I Am the Bad Cop

I Am the Bad Cop

December 30th, 2009 @ 2:42 pm by Mrs. Pug
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So, if you remember, I was looking for a DOC. What should I ask of prospective DOCs?

I spoke to a dozen DOCs (including Little Blue Box Weddings, J&J Elegant Affairs, Sara Gorski Events, and others) and with each conversation I started becoming more comfortable asking questions. The following is a representation of the atmosphere I tried to create in each of these conversations:

I Am the Bad Cop : wedding wedding planner Interrogation Chair interrogation-chair

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When do you first meet with the couple? What do you discuss? Answer me now!!
Is there any contact before that first meeting? And don’t even think of lying, you little weasel.

Is there a limit to emails, phone calls, in-person meetings? Are you gonna make this difficult? Huh?
Will you visit the site? What will you look for? Oh, is that how you want to play this?
Have you planned weddings before where the bride was long distance? (if applicable) Look at me when I’m talking to you!
How long have you been coordinating weddings? I can stay here all day, buddy.
Have you coordinated any weddings at my venue before? Want to see what I have in my little surgical toolbox?
What, in your words, is the purpose of a DOC? Nobody knows you’re here.
Do you think a DOC is necessary for my wedding? (obvious answer is yes) Why? I’ll get you some coffee as you get me some answers.
Have you been a DOC for a wedding of my size before? I can only help you if you start talking.
What will you be doing the day of? Oh, are you crying, you little sissy?
Could you tell me of some past experiences with issues that came up and how you solved them? You want your mommy? I’m your mommy now!

I liked the idea that the DOC would be someone who was on my side and solely concerned that the wedding went smoothly and that my family and I would be completely free to enjoy the day. I mean, can you put a price on that? For reasons I will describe in another post, I did put a price on it and decided to forge ahead without a DOC.

To DOC and DOC-less brides—how do you feel about your decision? What were the important factors that tipped your decision either way?

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28 Responses to “I Am the Bad Cop”

1 2 Last

Bee

Miss Spaniel (message) 6,792 posts, Bee Keeper

I love your posts… they always crack me up!

12/30/09 @ 2:51 pm (reply)

Member

AzinAugust (message) 1,651 posts, Bumble bee

Firstly That was the most hilarious post ever and secondly I’m giving my DOC orders to FSIL 2 and saving monies :o)

12/30/09 @ 2:59 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Mouse (message) 5,844 posts, Bee Keeper

Haha. Intimidating! I see your legal training paid off.

12/30/09 @ 3:00 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Peep Toe (message) 1,804 posts, Buzzing bee

Hire a professional DOC that will be there for you during the day. I didn’t and I regret it. There is only so much your family can do for you!! Good luck!

12/30/09 @ 3:00 pm (reply)

Guest

Reba

I found someone on Craigslist who offered free week of services. Everyone loved her and my only complaint was that I didn’t want to be asked how I was doing and if I needed anything quite so much. But that is just me wanting to be left alone.

12/30/09 @ 3:04 pm (reply)

Member

Cole B (message) 1,362 posts, Bumble bee

This is seriously hilarious, I can’t wait for the next installment

12/30/09 @ 3:05 pm (reply)

Member

Goldilocks1107 (message) 2,504 posts, Sugar bee

I’m going DOC-less and hoping my little brother really comes through on his wedding gift of “making sure everything goes right.”

12/30/09 @ 3:08 pm (reply)

Member

MeadowbelleMarket (message) 55 posts, Worker bee

I wasn’t originally planning on a DOC, either. We acidentally ended up with one a few months prior to the wedding. Turns out the DOC was getting married one month after us, and we each had something the other wanted: me -sanity, DOC - classic car & limo.

You see, my husband has a limo company, so it turned out perfectly. The trade was definitely worth it, even though I hadn’t originally figured it into the budget. As the date got closer, I was really happy with our decsion - it gave me a lot of piece of mind to know someone else was in my corner in terms of work & organizing the whole ordeal! It was a great way to talk through how everything was going to play out and DEFINITELY reduced the pre-wedding stress & day-of concerns.

