DOC

lovemesomemonster

Looking for advice from everyone. Did you have a DOC or not? If you had one was it worth it/ not worth it? If you didn't do you wish you had or was it fine without one?

Our venue is basically all inclusive and the ceremony/reception are in the same building so I'm struggling with the money part of it.

JennyColada

Our general event coordinator was kind of acting DOC. I honestly don't know what I would have done without her, but she totally went above and beyond in every way. I mean, just knowing that all I had to do was show up in my dress and enjoy myself was GREAT! She coordinate ceremony-to-reception transportation, made sure everything went smoothly. I would have never NOT had a DOC knowing what I experienced by having one.

louxnoelle

Thanks for this thread! I always liked the idea of a DOC because I'd like to have somebody around to answer questions the day-of, but don't want to just transfer that stress to a BM or MOB/MOG.

The reason I haven't decided to hire one yet is because I get a little overwhelmed thinking of putting somebody in charge who has only known me and the wedding plans for a very short amount of time. I completely understand that it's their job to sweep in and make magic happen, but it makes me a little jittery.

I'm also looking forward to hearing of other's experiences.

beachyone15

We also had an all-inclusive venue (country club) so there wasn't a need for one. We had a banquet coordinator that helped us with the reception. We got married in our church, so we also had a church coordinator. Those two people were enough. Honestly, even though it was a lot of work and coordination, I liked doing things myself and not having to rely on someone else. That's just my personality though - I'm a very organized, detail-oriented person and I'd rather do things all myself. I think it just depends on how much time/energy you want to spend (or have someone else spend).

Edited, b/c I'm a detailed person who can't spell.

lovemesomemonster

The ones I have been talking to sound like it would be amazing to have them around. They coordinate with all the vendors up to 2 months before, make sure everyone is where they need to be, decorate before, move everyone along etc. My struggle is that while this would be nice, we will be getting ready on site, it's all in one building, catering is done there, decorations will be minimal so I'm having trouble justifying the $2000 price tag for this!

paperpusher

With our budget and location (MIL backyard) we didn't get one. Although my brother kind of turned into one. With him taking things off my hands I was able to take a break every now and again and just soak in the day and what was happening.
I have a friend who decided with all the things that are popping up with her venue and that she's due with her first baby a week before the wedding she decided she wanted one and I'm expecting to hear that it was worth every penny.

labro

A DOC was included as part of our venue's price. I'd say having her (them actually, it was the venue owner and two other women) there was 100% worth it. She let me know where I needed to be and when, bustled my dress, guided guests, intercepted extremely late people to help seat them quietly and unobtrusively, coordinated calling tables for food, accepted delivery of the flowers and cake and assisted with set-up. At one point my SIL got sick so she helped obtain some pepto to settle her stomach. She basically took care of anything and everything we needed. The owner's assistants helped make sure the groom's party was where they needed to be for pictures, gathered family groups for group photos, basically they were all pretty essential to the day. And the entire time pre-ceremony I got to sit back and relax and not have to worry about handling or managing anything. When we left the venue that evening, the coordinator and her assistants gathered up our cards and gifts and anything else we were taking home and loaded up my parents SUV with everything and they made sure to send me and H to our hotel with some leftover cake for a late night snack.

I'd say if it's in the budget, it's 100% worth it.

ashley8918

I guess I don't understand what exactly a DOC would DO? Like, what stuff can't the venue staff do? (Unless, obviously your venue doesn't have staff - like a park or something)

lovemesomemonster

@ashley8918 the ones I am talking to do the following:

-Start 2 months before following up with vendors, review contracts, confirm times, and make sure they have everything from me they need.

-Outline the day of wedding timeline

-Help decorate reception/ceremony areas

-Make sure people are where they need to be (seated for ceremony/moved to reception hall etc) and coordinate the wedding party

-Meet all vendors day of to set up, make sure everything is what you ordered etc. 

-Move the wedding along according to timeline so you don't have to do it (start food, start first dance etc.)

-Deal with any problems that generally come up day of.

[Deleted User]

lovemesomemonster said:

The ones I have been talking to sound like it would be amazing to have them around. They coordinate with all the vendors up to 2 months before, make sure everyone is where they need to be, decorate before, move everyone along etc. My struggle is that while this would be nice, we will be getting ready on site, it's all in one building, catering is done there, decorations will be minimal so I'm having trouble justifying the $2000 price tag for this!

I don't know where you're located, but I have a planner, who is also my DOC for $1,600. She's done months of work for / with us.

A DOC who does a day and two months of work for two G?! Girl, keep shopping...

lovemesomemonster

FeeleyToBe said:

lovemesomemonster said:

The ones I have been talking to sound like it would be amazing to have them around. They coordinate with all the vendors up to 2 months before, make sure everyone is where they need to be, decorate before, move everyone along etc. My struggle is that while this would be nice, we will be getting ready on site, it's all in one building, catering is done there, decorations will be minimal so I'm having trouble justifying the $2000 price tag for this!

I don't know where you're located, but I have a planner, who is also my DOC for $1,600. She's done months of work for / with us.

A DOC who does a day and two months of work for two G?! Girl, keep shopping...

