Dan & Andrea DeWard
Let's Plan Your Wedding
We Offer Brides
Full Wedding Planning
Day of Wedding Coordinating
But First... Watch Our Videos Below
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What Are The Differences?
Event Manager
Day Of Coordinator
Wedding Planner
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Dan & Andrea's Story
Moxiemen Podcast with Dan DeWard
We are so excited you're here and would love to help you plan your wedding! Our goal is to take our experience to help you enjoy the wedding planning process, guide you through the various costs for vendors and budgeting, share planning tips and provide valuable wedding day advice. Maybe you just need some pre-wedding planning advice or your looking for a day of coordinator.
We are Dan & Andrea DeWard. We’ve been married for 30 years as of last St. Patrick’s Day - Yes, we chose St. Patrick’s Day for our wedding and it was amazing!
We have been in the wedding industry for well over 25+ years. When we initially started we thought all weddings were handled the exact same way. Some things we tried worked great and some things did not. We quickly learned every wedding has a unique style and flow to match the bride and groom's vision. That’s when we really started having fun and our business quickly grew.
Over the years we have designed, owned and operated three large wedding venues in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan coordinating and hosting hundreds of ceremonies and receptions for brides and grooms. We have met so many great people! We also owned and operated additional lines of business (with our amazing team) including a bridal gown salon, tuxedo rentals, photography & video studio, DJ company, floral & decor studio, photo booths, limousine, party bus, invitation design and more. Yes, we owned and operated all of those businesses in the wedding industry! We also organized and hosted a large bridal show in West Michigan for a number of years. All that experience and the many professional connections we made along the way led us to this point!
If you are ready to have fun during your wedding planning process, create and stay on budget, connect with a variety of experienced experts and learn tips to create a wedding day timeline - let's connect!
We are happy to meet with you in person, Zoom, FaceTime, email or phone call.
Our Wedding Podcast
Wedding Planner / Day-of Coordinator / Event Manager
A Bride’s Quick Comparison Guide
Wedding Planner / Day-of Coordinator / Event Manager
What a Wedding Planner Does
- Involved early (budget, vision, vendor selection)
- Manages contracts, deadlines, and decision overload
- Acts as advocate for the couple—not the venue or vendors
- Runs the rehearsal and wedding day
- Prevents problems before they happen
- Does not set up decoration / delegates to team or vendor
- Oversees planning and day of like a conductor in a orchestra
What a Day-of Coordinator Does
- Steps in 4–8 weeks before the wedding
- Finalizes details the bride already planned
- Creates timelines and confirms vendors
- May help with "limited" decor set up
- Runs the rehearsal and wedding day
- Oversees the wedding day of like a conductor in a orchestra
What an Event Manager Does (and Doesn’t Do)
- Usually venue-employed
- Focuses on logistics, rules, and space management
- Protects the venue’s operations
- Does not manage décor, personal details, or outside vendors
- Does not create full day timeline
- Rarely will run your rehearsal and ceremony
- Each venue may be a little different in this role
- Check with your specific venue
Typically: They run the building—not your wedding.
Common Myths Brides Believe
- “My venue coordinator will do everything”
- “I only need help the day of"
- “A planner is a luxury, not a necessity”
- “My family can handle it”
How Brides Can Decide What They Need
- How organized are you really?
- How much extra time do you have?
- Do you want to manage vendors—or enjoy engagement?
- Who will handle problems on wedding day?
- Are you planning a simple or complex event?
Question for the Bride
Do you want to be the project manager of your wedding… or the bride? Peace of mind on your wedding day is priceless. Be sure you have someone that is experienced with weddings helping you, especially at the rehearsal and on the day of your wedding.