With all these summer weddings, showers, baptisms and birthdays, I'm…
Wedding Wednesday: 52 Days to Go
It’s getting close now! The invitations have all been sent and we’ve received our first two RSVP cards back in the mail. Time to revisit the old wedding to-do list:
- Have Rob’s suit tailored
- Finish my wedding dress
- Make birdseed tossers
- Design and print programs?
- Attend my shower and bachelorette party in August
- Write the ceremony
- Create a detailed schedule for the weekend
- Find a new venue for our rehearsal dinner in Marin
- Have my hair test in late August
- Put together a folder of all my contracts and contacts
- Order the cheesecakes. They won’t let me until just a few weeks before the wedding
- Buy a wreath
- Plan the photo station
- Confirm the show participants
- Consider a day-of-coordinator?
I don’t think I need one, but I also don’t want people yelling at me on the big day. The initial estimates I’ve seen for this online are $1,000 to $3,000My friend Jill (who is always super organized) offer to do it! - Buy wine and champagne
- Buy new make-up
Rob’s away for a friend’s bachelor party this weekend. Aside from the shower I’m throwing on Saturday afternoon, I plan to get a lot of this organization done over the weekend.
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I’d recommend a day-of-coordinator. Especially since you’re so organized and on top of the details, it would be easy to bring someone else up to speed and let yourself just enjoy the day. No matter how much you plan, there will be questions from the venue, the waitstaff, the shuttles, the guests, etc. on your wedding day. It’s totally worth it to not have to worry about them.
I totally agree with hyb. You should be one of two most important persons this day, but not for questions.
Try to enjoy it as much as possible, it’s over so fast.
I also recommend a day-of-coordinator. I looked into it and my mother and husband both talked me out of it. I planned meticulously and had back-up plans, but my caterer was still late and didn’t do things that were agreed upon in our contract (somehow the serving staff didn’t know they were also responsible for being bartenders, which resulted in my dad, uncle and cousins serving the hooch until the caterer got their act togther. And by getting their act together, I mean we ate an hour and half late because their wasn’t enough staff to get the meal ready AND tend bar). My poor mother was trying to call the caterer while we were greeting guests. It sucked. After all the planning you do, the last thing you want is to have to think about things on the actual day of. You have more important (and fun) things to do!
I should say that is the worst thing that happened on my wedding day and the guests didn’t seem to mind too much or notice. They were in a celebretory mood by the time we ate:)I also got married in a college town that can tend toward a more relaxed vibe when school is out and its highly possible the catering staff had put themselves in a celebratory mood before they came to work!
Bottom line, I think it would make your day easier.
You can try and save money by hiring someone you know to do the day-of-coordinator job, like a cousin or friend (you want you super close friends and family to enjoy themselves). You could organize the day and print out an itinerary/schedule and go over every detail with him/her. I’d also include how you want pictures to go with the photographer (some don’t show up with assistants), so he/she could be yelling for the different bridal parties.
I’ve served this role for a couple of weddings and most will do it for free. You could just give a nice thank you gift.
Just think of people you know who are organized and a bit bossy!
I went without a day of coordinator and couldn’t be happier! We were married at a hall, and the bridal attendant that was assigned to me took care of EVERYTHING i could possibly worry about. IT was grand. I just thought 1 grand on ONE day was a big ass waste of $$.
I should add that my reception venue was very DIY. It was an Izaak Walton League hall with no day-of staff.
Emily-
I don’t know when your wedding date is exactly (well, the 20th, I guess, ahhh, math) and I might be nuts to consider offering this… but I’d consider doing a DOC trade, I’ll do yours if you do mine next August. I’ve looked at the quotes too, and they seem insane (and some of them claim they don’t lift and carry, wha?) Anyway, if you are interested, email me. God knows I have experance doing BIG events. I could pair up with my fiance and we could do a two for two trade. He’s done the technical side of theatre, and can run a light board, among other things, so between the two of us… phew… you’d be fine. If you are interested, drop me a line. It could potentally work out well.
I think you can find one under $1000 easily – it just depends on what you want/need. Check out the SF board on the Knot – if you ask, the girls there will give you some ideas. I had one b/c there was no one at our site to coordinate vendors (set up and delivery) and it was money well spent (i think she was about $500).
If it’s in your budget, get a day of coordinator. I would have LOVED one.
Althought I think $1000 for one day is too much. I wouldn’t pay more than $500 for sure.
Hi Emily-this must be kismet or something, but I was actually going to contact you. I am branching out into wedding planning and coordinating and wanted to offer my services. And to all Bay Area brides! Email me at genflen[at]gmail[dot]com for details, my background and pricing. I could easily do this for $500 or less!
Thanks for the generous offers Meg and Genevieve! I love the “trade” idea especially 🙂
Wow – I just realized that my wedding date is almost the same as yours (Sunday the 21st) and my list of things to do is nearly identical!
(The only difference being we got engaged May 28th… 😉
Good luck with all the work, Emily! It sounds all so lovely.
Piece of mind is the key. If your budget won’t allow for a coordinator get a someone you know to do it, she would be honored.
I just served as one for someone I kind of knew in college. The best thing is that we’re actually friends now (of course, that’s also because I did a bang-up job…former event planner here)
But it was cool to see how relaxed she and her groom (also new friend) were able to be throughout the whole thing. Do it for your sanity and for your other friends and family who would be pulled into whatever mess that could happen if something did go wrong. With a coordinator, at least they are used to what can go wrong.
I only charged $20 an hour, but still ended up making almost $700 because they did have to pull me in early when the stress got to the bride in the last stages of planning.
I’m happy your friend stepped in, it’s much better when the person knows your personality and you can develop a little shorthand that will come in handy on the day when relaying messages.