My biggest problem is my venue, most of them are around $1700 but they are going to charge an extra ~$200 to go to the venue and then some of them want a night in a hotel. That is another question I have, they want a hotel room for a night, does it have to be AT the lodge? This place is freaking EXPENSIVE to stay at and I really would rather not spend another $300 for them to stay there. Is it rude to put them in a different one close to the venue?

It must be my area too, I looked out of curiosity in the area that I LIVE in and ~$1600 was for a planner, DOC was around $900.. the area my wedding is.. OFF THE CHARTS!

ashley8918

lovemesomemonster said:

@ashley8918 the ones I am talking to do the following:

-Start 2 months before following up with vendors, review contracts, confirm times, and make sure they have everything from me they need.

-Outline the day of wedding timeline

-Help decorate reception/ceremony areas

-Make sure people are where they need to be (seated for ceremony/moved to reception hall etc) and coordinate the wedding party

-Meet all vendors day of to set up, make sure everything is what you ordered etc. 

-Move the wedding along according to timeline so you don't have to do it (start food, start first dance etc.)

-Deal with any problems that generally come up day of.

Yeahhhhhh this would be a colossal waste for me.

I am perfectly capable of following up with my own vendors (and frankly, I would want to talk to them personally, not have someone else do it for me. My venue and DJ did everything else on the list.

I definitely do not see the need.

littlepep

I'm way too controlling to let someone else plan for me. We have a venue coordinator and I'm handling the rest. I actually did the timeline for her because I love planning so much. 

lyndausvi

We had one through the caterer.  Thank god.  Between having to rent everything, tents, being OOT  he was amazing.  Then add in the storm.  Yeah.  I can't even imagine having to do that ourselves.

We tipped him well.

Blergbot

I got married in my SIL's backyard. Having a DOC ($1500 in one of the most expensive wedding markets in the country) was invaluable to me. She took over three months of vendor communication, ran the rehersal, ran things the day of, and just generally thought of things that would have never occured to me. If I were getting married at an all inclusive venue, however, I would expect to have that service covered.

blabla89

We were planning to do everything ourselves, but then found room in our budget to hire the catering manager for her DOC services. It's a huge relief knowing we don't have to be there to set up at the crack of dawn or stay after to pack up.

mikenberger

I hired a DOC/month of coordinator and she's the best ever. I love her and want to steal her. 

She is handling all the vendors, all the set up, all the tear down, making sure things run smoothly... She's in charge of running the rehearsal and the ceremony (with lining people up and getting people down the aisle...) creating timelines for everybody, reaching out to the various vendors and making sure they know their times and when they're arriving, what they need etc. 

She's costing me around $1500. and worth every single penny.

jenna8984

lovemesomemonster said:

@ashley8918 the ones I am talking to do the following:

-Start 2 months before following up with vendors, review contracts, confirm times, and make sure they have everything from me they need.

-Outline the day of wedding timeline

-Help decorate reception/ceremony areas

-Make sure people are where they need to be (seated for ceremony/moved to reception hall etc) and coordinate the wedding party

-Meet all vendors day of to set up, make sure everything is what you ordered etc. 

-Move the wedding along according to timeline so you don't have to do it (start food, start first dance etc.)

-Deal with any problems that generally come up day of.

I agree with ashley here....I honestly don't see anything in this list that wouldn't be super easy for yourself or the venue staff to do. It takes 2 seconds for you to email/ call your vendors and confirm their times and packages. And then all the setting up is really done by the venue or you can go the night before and do it. The DJ and other venue staff transition people from when to sit down, when to start dinner. I just don't see the need to a person walking around saying "ok it's 7:59pm- time to start dinner!". Like no shit, the venue has done this hundreds of times, they know what to do.

ElcaB

I did not have a DOC & I totally wish I would have. 

Our wedding was very DIY, from the food to the flower arrangements. It was an awesome day, but there were several hiccups that could have easily been prevented had we hired a DOC. Examples:

• We bought three long-stem roses to present to our mothers before the ceremony to kind of honor them. The roses were placed in the venue refrigerator the morning of the wedding and completely forgotten about until we cleaned the place up the next day. Oops. 
• We ordered a 6" round plain white cake, which we planned to decorate with flowers and place on a cake stand at the head table. When the reception started, the cake hadn't made it to the table. Then it appeared, but was undecorated. Then it got whisked away to be decorated & finally all was right. 
• DH really wanted his special beer pong table to make an appearance, which I agreed was okay for a short amount of time. BIL was really drunk and during a round, he dropped his pants. I was the one who had to run over and tell him to put his fucking pants back on. It'd have been nice to have a DOC around to do it for me, because that's not what a bride should have to do. 
• I didn't want the bartender serving shots, but somehow the message got lost & she did. A DOC would have made sure she got the message.  

There were a few other things, but meh. A DOC is great for super DIY weddings. I highly recommend it!

lovemesomemonster

Thanks for the advice for and against it everyone! I'm still on the fence, meeting with another one today who seem to have more of a range of prices. On one hand it would be nice to not have to think/worry about things day of but on the other hand I'm not sure I WANT to spend that kind of money on it. Our venue sets up all tables, chairs, linens etc. for the reception and ceremony, we aren't renting anything and we're staying at the lodge the night before so setting up should be simple. I also had to book this venue almost a year out to even get a Friday winter date, needless to say this is not their first rodeo and they are doing all of the catering.