeline while you stay close. Rehearse the awkward situations in advance: weather, a missing guest of honour, a vendor running behind, a family disagreement. Write down what you would say and who you would call. Finally, hand over a whole event with you available by phone, then step back. After each event, sit down together for a debrief on what worked and what to adjust, and note anything that surprised the junior or that you did differently from your own habit.

Introduce the junior to key vendors and venue contacts, so those relationships do not rest only with you. A buyer will want to know the business can run without you, so keep notes on how each event was handled. Your accountant can advise on how a trained team affects a sale.

Key takeaways

• Move from shadowing to assisting to leading, with a safety net each time.
• Rehearse hard moments aloud and write down who to call.
• Introduce the junior to vendors and debrief after every event.