We are getting married in Vancouver in early August 2008, but my fiance and I live on the other side of Canada! I am trying to figure out if I should get just a decorator, or if I need a wedding planner or a for-the-day-planner.
We have a limited budget. We would like to keep the decorations to a minimum to save money - plus the venue is pretty wonderful by itself with a great view. Our main wedding party can't help with the decorations because we have the venue booked from 4:30pm onwards, and we will be getting ready for the ceremony ~6pm. We have ~70 guests so about 8-10 tables.
I will need some help and supplies for at least:
- Decorating the outside deck with electric lights for the evening
- possibly minimal flowers/fabric around for the ceremony outside and the reception indoors (no florist booked yet)
- Setting up the area for the cake display (I'm guessing the cake person just delivers the cake? - no cake booked yet)
- Setting up the name cards and guestbook table (I'm making these)
- Put anything else we need on the tables like favors & table numbers. The venue will take care of standard table settings and tablecloths.
I am comfortable with getting all the vendors together myself for cake, flowers, etc. - I just don't know if this is beyond something a decorator would do, and if having a planner would make things easier for facilitating the whole day. What do you think??
(Also side worry of mine is if 4:30pm enough time for people to start arriving at 5:30-6pm or should we try to book the place for longer? (That will add on $500 probably ugh).)
scrap the decorator and invest in a planner!! even if her fee is more than the decorator - it'll give you peace of mind that there is a stage mother making sure all the loose ends are being tied up!
Do you have a florist? The florist will setup all the flowers as well as if you are doing any sort of draping or swaging.
You should definitely hire a planner, it would be a great investment for you. You may need to do more than Day-Of-Planning though since it's out of town.
I too would suggest a planner, she can make sure that everything is set up according to your wishes, as well as handling any last minute crisis. That way you can just relax & enjoy!
The last thing you want to be doing on your wedding day is making sure the florist has arrived and directing where things should go.
If you can afford it, hire a planner now to help book the florists, etc. If that's too expensive, hire a planner just for the day-of to carry out your vision. You just hand her the list of things to do ahead of time.
Since you are having a smaller wedding, is there someone that's not in the bridal party, that you trust to act as day-of planner? I handed over my list to a very good friend who I trusted, and it worked out well.
To answer your questions, the cake person will set up the cake table depending on what you choose. If it's fresh flowers on the cake, do you want your florist doing it, or the baker? The venue will definitely provide a table & linens (make sure you specify this when you confirm details w/ the venue & where you want the cake table located).
If it's minimal flowers/decorations, 4:30 start time is adequate to set-up for guest arrivals at 5:30 for a 6 p.m. ceremony. With this limited time, though, it's even more crucial that you have all the details down-pat to hand off to someone for flawless execution. Good luck!
Wow thanks very much guys for all your help! Your details on who-can-do-what iare great and reassuring.
I may have an aunt who can help as day-of-planner, though I will look into wedding planners for day of or the whole thing as well. I think it would make me feel much better to have a planner to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Good sunny afternoon
We are getting married in Vancouver in early August 2008, but my fiance and I live on the other side of Canada! I am trying to figure out if I should get just a decorator, or if I need a wedding planner or a for-the-day-planner.
We have a limited budget. We would like to keep the decorations to a minimum to save money - plus the venue is pretty wonderful by itself with a great view. Our main wedding party can't help with the decorations because we have the venue booked from 4:30pm onwards, and we will be getting ready for the ceremony ~6pm. We have ~70 guests so about 8-10 tables.
I will need some help and supplies for at least:
- Decorating the outside deck with electric lights for the evening- possibly minimal flowers/fabric around for the ceremony outside and the reception indoors (no florist booked yet)
- Setting up the area for the cake display (I'm guessing the cake person just delivers the cake? - no cake booked yet)
- Setting up the name cards and guestbook table (I'm making these)
- Put anything else we need on the tables like favors & table numbers. The venue will take care of standard table settings and tablecloths.
I am comfortable with getting all the vendors together myself for cake, flowers, etc. - I just don't know if this is beyond something a decorator would do, and if having a planner would make things easier for facilitating the whole day. What do you think??
(Also side worry of mine is if 4:30pm enough time for people to start arriving at 5:30-6pm or should we try to book the place for longer? (That will add on $500 probably ugh).)
Thanks very much, Sarah
posted by librariansarah 4 posts 9 months agoscrap the decorator and invest in a planner!! even if her fee is more than the decorator - it'll give you peace of mind that there is a stage mother making sure all the loose ends are being tied up!
posted by Anti-Zilla 385 posts 9 months agoDo you have a florist? The florist will setup all the flowers as well as if you are doing any sort of draping or swaging.
You should definitely hire a planner, it would be a great investment for you. You may need to do more than Day-Of-Planning though since it's out of town.
posted by glittergrl 322 posts 9 months agoI too would suggest a planner, she can make sure that everything is set up according to your wishes, as well as handling any last minute crisis. That way you can just relax & enjoy!
posted by ScarletOHara 21 posts 9 months agoThe last thing you want to be doing on your wedding day is making sure the florist has arrived and directing where things should go.
If you can afford it, hire a planner now to help book the florists, etc. If that's too expensive, hire a planner just for the day-of to carry out your vision. You just hand her the list of things to do ahead of time.
Since you are having a smaller wedding, is there someone that's not in the bridal party, that you trust to act as day-of planner? I handed over my list to a very good friend who I trusted, and it worked out well.
To answer your questions, the cake person will set up the cake table depending on what you choose. If it's fresh flowers on the cake, do you want your florist doing it, or the baker? The venue will definitely provide a table & linens (make sure you specify this when you confirm details w/ the venue & where you want the cake table located).
If it's minimal flowers/decorations, 4:30 start time is adequate to set-up for guest arrivals at 5:30 for a 6 p.m. ceremony. With this limited time, though, it's even more crucial that you have all the details down-pat to hand off to someone for flawless execution. Good luck!
posted by SoCalBeachGirl 385 posts 9 months agoWow thanks very much guys for all your help! Your details on who-can-do-what iare great and reassuring.
I may have an aunt who can help as day-of-planner, though I will look into wedding planners for day of or the whole thing as well. I think it would make me feel much better to have a planner to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Cheerios :)
posted by librariansarah 4 posts 9 months ago