Weddingbee Blog

I made the executive decision this week to hire a day-of wedding planner, and I can’t tell you how I happy I am that I did.

Other bees have blogged from both sides of this issue: those who went without one on their special day said they managed just fine, thank you very much, and those who did have one said it was an asset they couldn’t have done without. I guess it’s the kind of thing you don’t need, but is nice to have, if you can afford it. For me, I had just started to feel, with four months to go, like things were getting just a bit too crazy for just my own little body to shoulder all the weight. I’m happy someone else is sharing the load now!

So, what will this person (and her two assistants) do for me?

Here’s some of it: verify that all vendor contracts are on the up-and-up and then confirm with all vendors a month before the wedding, two weeks before the wedding, and a day before the wedding; create timelines for me and my wedding party members; organize and orchestrate the rehearsal; check-in all vendors on wedding day; distribute all tip moneys and any remaining payments; make sure guests know how to get from the parking area to the ceremony area (ceremony is not in hotel itself, but a little bit across the way…); set up all favors, place cards, signs, along with all other wedding “stuff,” as well as collect all necessary things at the end of the night to return safely to us (such as toasting flutes, etc.); set-up aisle runner and ribbon to keep guests from walking on it; cue wedding procession & music; organize gift table setup for guests arriving at ceremony and then re-transport to reception site (in another area of hotel, and eight floors up); cue entrances, first dance, cake cutting, etc.; take Polaroid pictures of guests and encourage guests to sign the guestbook; help our friends “prepare” our honeymoon suite, and so on and so on…

Having a day-of-coordinator could be an asset in other ways, too. A thread in our Weddingbee boards last month discussed whether having one could actually save you money, even though you were putting out money to hire one. I can see how it may… because of the business relationships the DOC’s develop and the many weddings they get to work on, they start to know who is a reliable vendor and who isn’t, which might perhaps save you money in the long run, keeping you from hiring someone who could possibly be a money pit or just a lousy vendor!

I think I literally sighed with relief when I signed my contract and handed over my payment (which like with all other vendors is negotiable: get the best deal you can!). I feel like come the big day I can concentrate on being a ball of nerves due to the fact that I’m getting married, but not so much because I’m orchestrating a wedding.