Whats the different...

justad0reme

...between a Maitre D and D.O.C.?

cvl105

Maitre D is assigned to you via the reception venue...makes sure you eat, gets you drinks, etc.  DOC is typically hired by you and helps you all day from start to finish...may help you get dressed, helps out with the ceremony, etc.

Danes983

Agree with CVL, but also the Maitre D works for the venue.  The DOC you hire and works for you.

justad0reme

ohh okay..so if the venue is already offering a Maitre D. I shouldn't even consider getting a DOC?

cvl105

Depends on what you're looking for someone to do for you.....what are you expecting of someone else?

Is your ceremony at the reception hall?

Danes983

I am not having a DOC, but some girls on her say they are so happy they had one.  If you feel like you need extra attention or that your centerpieces need to be set up by the venue and you want someone to supervise in your best interest then go for a DOC. I don't know the cost, but I heard a Day of only can be pretty good priced.

Laurms15

I had both MD was there watching over the staff at the venue making sure the tables were set and the wait staff was on top of things. DH and I had a personal attendant who brought us food/drinks and tended to those needs and the MD oversaw that. Our DOC was amazing she was there w/ tissues, water, made sure all the vendors arrived when we needed them to be there, she was in charge of the timeline and making sure that things on the catering and entertainment end were moving along at the right pace to keep things on schedule. She was there when I got ready she carried lipstick (she was WAY easier to find then the one bridesmaid who had my purse!) she took care of final payments and tipping vendors, she was there to take cards from DH and I so we weren't running back to the gift table all the time. If someone handed us a card while we were wandering/dancing she was on top of that. She bustled and re-bustled my dress when I didn't want to bother my sister/BMs because they were having too much fun.

I liked being able to rely on someone I was paying rather then bothering the BMs who were more then happy to help and kept asking me what I needed but honestly I wanted them to hae SO much fun and not to worry about me. I wanted to know that they were out on the dance floor waiting for me not following me around bustling my dress.

Oh and she set up our candy bar and our jordan almond favors.

I'm a big fan of the DOC if its in your budget. If not you can certianly do without it but I found she made life much easier and I was able to be more in the moment.

justad0reme

The only expectation I would have is to make sure the vendors are there on time...thats the last thing I would want to worry about on my wedding day...(btw-long time from now. I was just curious).

And yes the ceremony is going to be at the venue.  My venue offers a Maitre D. I believe the fee falls between 2% and 5% but I wonder what I could ask him/her to do and what I should just take care of myself or ask someone close to me to help me with..

justad0reme

Laur, that's exactly what I want! I would have to consult with Fi first since we are already paying for the Maitre D and we would have to see if we can afford to fit a DOC in our budget but at least now I know the difference!!  Thanks ;]

uppereastgirl

In Response to <a href="http://forums.weddings.com/Sites/Weddings/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_whats-different?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:136130fb-d106-4782-bce8-c5e088ef5ed0Post:d83b8843-8fa3-4569-b9a8-15e8c0811c24">Re: Whats the different...</a>:
[QUOTE]ohh okay..so if the venue is already offering a Maitre D. I shouldn't even consider getting a DOC?
Posted by justad0reme[/QUOTE]

It really depends on your venue and how hands on it is.  At my venue, I had a maitre d' and two venue coordinators (and the food and beverage manager, who was also very hands-on), all of whom were pretty much only working on our wedding that week (we were the only event that weekend).  When I asked whether I should book a day of coordinator, they said they'd take care of everything.  But our ceremony (which was at a church) was very simple -- if it was more complicated maybe I would have hired a DOC because people from our venue obviously wouldn't be there to solve problems.

Two issues came up on our wedding day.  First, the original table layout we had come up with didn't really work in the room.  This came up when I was getting ready, and my sister (who is super organized and has a great eye, and had helped out a ton with the wedding) ran downstairs to the tent with the venue coordinators to check up on everything.  She was able to report back and help me decide what to do, but that's something that the DOC would have done.
 
The other issue was that the shuttle showed up at the wrong hotel (Somerset Hills Hotel, but should have been the Inn at Somerset Hills).  One of our guests had made the same mistake, so he kind of resolved the problem (when he called another guest and was like "Um, why aren't you here?" "Um, because I'm at the right hotel").   So that made the ceremony start a little late.  The DOC would have helped out with that.  But it didn't mess up timing (and actually gave our guests who got lost because they used GPS more time to get to the church), and all's well that ends well.

Laurms15

Glad I could help!

diamondx423

We have a DOC because I really want to make sure everyone has fun and isn't worried about details, my mom especially. She'll drive herself crazy trying to make sure everything is perfect and I want her to relax.  We already booked and my wedding is further than yours- I can PM you with her info if you'd like.

justad0reme

Thanks Uppereastgirl, I'll ask the venue what specific tasks the Maitre D will cover that day, if she/he will be able to cover what I need I may just not need to hire a DOC. 

I think for my venue it really depends on whether I use their in-house services or just opt for getting my own vendors...but like I said I will def ask these questions next time I meet up with them..

Thanks girls! ;]

justad0reme

@diamond - Could you please? I would want to get a quote in the near future. Thanks!!

diamondx423

sent!

goaliegirl

We did not hire a DOC and I am glad I didn't waste the money.  Our maitre d was awesome.   He did everything for us, made sure we were taken care of the entire day, as we had our ceremony at the venue.   He took care of us from the minute we walked in to the minute we left, even gathering up all my stuff in the Bridal suite and bringing downstairs to us when we were leaving.  He set up all the tables/tables numbers/favors just as I had described in the directions I wrote up.  He set up the kids table with the activities that I provided.  My family/BM didn't have to do anything except for bustle my dress and my stepfather handed out a few envelopes to a few vendors.    If you have a great maitre d at your venue I don't think a DOC is necessary.  You should ask for reviews for your venue to see what you come up with before you decide to spend the money on a DOC.