Weddingbee boards

Seriously - We are looking for a DOC for the Hampton roads, VA area, and pricing this out has been a nightmare.

I dont need a planner, i dont need someone to organize my ceremony (there is a planner for the chapel already) and i dont need suggestions on vendors or anything - everything is already booked and set up. i literally need someone to go to the reception venue and set up the room like i want it on the day so someone in the bridal party doesnt need to do it.

thats it.

WHY are people charging me $1500 for that? basically $190 per hour to set up a room and make sure the vendors come pick up their stuff at the end of the day.

am i insane? or is this too much for yall too???

That's way too much. My wedding coordinator for the entire things (venue, vendors, booking, helping with planning, and day of) is $2300 total.

That was the norm in my area but i soon found out DOC really means week of to most of the planners. I emailed people detailing exactly what I needed and the price range I thought was fair and I got back a few snarky emails and a couple of relly genuine people who were willing to work with my budget. I hired someone only to find out she is the #1 ranked planner in the portland area by several mags and in the end she was SO worth it, but we chose her based on a vibe at the meeting and her willingnes to work within our budget. We were very specific when hiring to mention we didnt need anyone at the ceremony space or at the rehersal, just someone to set up the DIY stuff and we would handle the rest.

@vistagirl - i have tried going that route, and got a LOT of snarky comments back - even though im like um really all i need is someone to set up - i dont need a handmaid for the day or a wedding planner for the week of. 

i have thought of getting a local student to do it but i kinda want a professional if they screw up i have recorse ya know?

Do you have any friends that are recently married and would be willing to help?  A friend did this and it worked out great. 

yeah i dont want to use friends or family since if something goes wrong i will kill them LOL (im only half kidding) but most of my family and friends i want to actually enjoy the day not be running around setting up stuff when im getting married.

@ddubz - its close to what is on there (i dont need the timelines or meetings before hand and dont need the ceremony help) but even $700 is more affordable than $1500!!! too bad they arent in VA!

i looked into several docs in the dc area and the average i found was 2k. but, all three i contacted were really more like "month of"--i can start handing things off to the one we went with about 4-6 weeks before hand and she makes all the final confirmations and stuff. you may be able to negotiate with them to cut the services down more and see if they'll charge less?

i tried that - the ones that i talk to act all offeneded that i wouldnt need them that far ahead and only want day of stuff - i dunno if its because its a holiday weekend or what. but im not getting nice responses. boooo :(

I think to a certain point all DOC's packages are altered to each bride.  Therefore, the $$ tag to each package is different.  Don't let the initial $ scare you off. Its just a ball park and since you don't want a good amount of their service fluff your $ will (should) be much lower. 

Here is a suggestion - - Whip together a detailed list of the exact things you want to have a DOC handle. Phone a DOC who you would be interested in working with let them know you have a certain budget you truly can't go over and these are the things you're looking to hire them for....

@jackie-o - i will try that! i am crossing my fingers. theres no way we can sqeeze more blood out of the rock that is our budget! LOL

My DOC is $1800 and going to be worth every penny. We have also had four individual consults for $125 an hour with him. He does offer services where he plans the whole wedding for A LOT more, but I didn't need someone to plan. Just someone to be the boss on my big day. They have been awesome and I am not going to have to worry about a thing. This si what is included in my DOC package:

• A personal Wedding Day Director
• At least one additional Queen of Hearts staff member (number of staff members determined by final guest count- no additional charge for additional staff)
• A two hour consultation to review your wedding details and contracts with both our principle designer and your Wedding Day Director
• Access to  Consultants and your Wedding Day Director for advice via telephone or email
• Creation of a wedding timeline, detailed checklists and contact sheets
• A one hour walkthrough and finalization meeting with your reception venue
• Confirm details with each wedding professional the week of the wedding
• Wedding rehearsal coordination by your Wedding Day Director
• Wedding Day 'check-in' calls to bride and groom
• Confirm possession of wedding rings prior to leaving for ceremony
• Two hours of wedding ceremony coordination typically including:

  • Organization and set up of ceremony
  • Distribution of flowers to bridal party and family
  • Line-Up bridal party and family for processional
  • Cue / orchestrate wedding professionals for ceremony
  • Organization of recessional and receiving line

• Five hours of reception coordination typically including:

  • Maintain and coordinate timeline for all events during reception
  • Cue bride and groom, bridal party, and parents for special events
  • Deliver final payments and gratuities to wedding professionals
  • Assist with gifts and personal items at the end of the event

• Wedding Day Emergency Kit

 
There is other stuff too but I'm too lazy to copy and paste. lol.
 

@gotitang - im thinking for what i want around $500-700 at most. What i need is ONLY at the reception venue on the day of:

someone to put the overlays and centerpieces on the tables (they are floating candles)

someone to set up the foyer escort card table (place two flower settings from florist and put the little cards on the table)

someone to meet the cake dude, uplighting dude, and dj dude and show them where they are supposed to set up

set up the gift table

end of the night - ensure the gifts get to the cars and the table decorations get to my parents (most of this my parents will do pretty much though)

so its really just setting up. i dont need a baby sitter or anyone to do any problems with my hair makeup etc, my family can do that, but they will be getting ready when the reception venue should be setting upsooooo... hence the need for someone.

i am pretty organized too - i have mockups with photos of what everything will look like, and diagrams. i just have to make a detailed list of all the duties i need at the venue. very easy really - not deserving of over $1500!

@weebirdy - yes we are getting married at W&M Wren chapel and a reception off site at a nearby golf club - so i will give the alumni house a call :)

@weebirdy - thanks! im keeping my fingers crossed! :)

@echo - never heard of strike up/strike down - and im starting to think that its the same issue you had - i have done all the leg work, i just need manpower to execute the step by step directions. Thanks!!! :)

and p.s. echo was my latin name back in highschool!!! (remember how folks would choose a name? like aphrodite, or hesta? i was echo... tragic story... *tsk tsk*)

As others have said, you have to remember to take into account that usually "day-of" packages include so much more than showing up the wedding day and doing a little set-up and organizing the wedding party. They're usually the first vendor to arrive that morning, and the last to leave after all the tear-down has been completed, meaning that a 16- hour day is not uncommon. They also work with you to create a timeline, confirm all your vendors, meet with you and e-mail all the time (a good coordinator won't limit communication), coordinate your rehearsal and then everything you need on the wedding day. It's actually a TON of work, and I feel that for this kind of package, depending on the experience of the coordinator, anywhere from $1,000-$2,000 is justified. Like I said, out of all the vendors, they're probably the ones that have the longest day.

However, if you're just looking for someone to do the set-up and a  few other things, I would inquire about a custome package. A good coordinator will work with you to create something you're both happy with. It just may mean you'll have the coordinator for fewer hours.