To have a wedding planner or to not have one…that was never the question. OK, I know, bad play on words, but apparently I’m just not that witty! 
Anyway, right when the planning begins, you know how you get hammered with questions? Mostly things like “Have you set a date? What are your colors? Can I have a plus-one? When are you having babies?” (And yes, we were asked the baby question even though that definitely isn’t in the cards for us for a bit.) Well we also got the question “Who is your wedding planner?”
{personal photo: my super-detailed, color-coordinated planner}
The short answer? I’m our wedding planner. For a lot of reasons:
So when I started thinking about the wedding weekend, I initially said that I wouldn’t be having a wedding planner. But again, with planning comes options—and specifically, one that I hadn’t thought of yet. Hiring a day-of coordinator.
Instead of hiring a wedding planner who would work with me to execute my vision, make vendor decisions, etc., I’m going to hire a day-of coordinator. The few options I have in mind come highly recommended and offer full weekend-management services instead of just the day of. That means they would also be present for the rehearsal and take care of final payments to vendors and final confirmations in advance, so it looks like this is going to be a great option for us!
Now I just have to decide which DOC to choose…
If you hired a planner or DOC for your wedding, how did you choose? Did you find that meeting with them in person was helpful?
I just got the wedding planner question yesterday for the first time! This person (and I can’t for the life of me remember who it was, though I know they were well-meaning) seemed SHOCKED I didn’t have a planner, but honestly none of my cousins have had planners and been fine, and I have a day-of coordinator I like and trust 
Our caterer essentially acts as DOC with making sure the timeline gets stuck to and vendors are there when they’re supposed to (my dad and mom will be the ones handing out the final payments to people though). My mom and I are both EXTREMELY Type A, anal, OCD planners (both of us use those “skills” in our jobs too!) so we refused to pay somebody to make decisions and timelines for us when it’s what we enjoy doing!
DOCs aren’t that common in Delaware so it never occurred to me to hire one. That and I’m a Type-A gal like you.
Hiring a DOC was the best decision we made, I got to plan everything, but I trusted my doc to execute everything on the day of perfectly!
we’re not having a wedding planner, though I’m contemplating a doc. I hear good things about having one, but I’m just not sure if we’re having an elaborate enough of a wedding to justify it?
side note: love the notebook. I wish I was that organized, but I’m a little too scattered brain to actually keep lists up to dateg
I myself offer DOC in Buffalo NY, and it is quickly becoming more common than an actual planner. It is important to hire someone who can easily handle high emotions, stressful situations, and last minute changes. When you meet a possible DOC you want to ask questions that reflect their approach to handling disputes, taking directions, ‘grace under fire’ and the most important CAN THEY MEET YOUR NEEDS. Is this person friendly? Do your personalities mesh (you will be spending all day with them after all) Can they carry out the details you planned WITHOUT changing them because ‘their way is better’…. If you are interested, I can send you a list of questions to ask… it truly is an investment worth having…you put so much time and effort into planning your wedding…so enjoy it, and let someone else worry about the details for a day!
Only me and my groom. Planning wedding is a hard task. When I think of wedding next year, i feel headache. I am afraid of worries.
I think you definitely need to meet your day of planner, I mean you state you are type-A. You need to make sure these people understand and respsect that! I am doing neither due to cost really!
I don’t have a wedding planner but the venue I am getting married at offers a DOC (included in the price) and she has been great.
I def looked around for our wedding planner. Did some research. We met with her and clicked right away. She was amazing and we are so happy now (looking back) that we decided to hire her services. Things got really crazy just before the wedding and on the day of, she kept everything together and was so calm.
We booked a DOC for our wedding. I am planning every aspect of this wedding but on the day of, I just want to relax and know that everything is taken care of. I booked her abotu 6 months ago and she has been actively helping me even though she isn’t getting paid. Being able to relax and not have a worry but being beautiful is priceless. The best money spent in my book.
I had a DOC and I liked her very much. We met about a month prior and I let her in on my vision for the day of and she came to the rehearsal and helped me a ton! BUT…on the day of…she didn’t get as much done as I expected. and I found out after the fact that she didn’t do nearly HALF of the work that my mother, stepmother and grandmother did to decorate the place and set everything up. And then, I found out shortly after the ceremony, she left! didn’t tell anyone she was leaving or why! I felt like I paid her to show up to my wedding and she definitely didn’t live up to my expectations nor was she worth the money. You live and you learn! I would say, if you are going to get a DOC…make sure you get it in writing what you expect them to do, time to get there and time to leave, etc.
