Welcome to Next Question, a new series that focuses on trade secrets from leading local wedding vendors. We ask them what questions clients should ask—but don’t. That’s right: They’ll tell us what concern they seldom hear voiced, and of course, the reply to that missing query as well. The question you’ll be answering as you peruse this series is, Am I asking the best questions? The answer, provided you keep reading, will be yes.

Wedding consultant Melissa Parker of Amazing Events probably hears all kinds of good questions, but the one she doesn’t often get is:

The venue we’re considering has a wedding coordinator on staff. Why would I need to hire a separate wedding planner?

Here’s why she says this is an important concern to voice.

"The venue’s coordinator is usually a catering sales manager who will help plan the details that pertain to that venue—like overseeing the menu details, floor plan, and room reservations," says Parker. "But they won’t be intricately involved in every aspect of the wedding like a professional bridal consultant will."

And Parker would know: She’s been planning weddings and events for the past 13 years. Her award-winning planning has taken her all the way to Hawaii, but luckily for Seattleites, her focus is all local. So what can you expect from a planner like Parker that you won’t get from your venue’s coordinator?

"The planner will assist with etiquette of invitations, family matters, the ceremony and toasts," Parker says. "They will assist with designing the decor, be the liaison with vendors and the wedding party, and coordinate the rehearsal."

Read: Instead of fielding phone calls from your florist, caterer, DJ, or the flower girl’s mom, you can enjoy your wedding knowing you’ve hired a professional to specifically take care of those essential details. And your venue coordinator will thank you for letting her focus on the locale.

The end result? Parker says, "The venue coordinator and your wedding planner will work together to ensure a smooth event."