- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
I was wondering this too, but our venue does all the setup with me the night before. So I tell them just how I want it and they do it all that night and the next morning. They're really great, so glad to have found them!
If you are doing it at a church or somewhere where they don't have a WC or staff, I would say corral some of your friends who aren't in the wedding party. I've also been to weddings where the BMs were doing this sort of thing the morning of, and others where everyone including the bride set it all up the night before before the rehearsal.
Wow, the night before would be AWESOME. I would totally do most of it myself! I guess that would be another reason to go with artificial flowers too. Since the wedding is early in the day hopefully that will fly! Thanks marci_607!
My ceremony and reception are at the same beach location. I'll have to find out when they set up tables and chairs to see how this may work.
I'm glad to help! I had the same issue as you, I wanted to do it to make it just right. (Eeek! I'm sounding a bit like a bridezilla!)
I completely understand. I have asked our coordinator about this a few times, and if there is nothing in the space on the Friday before we can get in that night---but that runs into the rehersal dinner.
What I have decided to do is to create diagrams using pictures of the space, drawings, etc. and give a few jobs to people I trust. So I think explicit instructions, and some deep breathing and a talk with myself about just letting go, and knowing that good enough is perfect for that day. I would do the whole thing myself if I could though!!!
I'm doing the same thing. I'll provide pictures and explicit instructions to my friends.... if I don't sneak in and do it all myself! lol
My venue suggested appointing a set up and clean up 'committee'.
I have a wedding planner, so she is going to make sure everything gets set up for me correctly. I highly recommend that you get a day of coordinator at the very least, so everyone, you especially, can just relax and enjoy the day.
I read on one of the blogs about someone; sorry can't remember who, that put each table into a box, so that the set up people just had to take the items out of the box and set them up according to the instructions. I think that is a very good idea.
I told my FH that I wanted to get a wedding planner/coordinator for the day of. He said he didn't think it was necessary. So, we decided that he would be the day-of contact, responsible for any last-minute catastrophes and the vendor contact. That way I can just focus on getting pampered and be relaxed for the wedding. So, between him and the groomsmen/ushers, we should be good to go.
I got a day-of coordinator. She saved me lots of logistical headaches and allowed me, my bridal party, and my family & friends to truly enjoy the wedding without worrying about these details. I highly recommend it.
I think NYC may be kinda pricy. If you don't have the budget, maybe you can ask your caterer to see if they can take over certain responsibilities. Otherwise, some brides do wedding day swap where you act as day of coordinator for another bride's wedding on her wedding day and she actas as the day of coordinator for your wedding. Of course, provided that the dates work out. If you have a friend who's willing to do it, that will act as his/her wedding gift to you and keep in mind that he/she may be missing out on some of the festivity due to the responsibility.
My venue only lets us in two hours before the ceremony, so I've been wondering about this. I think ideally, you set up the night before or the morning of. For us, though, we've had to scale down decoration ideas because there simply won't be time for them.
(Full disclosure - I offer DOC services, so I may be just a teensy bit biased in my opinion)...
I would say a DOC is definitely the way to go! You can probably work it in to the budget since you'll save $ doing a lot of DIY. Personally, I think the piece of mind knowing that it's going to get done & none of your guests have to "work" the wedding make it well worth having a DOC.
I had a friend be my DOC (day of coordinator.) I made diy bouquets, invitation, centerpieces and decorations. I ask one of my bridesmaid's sister. I gave her about $120 bucks to help me out. She even brought a friend to help her too. I asked her to assemble the centerpieces, put out the placecards, last minute touches for the reception and help find the wedding party when it came to getting everyone in line for the introductions. She was a total life saver and prevented me from being that bride that yells at everyone to get into place. lol
I looked into professional DOC and I found one that was going to cost me $250 and then found a few for $500 or more. I don't have it in my budget so I had to ask someone I knew.
I would highly recommend finding one. Let me see if I can find the post I ask about whether or not I should hire a DOC.
Oh, my sister who said she would rather be wedding help instead of being in the bridal party was the one who decorated the church while we got ready.
Good luck!
ETP: Here's my post.
http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/should-i-hire-a-doc-im-a-diy-bride
My boss and a couple ladies from work are going to set my stuff up with me. They've done this for numerous weddings, and she offered to of course do mine as well. I'm going to decorate the church the day or two before (we basically have a free for all with the church) and then if there's nothing going on at the Country Club the night before, we'll get that set up as well. Our florist is delivering and setting up the flowers so I won't have to worry about that.
I'm planning on being a part of all of it, just because I'm that anal about things!!
I am from Australia so don't know if America is the same but......University's are a good place to start ours have employment services (maybe American uni's do too) where you can advertise for once off jobs. Uni students are historically hard up for cash and offering one or two ppl an hourly rate to set up/pack down your venues may be the way to go. If you know anyone who is in uni you could get them to post a flyer on the noticeboards. Only prob I see with this is how to be sure they are reliable
I agree with getting a DOC if you can.
I am still nervous about this and I have a wedding planner.
Will she be able to set up my escort cards and centerpieces and everything else?!?!
Get a DOC or designate an organized friend to be one. My FI's cousin has been a wedding coordinator in the past and she is acting in this capacity. We are also recruiting a handful of family and friends that we know would like to be put to use to be her elves!
I hired my florist to be my DOC and setup all my lovely DIY projects. We made sure to meet a few days before to go over how I wanted everything setup and I had photos of mockups and diagrams to make it easier for her to make everything turn out like I had envisioned. It worked out beautifully since I knew she was creative enough to tweak anything that might need it the day of.
We were able to get in to the reception location two days before the reception. I had a friend working with me for all of the two days, and other friends who came in an hour or so before the reception started. Even so, we ended up rather rushed. (Ok, so my having two minivan loads of stuff to bring in and 127 paper lanterns to be lit and strung didn't help!)
I would recommend a) having a written list of all the stuff that needs to be done, and b) having someone (not you or a bridesmaid) in charge of making sure it all gets done. That could be a workaholic friend or a DOC, but you should not be trying to do it all yourself.
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| Brielle | 39 |
 vorpalette |
29 |
| caseyleigh10 | 26 |
| ellisrobertson | 24 |
| les105 | 23 |
| fishbone | 23 |
| lionskitty | 22 |
| SouthernGirl | 21 |
| mypinkshoes | 21 |
| kat2014 | 19 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| Toastymama |
8 |
| takemyhand | 6 |
| Loribeth | 4 |
| envirobride | 3 |
| MrsMSmith | 3 |
| lionskitty | 2 |
| LaTortuga | 2 |
| julies1949 | 1 |
| Gabrielle123 | 1 |
| coffeegal85 | 1 |
Hi bees,
In an attempt to make my upcoming nuptuals more personal and most importantly cheaper, I'm planning on homemade invitations, centerpieces, ceremony decorations, and bouquets (yay silk flowers!), even a homemade wedding dress. I luckily have lots of talented and creative friends and family all willing to help design and create which will hopefully make this a more fun than stressful process.
Now for my married bees, I am growing a little concerned based on what I don't know. No one is gonna let me tie ribbons on aisle seats or set my centerpieces on my wedding day (even if I want to), and I don't think all y talented bridemaids, who are responsible for most all of the work not done by myself and my mom, will be in much of a position to do it either what with dressing, photos, hair and make-up and all that good stuff. Do I need to draft more people?
Perhaps I just need to talk to my caterer, but diy ladies, how did you manage some of your wedding day DIY set up?