Day of coordinater

The ONE thing I regret not having was a DOC. I'm super type A and planned my entire wedding, and that day I wished I had a clone to do things the way I wanted. Checkout a local college in the drama/theater department and maybe get a recommendation for a student who could possibly direct and be paid a lower price if you can't afford an official DOC. I didn't see that suggestion until after my wedding and wish so badly I would have known.

Get someone to be the hostess maybe have about 2 that are well organized and can work under pressure.. they can help with the flow

I would find a way to hire a DOC. Even if you have to cut back somewhere else (other than catering and bar).

My wedding planner was worth her weight in gold on the day-of!! Do you have a coordinator at the venue?

If you absolutely can't swing it, then I'd make sure your DJ/Band has the full reception timeline and will keep the reception on track, triple-confirm all delivery/arrival times with all of your vendors the week of the wedding, make sure you have a ton of time for set-up and clean-up, and keep the DIY and any decor you'd have to set up to an absolute minimum!

I second @MarleyAnne22 (although I'm having a professional stage manager as DOC vs a student but you could find the right one and probably be fine).

I've never known anybody to my knowledge that had a DOC and I've only been to one wedding where the people definitely needed one because they were super go with the flow type of people that didn't really think anything through. Their wedding was a shit show, but all the other dozens I've been to without them went fine as far as I could tell. It would be nice to have somebody there to do all the little things the month before but if you fully trust your vendors and they all have great reviews I wouldn't go into debt spending the money on it. My DJ company does a lot of the stuff a DOC typically would do the day of and I've personally seen all my vendors in action at multiple other weddings I've been a part of so I'm opting out of one.

That's one thing I won't compromise on with FH. We can't get into our venue until 7am the day of our wedding, so I don't want to worry about having to decorate or making sure vendors are doing what they need to do or anything like that.

FH and I are lucky in that we both work in hotels, so we know catering sales managers who plan weddings/meetings for a living. We're going to hire someone I used to work with to be our DOC.

Please get one-- otherwise you or a close friend will be running around taking care of all the little details. If it's you, you will be annoyed (at least in the moment) that you can't relax and enjoy your wedding, and it is a huge burden to put on a friend or family member.

I ended up getting a doc because I couldn't do everything myself

Absolutely have to have one, as our venue is non-traditional.

Think about it...So the morning of, will you be getting ready and taking photos with your wedding party, or will you be directing your caterer, florist, DJ, baker etc on where to set up? Are you going to be answering all of their calls? Who will know how you want the venue set up? Who will manage your timeline?

Weddings are expensive and I'll be dammed if I'm not relaxing and enjoying mine. Get a DOC!!

I'm not getting one. We have our venue for the Friday and the Saturday. It was a rent Saturday get Friday for $200 special so we have it both days. I'm planning on setting up all tables and decor on Friday and then we'll have the rehearsal there that night. Saturday everything should be ready but FH will be there when all vendors arrive because him and his GM will get dressed there.