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Day-Of Personal Assistant

sept20yay! Posted:

Day-Of Personal Assistant

Hi! I was looking into having a day of personal assistant/coordinator at my wedding.. someone to watch over the day, collect and save the glass my FH is going to step on (I could see myself killing my FBIL if he forgets to take that!), save the top layer of cake, organize the vendors and my bridal party, answer vendor questions, etc.... kind of a personal assistant for weddings---- Does anyone know of anyone good and how much will it run for that kind of help? I really appreciate it! Thanks.

Claud2001 Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

Sonicstef and Michele31 used the same day-of coordinator - I dont' know exactly how much she charged, but you can ask them. However, she is new to the whole thing - their weddings were the first ones she's ever done.

LnP2003 Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

that sounds like something i would be interested in too.... only concern would be the $$$

if anyone knows about anything like this, please let us know!

Happy_Bride Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

Yes yes...let me know as well. That would be sooooooo helpful
Julybaby Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

Me too! It sounds like a stress reliever!

sept20yay! Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

Thank you so much! I'm thinking that I am going to need someone there for backup--- someone just to handle the little annoyances and petty problems that inevitably will come up--- someone who will take on my stress for me on certain things... A stitch in time, I guess....

SeptemberBride03 Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

I feel like I have learned almost everything about planning a wedding in the past year and if I ever decide on a career change - I would love to be a wedding planner and a day of assistant - how fun would it be to go to weddings all of the time!! I bet by our 1 year anniversary I'll be in complete w/drawal and looking to take on this planning full time!

Also, imagine how much fun it is when you don't have to foot the bill for the whole shindig!
Sonicstef Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

Sept: Just FYI, I used to do wedding coordination and it is NOT FUN. No job is really but this job in particular always looks like fun but its nothing like planning your own wedding which I found to be immensely enjoyable. Its still a better job than average but there are LOT of drawbacks.

Claud2001 Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

I beg to differ about the job being fun really. I can tell you from a guest's perspective at Michele31's wedding, Elaine was not enjoying the day.

She had a difficult job, and even though she was getting paid to make things run smoothly, she needed help herself! The bride was running so late that up until 10 minutes before the ceremony was scheduled to start, no one was at the church yet. Elaine came running in all frazzled w/her hands full of baskets, programs, checklists, etc. My hubby had to run out to her car to bring in the box of rose petals for her. Of course, we were happy to help b/c we wanted Michele's day to run perfectly, but Elaine's role was not an easy job.

Also, remember that the coordinator is not part of the party - you are working the entire time and need to be on your toes! God forbid you miss a detail or one of the vendors screws up and you don't catch it - the bride will be so disappointed in you. I think Michele was a little annoyed at Elaine b/c guests started to enter her reception room without taking their place candles.

After my wedding, I used to think it would be neat to be a professional planner/coordinator, but now I really don't think so! LOL!
michele31 Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

Elaine did not have it easy and I know tons of brides feel that planning weddings for others would be a great career but just think about dealing with brides all the time- not easy
I was very, very thankful for Elaine's presence the day of the wedding. I needed her and she came through for me. She spoke to the florist when I needed something corrected, she helped make sure that things were where they were supposed to be and that I didn't forget anything in the hall etc...
She even picked up my wish bowl notecards for me from the stationary because (as many of you know) the last few days prior to the wedding were totally crazy and full of stress.
A coordinator is responsible for the way the day runs and with that there is a lot of pressure. We were running late- not Elaine's fault at all. And because she was there I was not a huge ball of stress worried about it. Worth a zillion bucks in my book.
To clarify- I was annoyed at Denise at the Hamlet, not Elaine about my guests entering the room without their placecandles. Elaine was in charge of setting them up, which she did beautiful. Denise was in charge of moving guests from one room to another. She and/or her staff did not tell the guests to please get their table assignements before entering the room. Elaine had nothing to do that part.
If someone needs more detailed info PM me.
Claud2001 Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

Sorry, Michele...I thought Elaine was in charge of the candles!
sept20yay! Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

Thanks. I just spoke with her and she sounded great! Her phone number is 516-292-3338.

SeptemberBride03 Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

I'm sure its a hectic job, but I still think I'd love it! Getting to watch new marriages start all of the time - what a romantic job! Once my wedding is over, I hope to live vicariously through the planning of my bridesmaids' weddings (most of them are not married yet!) There are a few that will probably hand the job over to me - hee hee!

Niecey Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

My friend is a wedding planner in NYC and basically got into it for the same reason, as you say Sept bride - she really enjoyed planning her own. She said it is really tough starting on your own but she has been pretty successful at it. She said it can be fun but you are basically someone's slave for a day and you have to give up all your weekends which is tough. She said you have to be treated poorly and keep smiling. And as we all know brides are not always very rational! She had some pretty funny stories like having someone's cake top in her freezer for over a year!

sept20yay! Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

Just to add something----- a lot of people say to me 'can't you get your parents or your sister to do something for you on or before that day?' The truth is... they really can't. My parents are divorced - dad lives far, mother works as a doctor- over 70 hrs a week) and my sister is too young to really understand what needs to be done!-. Some of my friends have mothers, older sisters, matrons of honor, etc... that are always around and really are into the planning--- but I'm kind of on my own... That's why the day of/week of planner is good for me.... Also, I want my mother, sister, father, etc... to enjoy the day they are helping to pay for and not run around for me... This day, as I am the first daughter, is also a joy to them! My family should just relax and take the day in--- it will be over before it starts!.
Sonicstef Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

Sept20...I completely agree..i was in a similiar situation and would have ended up doing a lot of that stuff myself!

michele31 Posted:

Re: Day-Of Personal Assistant

There is NO way a 'guest' could have done Elaine's job. She left the hotel where we were taking photos before we all did to make sure the Church was set-up okay. Then my nephew had to be taken home (the whole thing was too much for the little guy) and she was trying to help my brother cooridnate that with his sitter. During all this my sister was with me, my parents were in their limo on their way to the Church. Also, she set-up all of my placecandles. How do you ask your mom or sister NOT to enjoy the cocktail hour but instead put out place candles.
You need someone who is at your wedding to work, not a guest who helps out.

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