Post # 1
Member
4889 posts
Honey bee
We met with our catering manager last night of the venue we’re having our reception at. I felt really accomplished getting that done and some details finalized.
However, when asked if we would be able to come into the room the night before (like after 8pm) to decorate for the next, she said that there is tentatively something going on in that room until 11pm the night before so that might not be an option, but she’d know when it got closer. I knew this could be a possibility, so it’s OK… sort of. *lol*
Our reception is on a Friday, so I figured that Thursday nights wouldn’t have much going on around town… but that is obviously a busy week (our groom’s dinner venue was already booked when we called, but luckily had another area we could use instead). I guess now I’ll have to get everything I want organized and assign someone to go there in the morning to decorate.
The good thing is, we don’t have much for decoration and the venue is supplying most of it… and there will be time between the ceremony and when the social hour begins that I (and others) could move things around if they were done up in a way that I didn’t want them. But, it would still be nice to be able to do it the night before.
Did you assign a friend/family member to do that stuff? We’re already having our host couple do stuff with the tables that will be outside of the reception hall, and could ask them to help with this, or another of FI’s aunts who wanted to be involved some. Or else, my mom could go over in the morning and do that before we go to her house to get ready/first look… so many things to think about now!
Post # 2
Member
7643 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
Kacie209: Our venue let us come in the evening before after 5 to set stuff up. If they would have had something going on we would have had to wait until the morning of, but luckily they didn’t. They set up all the tables and the DJs did all the lighting. We just had to decorate the tables, which was very minimal since I had very few decorations. The next morning we had a friend and her boyfriend go to the venue at a certain time and be there to get the cupcakes set up and just make sure everything was still ste up properly.
Post # 3
Member
3031 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: May 2015 - Walnut Hill Bed & Breakfast
My venue lets us there all day the day before, but it’s a smaller venue without much going on.
In the past 1 of my friends decorated the night before – they let her in after the rehearsal dinner. We were there probably from 9 till 11ish. All the bridal party was there helping along with a few family members.
For another wedding I was in she wasn’t allowed in early. She had to have minimal decor (mostly just the centerpieces, name cards, guestbook). We got ready off site mostly but did have an area to put our dresses on there. We got there like an hour early and we did what we could along with her aunts/moms to put everything together before we went to get dressed.
Post # 4
Member
1079 posts
Bumble bee
Kacie209: we are also having it at a hotel, but we are having the ceremony there as well, so they have to make sure the area is open for us to have a rehersal. I’m hoping the rest of the ballrooms will be open as well to make sure we can decorate after all the rehersal stuff is done.
Post # 5
Member
4672 posts
Honey bee
We were allowed in the venue early that morning (8:30 am), and we (me, DH, wedding party, family, close friends who volunteered) decorated the day of. It was a lot of decorations/setup, but we had an unbelievable number of family members and friends volunteer to help, and we did it in shifts so DH and I didn’t see each other.
Post # 6
Member
4889 posts
Honey bee
LadyBear: I know we’ll be allowed in there the morning off, it’s just that I won’t have the time to assist and will need to hopefully get someone else (besides my mom ) to help. Like I said, it’s really not much… but will still take time.
It just stinks if we can’t get in the night before to be done with the little we have to actually do. Our Groom’s Dinner is at 6, and I was fine with leaving it around 8:30-9 to do the decorating. I have another aunt in town that may be able to help, if needed.
Hopefully whatever is tentative now will fall through… but knowing my luck, probably not. Just changes some things.
Post # 7
Member
1079 posts
Bumble bee
Kacie209: I just contacted my coordinator lady at the hotel and she said we would be able to have a room for rehersal but wouldn’t know until 1-2 months before if we will be able to get in the night before to decorate. She will make a note of it but they can’t turn down business. Otherwise we could get in at 8am. What time is your ceremony??
Post # 8
Member
621 posts
Busy bee
We set-up the evening before the wedding, after the rehearsal. We had the time allot put into our contract because the wedding was at 12:30pm so there wouldn’t have been time to set up the morning of.
Post # 9
Member
2116 posts
Buzzing bee
Kacie209: we did it the night before. which was also the night of the rehersal dinner. afterwards we just brought the party to the venue to decorate. AND actually there were people late for the rehersal and it set everything back… we were decorating till 12. which worked out fine since my actual wedding wasnt starting till 3 . no body really knew what to do when it came the decor. they were looking to me to delegate but gosh you can only tell so many people what you are invison and expect them to just go with the flow.
Post # 10
Hostess
8574 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
We took our reception hall for the day before and the day of. We are using the whole day before to decorate.
Post # 11
Member
1111 posts
Bumble bee
our hall has been amazing so far…. first off its at a hotel that no longer uses their ballroom or banquet halls or bar anymore so they are giving us all 3 banquet rooms (connected to eachother by removable walls) + the dance room ( also connected through an entry way that opens up from inside the banquet rooms + the bar room (which is two steps out the door from the banquets) all for $400 and to top that off they have given it to us for friday and saturday ( allowing cleanup sunday morning) and if their is nothing go on (which he said will prob be the case sometimes their is senior night in one of the rooms) he will give it to us thursday as well sooo basically 3.5 days for $400 … he is super awesome considering if nayone seen any of my past posts that my last venue decided to tack on bigger fees than they original gave intentions of on me.
Post # 12
Member
4889 posts
Honey bee
mrsdevries: My ceremony is at 3:30 that afternoon, and we start hair/make-up around 8-8:30.
Post # 13
Member
15 posts
Newbee
I’m following this thread because I’m wondering the same thing! Our wedding is on a Saturday around 430, and there is a wedding at the venue the night before. I was thinking I would just decorate with my fh and some family members because I’m pretty OCD about how I want everything laid out. Has anyone set up with their FH before the ceremony and reception? Or is that a big no no?
Post # 14
Member
1079 posts
Bumble bee
Andrea718: I’m in the same sort of position. I will have enough bridesmaids and family members that could help with mine. And I know what I want I can sort of be a control freak with I want things set up so I will def be involved however it goes down lol.
Post # 15
Member
15 posts
Newbee
mrsdevries: I am glad I am not the only one like that! 🙂