I do event planning as part of my profession in Public Relations. I’m used to planning events in a 6-8 week timeline. Initially, I went back & forth in my mind asking myself if I wanted to handle everything myself for my wedding. To put my mind at ease, I met with a few planners regardless. After my consultations, I realized that I am more than 100% capable of doing everything myself. They would say things like “we make this organized timeline for you” and I’m like “a run of show?”, “we organize things with your vendors”, “a vendor call sheet”. In the end, I realized for me specifically, these people weren’t offering me anything I couldn’t do myself. I saved myself the money and opted to handle it myself. Everything was fine, it all ran smoothly and I don’t regret my decision in ANY WAY. What I am thinking is MAYBE I should make a career change, lol. These people make bank!
I am the same way and even only ended us with a day- of person because she came with the venue, but she wound up being awesome. Also, please tell me that is an Erin condren palmier? I have one too and I looooove it!
I feel you on the Type A, Miss Otter! For the same reason, I am planning the wedding solely with the help of my groom and bridal party, but I am having a Day-of-Coordinator. One of my close friends of college has agreed to do the job. We worked on tons of events and special projects together and I just know that she is literally the only person who will be able to make sure things are done the way I want them and running smoothly/on time the day of the wedding since I can’t be in two places at once. I TOTALLY support enlisting a DOC!
I am a wedding planning in Southern California that offers all wedding planning services… but I mostly do MOC & DOC as most bride like to plan their own weddings but use me to execute their vision on the day of. If you have the time to research and meet with vendors that you don’t know to weed out the bad, then planning your own wedding is best. But by hiring a planners they already have these contacts, this cuts out so much time. But a DOC is a must because the details is key on the day of and the only thing the bride and groom needs to be doing is getting ready, spending that time with their wedding party and family/friends.
A DOC is a necessity and becoming a must have for most brides. We love working with Type-A brides who know EXACTLY how they see their day! We take pride in making that happen! Good luck in your search!
Kristin
I am meeting my DOC on Sunday! She works with my mom and she offered as soon as we were engaged. I am excited to not give some of the last minute payments and day of logistic type responsibilities so our bridal party. We can all enjoy ourselves!
Hello All!!!
I feel I am specifically able to answer this questions because I am a bride to be and a wedding planner/coordinator! I actually own my own wedding and event planning company (Paisley Events-www.eventspaisley.com). Everyone has their own style. Some couples are extremely organized and want to be completely hands on, some are not organized at all and want someone to organize for them. Then there are the few who want the help but also want to be hands on in their planning.
I have worked with so many couples on their Day of. It is a perfect option for those who want to enjoy their day. What I have found is most helpful to brides is a month of. This allows a coordinator to have already established a relationship with the couple and lets the couple and their families relax the month before while the coordinator/planner takes care of the final details such as picking up the dress, calling the venue to make absolutely sure everything is set in stone for meals, sets up the venue in the couples vision and other tasks. This also includes the Day of and allows you and your families and wedding party to be guests! not task completion point people.
I hired my mentor, another professional planner/coordinator, to be my month of. I know that I cannot be both in bride mode and planner mode at the same time, or my head will probably explode and I will get more emotional than Id like to have my fiance deal with!
Either way, to hire or not to hire, do what feels right for you! Its your day and thats what matters!
xoxo
Katherine
Mrs. Otter, Indianapolis, IN Age and Occupation: 22, Freelance Social Media Consultant Fiance's Age and Occupation: 23, CVS Shift Supervisor Engagement Date: November 11, 2011 Wedding Date: April 2013 Venue: Mustard Seed Gardens About Me: I'm a born and raised Hoosier girl, but a diehard Michigan Wolverines fan. I have a tendency to take too many photos and spend full days having TV marathons. Mr. Otter and I met in high school, started dating a couple years later, and moved in after a month of being official. He is easygoing and makes plans on a whim, while I'm color coordinating my planner and organizing everything in sight. He hates glitter, but it's my favorite thing. I have tattoos and he still won't get one, despite my attempts to convince him. We're planning a small, rustic, and (hopefully!) peony-filled wedding to get our married life started. (And yes, there will be glitter involved!)
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