Post # 1
Member
421 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: November 2016 - Muhlhauser Barn
Let me set the scene for you on our venue…
it is at the Muhlhuaser Barn in West Chester, Ohio and it is a completely open venue in that I pay for renting the facility, tables and chairs. Thats it, everything else I do on my own. With that being said I dove head first into decoration planning and such– which is fun and easy for me.
Now we are getting down to the coordination of day of events and Im getting nervous. I have been reading some other brides talk about their day of coordinator helped queue people down the aisle when it is their turn to go as well as the bride, getting the bride and groom a drink because they will be busy, getting the intro into the reception coordinated and watching the time as well as getting people together for 1st dances and such.
With this being said I COULD pass this off to a family member or bridesmaid but I really want them to be relaxed and focused on having fun not watching the clock.
To You DIY brides out there in similar situation as this, what did you do?
Post # 2
Member
1385 posts
Bumble bee
Day of Coordinator is vital! SUPER thankful I had mine. I had a “chief of staff” bridesmaid, who knew the rundown of everything, but at the end of it, she was still my bridesmaid and busy with photos, etc.
Post # 3
Member
1185 posts
Bumble bee
If you have an entirely DIY venue I would highly suggest a DOC. I also would not ask/expect one of my friends to family to do this, they should be there as a guest, not to work. Hire a professional.
Post # 4
Member
1399 posts
Bumble bee
I had a DIY venue and tons of DIY projects (including all of our florals) and my DOC was a lifesaver. Get one!
Post # 5
Member
1118 posts
Bumble bee
My venue sounds super similar! I am hiring a day of coordinator I originally thought that I would have my aunt do it since shes not involved in any other aspect of the wedding and she throws big parties and everything all the time. In the end I would just rather have a professional so we budgeted for one. I wouldn’t have a bridesmaid or anyone who is involved in the wedding corrdinating anything becauase you are going to want them with you to get ready and all of that and it’s not fair to ask them to work on the wedding day and be ready for all their other tasks.
Post # 6
Member
421 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: November 2016 - Muhlhauser Barn
thanks for all of your input!
I haven’t ever looked into a DOC. If you dont mind me asking, how much is resonible to pay someone for that duty?
Post # 7
Member
14 posts
Newbee
Would love to hear more input on this. Im doing the same thing as you and I feel like Im going to need one too. I defffffffiiintely do NOT want a single person askign me where something is or where something goes or where so and so is.
For my friends wedding which was at a park- I dont know if she coordinated it or if the lady just sort of took charge- but the lady who did her flowers since she was setting up the tables before and as guests arrived she kind of came over to us and started directing everyone down the aisle. Shes a close family friend of both of ours and I think since she did the flowers it made it seem natural for her to do that part since she wasnt sitting down anyway. Although she wasnt with us during getting ready and in that time as the Maid/Matron of Honor i just looked for ways to help out.
With all of that said. I totally feel you. I dont want to hire someone. After looking it up its like a thousand dollars. but at the same time if its someone I know its gotta be someone I wouldnt feel bad about giving a job. I go both ways I mean would someone feel honored and generous to want to help or would they feel offended and want to be pampered at the wedding? I guess it depends on the type of person you ask.
Post # 8
Member
421 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: November 2016 - Muhlhauser Barn
concretegirrl: AGREE!
I feel 1000 is waaaayyy too much. I would feel bad to give the job to a close friend that im inviting to the wedding but i guess if I HAD to they would only need to be “on duty” until after the dances becase thats the last thing of the night that is “scheduled” then the rest of the night the ycould relax.
Post # 9
Member
1118 posts
Bumble bee
Mine will be $1200 it’s a lot but I just took the money from other things liek decorations since the venue luckily stands along pretty well and i hate flowers so were doing very simple things. Some places work with day of coordinators and include them which is nice but other places like our venues don’t. You coud ask the venue and see if they have preferred vendors for coordinators. We get meetings beforehand to figure out where everything goes and what I want. She gets there early and stays super late and will organize everything for me and she willbring decorations she has for free if I find stuff she has that I like. In the end for me and my piece of mind it was just worth it for me to pay for one. If you do have a friend or family member help with this you definitely need to purchase a nice gift for them as this will be a lot of work.
Post # 10
Member
76 posts
Worker bee
I do NOT have the budget for that…and my wedding is completely DIY also. So, for the ceremony & seating people (like an usher), I’m thinking of having one/some of the groomsman there to guide people where to sit, since they don’t have anything else to do. At the reception, one of my MOHs will be doing that duty. She was more than happy when I asked if she would be like the “host” and kind of make sure things go according to plan and she will be announcing everything when it is time.
Post # 11
Member
10451 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
Our venue provides a day of coordinator. I didn’t really think we needed one then we had our planning meeting with her last week and now I’m SO glad she’s going to be there to help make sure everything goes correctly. There’s no way asking a friend/family member would really be the same as a having a professional who knows what they are doing because there are so many little details to think about! If you can find it in your budget I would absolutely suggest it!
Post # 12
Member
595 posts
Busy bee
My venue comes with a day of coordinator. I loved the venue itself, but having a coordinator included really sold it for me!! There is no way I would put that responsibility on a guest or member of the bridal party, nor do I think I would even trust them to do the job without getting distracted!
For an extra $250, our coordinator is setting up everything and doing all the decorating for us. As I’m doing lots of DIY and not hiring a florist, I think this extra fee is well worth the money for us!! She’s super organized and on top of things. I’ll be able to just sit back and realx the day of without any worry. Totally worth it 🙂
Post # 13
Member
2596 posts
Sugar bee
I’m a DIY bride and I just hired a day of coordinator. I wouldn’t have though if it wasn’t so cheap. I’m a little hesitant about it since I want everything to be as perfect as can be but having her there is going to help soooooo much!!
Post # 14
Member
421 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: November 2016 - Muhlhauser Barn
I just hired a friend that runs her own little wedding business to be the coordinator so Im sort of relieved! Good call bees!
hikingbride: Can you tell me what little details that you didn’t think of? maybe i haven’t either and want to make sure my coordinator does!
Post # 15
Member
10451 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
ucsadie: A lot of them were just little things like arranging for some of the hors d’oeuvres from our cocktail hour to brought out to us while we are taking pictures so we get to eat something. Arranging for catering staff to make sure we get food first so we have a chance to eat and having them carry our plates for us so we don’t have to worry about spilling! She’ll be in charge of arranging for tables to be dismissed for dinner. She said this works better than having the DJ do it because she’ll have a better idea of what’s going on in the kitchen than the DJ will so she can make sure it flows more smoothly. She also has all the contact info for our other vendors (florist, DJ, photographer, transportation, etc) so if they are late she can call and figure that out without having to bother me and stress me out 🙂 She’ll also help me bustle my dress after the reception.