With all the prep beforehand, I was so surprised at how EASY the day of our wedding seemed. I was on cloud nine with a big smile on my face the whole day (Cake turned out lop-sided, no problem! Where are the lanterns supposed to be hung? - ask DOC).

It would have taken more than one rehearsal dinner to get all my friends and family coordinated on their own. I know I wouldn’t have been able to relax and enjoy the day nearly as much without her!

12/30/09 @ 3:08 pm (reply)

Member

Arachna (message) 1,267 posts, Bumble bee

12/30/09 @ 3:10 pm (reply)

10.

Member

Candy_Nee (message) 1,399 posts, Bumble bee

I actually have a full wedding coordinator and i LOVE HER!!! She is making my bridal life much easier (also helpful because we moved states 6 months before the wedding). Not that every bride needs a full out WC, I highly recommend one. Worth every penny (perhaps that’s b/c my fiance’s mother is paying for her?)
BTW, your post was friggin hilarious!

12/30/09 @ 3:11 pm (reply)

11.

Bee

Miss French Fries (message) 2,217 posts, Buzzing bee

You are hilarious and awesome. That is all!

12/30/09 @ 3:16 pm (reply)

12.

Guest

I didn’t hire a DOC and I was happy with my decision. I understand it’s personal, and based on your own levels of organization and stress. It’s just that I was so organized and had a capable lady at the church and a capable lady at the reception site that I did what i needed to (organized boxes, labeled everything, gave everyone to do sheets) and everything went fine. The only thing that went wrongw as the florist was late and I didn’t get enough pictures with my older sister–neither of which a DOC could have “saved the day” with. I’m calm enough by nature so a DOC woudln’t have calmed my nerves either. By the time the day came, I was just happy and figured we were getting married no matter what. No food? Order pizza. No cake? Someone run to Costco. No flowers? Flowers schmowers.

12/30/09 @ 3:18 pm (reply)

13.

Member

jeaninelovesyou (message) 155 posts, Blushing bee

you are too funny. i’m totally going to be cutthroat when it comes to hiring my DOC!

12/30/09 @ 3:26 pm (reply)

14.

Bee

Miss Guinea Pig (message) 1,377 posts, Bumble bee

Funny funny Miss Pug! You crack me up Thanks for making my work day brighter! No DOC could stand up to your intimidation

12/30/09 @ 3:47 pm (reply)

15.

Member

3pugmama (message) 152 posts, Blushing bee

What about the most important question — How prominently does your love for pugs figure in your life?

12/30/09 @ 3:58 pm (reply)

16.

Guest

marites

this is the most hilarious post i’ve seen in a long time. i hired one. it really does depends on how much you’ve diy, how big your party is, & what your venue coordinator(s) cover. also personal preference. i set up for a lot of events in my family. i wanted my day just to relax and enjoy. thank goodness because the last thing on my mind was our wedding gifts and where were they going to go after my reception. and pulling of my decoration stuff and packing them afterwards. I’m exhausted from dancing and enteratining and wanted to go to bed. she put all the gifts in locked up office of the hotel. and packed up all the other extras. I took the cards up to bed with us and slept like a baby!

12/30/09 @ 4:58 pm (reply)

17.

Bee

Ms Potato Chips (message) 1,193 posts, Bumble bee

Oooh girl I hope I never get on your bad side!

12/30/09 @ 5:09 pm (reply)

18.

Bee

Miss Elephant (message) 6,177 posts, Bee Keeper

haha, your posts crack me up! I hired one, and she has been so much help so far!

12/30/09 @ 6:08 pm (reply)

19.

Bee

Miss Buttons (message) 5,046 posts, Bee Keeper

I actually won my DOC at an expo (I have a post about it like…tomorrow???) so I really didn’t have a choice…when its free, I feel obligated to accept! So far, we haven’t done all that much, since they aren’t helping me with projects until the rehearsal/day of!

12/30/09 @ 9:15 pm (reply)

20.