How much time is enough?

Who is doing the set-up/clean-up? We'll have our venue for a total of 9 hours: 3 PM to midnight. Our vendors and coordinator will start setting up at 3 when we're allowed on property (it's a museum, so hours are a little different than typical venues). Ceremony will be at 5 with our reception ending at 11 pm. Then, our vendors/coordinator will clean-up to have everything out by midnight.

For my sister's wedding this past October, she had a very different set-up. She didn't have many vendors for set-up, but had the property for the entire weekend. We took about an hour and half on Friday night to set up tables and chairs. Then, the morning of the wedding, a couple of her friends worked on setting up tables and florals for about 4 hours. Clean-up was pretty easy since we were on site, but we probably spent a couple hours cleaning up everything the next morning with all hands on deck. She had about 80 people at her wedding.

I say that if you're planning on doing the set-up, I don't think 8 hours is realistic. However, if your vendors are doing everything, as long as they're well-staffed, you could probably get away with that time frame.

View Quoted Comment It would be all on us.. the venue would place the tables and chairs in place indoors and will put those away but decorating and everything else is up to us 😭

I helped set up for an outdoor barn wedding. They had the whole weekend since they were doing it themselves. In that situation I don’t think 8 hours would have cut it. If you have an easier scenario you should be able to make it work.

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I think you'd definitely be pushing it. You don't want to be rushing around on your wedding day doing the set-up. You're going to want to be relaxing and taking your time getting ready.

I don't think it would be enough time if you are decorating yourself. Our ceremony started at 4:30 and ended at 10 that's 5.5 hours, but prior to that we spent several hours getting ready. We also took a lot of photos prior to the start of the wedding so that we didn't go over time during cocktail hour. That time also did not include set up or tear down. Our decorator/florist arrived at 10:00 AM to start decorating the ballroom. She was able to start decorating the ceremony space at 12:00 PM. She did not stay for the ceremony or reception, but she came back at 10:00 PM to tear down. I'm not sure how long that took, but I would say at least 30-45 minutes at a minimum. If your ceremony and reception are about 5.5-6 hours that only gives you two hours to set up and tear down which isn't a lot of time.

View Quoted Comment You guys are right
Would a good alternative be hiring a day of coordinator and maybe giving some of my younger cousins some cash to pitch in? Or just invest in a few extra hours for set up? Its $90/hr fee or both 🤦🏻‍♀️

Since the set up is your responsibility, I would definitely consider a day of coordinator. Set up 3-5, Ceremony at 5, Cocktail hour/reception 5:30-9:30 or 10, then you have 2 hours to clean up. I would say it's doable, but would be a good idea to have professional help.

I would hire a professional to handle set up for you rather than relying on your family. Your family should he able to relax and enjoy themselves on your wedding rather than work. Your family also likely doesn't have experience setting up a wedding so it might not turn out how you want it to which means you could end up disappointed or having to supervise them. You should also not have to worry about setting up. Day of Coordinators usually handle set up so that's who I would hire and I wouldn't even bother asking your cousins for help.

View Quoted Comment Okay, thank you! 😊

View Quoted Comment You're welcome 😊

Realistically I do think that's enough if you get some help.