Reception decorating dilemma

[snuggles1]

I''m having a ceremony that is at a different site from the reception. I want to decorate the restaurant where I''m having the reception, but I won''t be able to and I can''t think of anyone who can. I''m thinking of getting chair covers and ribbons tied around them and then the rest the florist can do. Do you hire a wedding planner to do this? Or do I find someone I can hire out? If anyone has experience with this I''d like to know how to do it without stressing out!

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I am not having an actual wedding planner, but I know there are "day of" cordinators which I am definitely going to try and get. I am not totally clear on your question so this is the best answer I can give.

 

[Hera]

Well you can certainly hire a wedding planner to do that (Which seems slightly unecessary just for this reason) or you could give someone you know and trust to get the job done (family friend maybe?)by giving them directions on how to decorate the room. They will need to either leave the ceremony early or plan to be at the reception site before the ceremony. All the florist really does is just set up the flowers, I''m pretty sure someone else will be needed to decorate and put out favors, place settings, chair ribbons etc.

 

[Independent Gal]

What about asking the restaurant? My reception for WP2 is also in a restaurant / cocktail lounge, and they have their own event planner who will take care of everything on the day. Maybe yours has one too? Or a couple of waitresses who''d be willing to do the job, maybe for a handsome tip? Otherwise, I''d ask one of your friends to do it.

 

[Sabine]

I second asking someone at the restruant. At our reception, which is at a golf club banquet hall, the coordinator offered to do any minor decorating herself. However, chair sashes are not considered minor, so for her to "install" them she is charging us $1 per chair, which I have to say seems kinda ridiculous, but we also could not find anyone else to get there to tie them for us, so we are going to just pay it. Also, we are hanging some twinkle lights, and we are able to do that the night before as long as they don''t book another event. If they do book another event, we can come in after that event has ended to do the decorating...so any chance you can do yours the night before, after the restruant has technically closed?

 

[Fancy605]

I agree. Ask the restaurant. My caterers did all the chair covering and table linens and whatever else you can think of for me. They actually went to the site the night before and did chair covers, table cloths, napkins, salt and pepper, table numbers, place cards (according to a chart I''d given them) and all those things. It was nice because my Husband and I were able to go by the night before and preview everything. It was kind of romantic. All that was saved for the day of was setting the silver and glasses on the tables. I guess it was included in the price of labor. And then my florist did the centerpieces the day of too. Do you have your reception site booked the WHOLE day or will they be serving normal customers during the day? You might try decorating the night before or as others said looking into the idea of having the restaurant staff handle it.

 

[snuggles1]

Thanks for all the feedback! I''ll look into the restaurant and seeing if they can do that. I''m feeling that the wedding coordinator might be a good thing as yes we do have favors to put out as well. I was in a wedding where the bride had a wedding coordinator and he took care of cleanup as well which made it easier since we weren''t busy running around setting up everything. Where do I go to find a wedding coordinator?

 

[snuggles1]

Date: 1/6/2008 3:23:21 PM
Author: Fancy605
Do you have your reception site booked the WHOLE day or will they be serving normal customers during the day?

To answer Sabine and Fancy605 we are getting the restaurant for the evening...so that means they''ll be serving lunch in that area. I anticipate we''ll have a few hours there for decorating time.

 

[gtn]

snuggles, please contact the restaurant about what time you will have to decorate especially if the space will be used during lunch. If the restaurant is unable to help you decorate, get someone to do it for you. That it is last thing you want to stress about it.

 

[bee*]

I''d ask the restaurant could they do it also. Our venue is going to do all the decorations for us when we drop them over to the hotel, so I''d say if you let the restaurant know where things should go, they should do it for you.

 

[smiles]

suggles - if you have to rent the tablecloths and chair covers usually the rental company can deliver them, set them up, and pack it all up at the end of the night! i am not sure if they charge extra or not it probably depends on the details.. just an idea!