DIY Brides- Clean up?

I am going to have to set up and take down all decorations from the ceremony and reception when the reception ends also. I have heard that there are companies that will help you with this, but I don't know of any. I almost considered using this centerpiece rental company, as they do the set up and take down for you, and centerpieces will be our biggest clean up, but it wasn't in the budget and I have to diy my centerpieces. Some of our family and BP are planning to stay after to help us clean up. I really think that I will not feel like doing it in my dress and all, but it has to get done.

Yes, but ours is an inn. So we can clean up the next morning... I'd ask if coming back first thing in the am would be okay, especially if you are having a Sunday ceremony, or staying locally, or there isn't an early party booked after you the next day, that may be something they can accommodate.

Unless you are leaving from the venue straight to the honeymoon, that strikes me as less onerous.

Yeah, we have the venue Friday 9am until Sunday at noon, so we would come back the next day. I think I'd rather sleep in and have a nice breakfast, so now I don't know.

I don't think there's anyone who's done it who will say that it was fun. Probably the best they would say is that it wasn't that bad. I urge brides to hire someone to do the clean-up. It's just difficult to picture a bride in her gown -- after a beautiful day -- ripping down decorations she labored over, throwing guest trash in garbage bags, or sweeping floors, etc. Plus, you can't always count on those who promise they're going to help. At the end of a day of partying and drinking, they tend to slip out quietly. It all sounds doable in the beginning, but like you, some people tend to rethink it as the wedding day approaches.

At my brother's wedding, a bunch of close family members stayed, and it took maybe a half hour tops. We had to take down lanterns and other decorations from the ceilings, clear the tables, take down lights, take down an arch, etc. It definitely stunk having to stick around after we were already tired enough, but I would never leave my brother with all of that work! I wish him and his wife could've just left; I would've stayed to take care of everything.

At my friend's wedding (I was a BM), the parents, bride and groom, and bridal party handled clean up. It was fine. Everyone was pretty drunk by that point so it wasn't too bad.

My husband's relatives did all the work, no questions asked. We were out of there! I have no idea how long it took.

I did. Hire someone.

I don't really want to ask my family to help clean up. We have to put away all the tables and chairs and leave it clean for the next group, so maybe mopping/sweeping.

I guess my choices are A) hire someone, B) deal with it, or C) find a new venue. Time to search for clean up companies.

We have to clean up but rented hall for next day and paid someone to do it

I'm hiring someone. The 1st company I had I used for my daughter sweet 16. They cancel on me a couple of weeks ago. I hired another company for the set up and break down. I don't want to clean up after my wedding and I don't want my family and friends to have a job at my wedding.

Julia and Tina- how much are your company charging? I'd like to get an idea of cost to budget for it and know what to expect when I talk to a company about it.

We stayed with family to clean it up. It was an afternoon reception that only lasted a few hours. It only took 20 minutes. It was not a big deal. We still had the whole evening to be alone and relax.

I'm getting a DOC to do set-up and tear down. It's the last thing I'm going to want to do the day of my wedding.

I'm paying $678 all together. But that also include servers for my buffet. I'm having drop of catering.

We stayed after and cleaned up ourselves. It was kind of nice actually. The majority of guests had left, only our immediate families and bridal party were there. We just dumped a lot of stuff into garbage bags, and stuck the rest into vehicles. It was super easy and then we all sat around and talked for a while after we were done.

I didn't do much cleaning. I sat on the grass with my mom and supervised, haha.

Julia, that's not a bad price to not have to do it yourself. Definitely going to look into the area to see what companies are around.

Google event staffers in your area. If you don't have a agency in your area that provide that type of service. Try temp agency. You can also look into a maid service and see if they can help you.

Ours is on our old college campus. We're probably just going to pay some students to do it for us, but I think we can wait until the next day.

This is why I have a DOC. Or one of the myriad reasons.