Those not hiring a Wedding Planner

We have the same concern.

I have some family members that own their own catering business that are supplying the linens, food, plates, silverware, napkins and even some beverages. With your situation though, maybe you could find someone that you know well and are close to that may help you. Also, ask the reception venue if you pay them maybe about $50-$100 more if they'll get someone to help you. Or, maybe you ask your MOH and Best Man to help, tell them you'll give them $20 or so to help.

I catered my own wedding and I was a caterer at the time. We had to do everything and I can tell you that the enthusiasm level for that at the end of the night was nil. A planner is not going to break down tables either, so that isn't the answer.

I would talk to the venues and see if they have a recommendation for someone that has maybe worked there before. Possibly your caterer can recommend someone.

@Celia Milton we don't need someone to break down tables. The venues all do that. We need someone to put up the decorations (centerpieces, guest book) and to take them away at the end of the night. And also we are responsible for taking out the trash.

Maybe you could pay them extra to do that?

@FutureMrs.Combs - Two of the venues no one from the venue will be there so that's not an option, the leave it up to you to take care of everything. They said people hired planners or had family do it (which we don't want to do). I think I will hire a helper instead of a planner. I don't need anyone to coordinate really. Just put things where they go and take out the trash. Sucks though because I know I will worry if those things are taken care of sigh.... I forsee myself staying just to make sure things are done.

I know my bridal party will not be staying the whole night they are all momma's and will most likely go home eventually which is fine. The grooms men I will most likely be drinking. I just hate that I know I will be feeling like I will have to take care of these things one way or another.

I had the same concerns. We resolved it by hiring a decorator from the place we are renting linens and chairs from. We plan to go Friday night to set up tables and as much as we can on the inside before and after rehearsal. Then on Saturday morning a couple friends and our kids will help with the outside decorations. The decorator will help with tables, make sure they are all set up with linens, decor, etc. Also set up the chairs for the ceremony on Saturday, AND, the best part, she does the take down afterwards. We still may have to take out trash, run sweeper before we leave but for the great price we got our venue is worth it.

@Celia Milton they don't offer it then venues doing is not an option. This is already something that has been discussed. They ONLY put up tables and take them down. nothing else. period.

@Terri that would be nice (set up the night before) none of the places we are considering is that an option. All we have is an hour before the wedding to set up and an hour after to take our stuff. I didn't even think about taking our stuff at first until just recently. I wasn't even sure if we were going to stay the whole time now I kind of feel like we have to so we can make sure everything is taken care of. (ya know, so we don't lose deposits). We are not renting anything. I am just going to have interview people closer to time I guess and hire someone to be my helper with the venue the day of.

How much would you pay someone for helping?

Thankfully we have the venue for the whole weekend so us and our immediate family will take the decor down on the Sunday.

Can you split it?

Like ask your mum to take the guest book when she leaves

Or an few aunts/uncles to take a centerpiece as they leave with them.

As for putting them up - either you and some friends/family go early and put them up or FH and some people do i in the morning. (plenty of people do it) or get a very trusted family member or friend and be gushingly nice and ask them

Or see if you can pay the venue more - to have the employees do the trash and put things up

As for trash - you might have to do it at the end with some close people or pay someone

Oh sorry xpost

depends what sort of helper

Someone who does it for a living will say an amount

if you just hire someones kid or students - minium wage plus tip and a bit extra if it is in the middle of knowwhere with lifting and you would have to give them somewhere to be during the wedding

@Mary we will just have to pay someone. None of the venues allow set up the morning of we only have the venues for so many hours in the day. We can't set up until our time starts. (set up is an HOUR before the wedding). The trusted family (um there is none lol) and friends are our bridal party/groomsmen) so they won't be able to do set up because they will be getting ready. There isn't one friend that really I want to ask to help to be honest. The ONLY ones I would again will be with me. So it's not an option. Two of these venues don't really have employee's. There is just someone who opens the place sets up the tables, gives us the keys and leaves. After we are done and gone they come back and lock up. Trash clean up is in the agreement that we are solely responsible for as well as clean up. Having the venue do is not an option.

If you're hiring out for catering, this is something you could also chat with them about coordinating. The catering companies I've worked with in the past have all done the cleanup (take out trash, sweep), and a few have helped with actually putting decor up when I needed extra assistance. If your caterer knows in advance, they may be able to staff accordingly to help with some of your setup and a little additional breakdown...though it may have a little extra cost added. Worth a try though

@Kalena - Our Caters are not a catering company it's just a restaurant delivering food. Their staff will be there but only for 3 hours (not the whole event time). They will be there long enough for Dinner. They will take out the trash for dinner. But that still leaves any trash from after they are gone.

We have already talked to the venues and places we have looked at for catering.

I really don't see away out of this with out hiring outside help. I didn't think of it until I actually wrote the post though that I could just hire a help and not an actual planner. (which a planner would cost more).

I spent the money on two extra days at my venue (a county park lodge so I'm only spending about $1000 on venue) so that I can set-up and clean-up. My sister got married at a VFW and I believe my stepmom started the clean up for that, they didn't have a lot of decor and they just had huge totes for everything. It was a later wedding and we all (my mom, stepmom, my sisters and myself) helped put up the decor the morning of. Overall I honestly think everything went really smoothly.

@Mary no- I wouldn't hire someone who does it for a living it will cost too much. I was thinking of just hiring someone. There wouldn't really be a place for them. They could set up and leave I guess and then come back for clean up if they like? I guess that could be an option. Hmmmm Not sure how to really work this. ugh. I wish we had family to help but we really don't. Most of the "friends" are his and I don't want to ask them.

My venue comes with a full design team and a DOC, but I alway hired a wedding planner. My situtation is a little different. My wedding planner is only allowed to do a few things since my venue takes care of most. I just really needed help with bringing my vision to life. But point is, there are Wedding Planners that you can hire just for DOC and sometimes they will include set up/tear down or others you may ask if they offer that a la carte.

@Felicia 0h yes, I know of DOC I just can't afford them. The cheapest we found was 300 which was a good price but I don't have the budget for one.

So my friend pointed at that with one of the venues we are considering they do a flip. She could put the supplies on the tables after the flip the tables. The other venue they can quickly do when we get there (since the tables will be up we just need to place the centerpieces) this place has a dressing room so we will be there. The last venue we can possibly set up the day before.

So I think I can do set up without hiring. I guess clean up we will just have who ever is left, sober and willing to help, help?

Have you considered maybe 3 romantic teenager girls? pay them either minimum age for the time or a set fee. they will be stylish enuff at there age to do this..you may have to let them sit in on wedding but oh well. then give them a nice letter of recommendation for the job, may help them get another. im doing all my cooking and cleaning but my daughters will be helping.our wedding is at home