Need Feedback-Is it normal to only have access to venue for decorating an hour before reception??

jessicamutchler31

I have a question for everyone.  I just found out that my venue was double booked on the day of my wedding.  There is a corporate event in the morning that will be over at 1PM.  My wedding reception begins at 5PM.  That part didnt concern me so much until I found out that the venue will not be available to decorate until 3-3:30 (by the way, my ceremony is at 3:30!!!).  The problem I have is that I am hadling my own chair covers and flowers.  So I need time to set these up.  When I booked the venue, I didnt expect that they would double book and I was assured that I would have plenty of time to set up.  What does everyone think?
 
Thanks!

Jessica

ARez726

I am meeting with my reception coordinator tomorrow to go over details.  I am going to ask them about this!  It is something that hasn't occured to me yet!!  I will let you know!

pudge27

No. that it is not normal. I dropped off a box of things and the venue handled it. If you are handling a lot of things on your own, I would look into hiring someone to take care of your chair covers and other decorating. You have enough to worry about getting married!

lewisc2002

It's not normal! Our friends are going to start setting up at 9:30am for a 1pm ceremony and reception to follow. The venue owner originally wanted us to drop off our stuff the day before, but then realized things might get confusing b/c there's a wedding there the evening before. I don't know what sort of negotiating you can do on this point, but i would try to move up that time.

MeaghanandMichael

This is absolutely not ok. You need to check your contracts. Perhaps you can hire a party planner to handle this kind of thing if oyu end up being really pressed for time.

hydrangea082010

Actually, I think it is kinda normal. My venue does 2 weddings on Saturdays, noon-5 and 6-11. A lot of venues do more than one function per day, especially on high-season weekends. It's annoying for you, but not abnormal business practice.

What I think your best bet will be is not to complain to the venue but to ask some people you trust or a day of coordinator to be there to decorate, cover chairs, set favors/placecards, etc. while you're getting ready. Ask the venue if you can drop off everything the day before so they'll be there safe already.

Good luck!!

ARez726

I told my reception site coordinator about this and she was shocked!  They won't book more than one event on the same day.  And the room will be set up the night before the wedding.  I agree that you should definitely check your contract and see what kind of finagling you can do to make it work for you!!  Good luck with everything and most importantly, don't stress because it will work out!

nurselori

I have heard of this, but most of the time you drop everything off (decorations, chair covers, ect) the night before, show them how you want everything  & the venue's staff whips the room together in that hour. 

I would go talk to them.  I'm sure that they are used to 2 functions so if they can answer your questions & make you feel comforable about the situation, you'll have one less thing to worry about! 

I come up with the strangest things to stress about & my "wedding lady", (venue manager) always puts me rights at ease!  There is actually a wedding after mine & I was worried that they would start vaccuming around my guests & undecorating the room to get ready for the next one!!!  She promised that would never happen 

Good luck & let us know what they say!