DOC

um, lots. here's an all encompassing list - not all DOCs do ALL of this but most will help you do much of this.

DAY BEFORE (Rehearsal @ ceremony location)
Meet and greet family and friends
Direction and coordination of wedding rehearsal for bridal party and family as per Brides request
Collection of items at rehearsal to be brought and set up on wedding day
(Ceremony: candles, programs, readings, petal cones, tissues, water
Reception: guest book, cake knife, place cards, bathroom baskets, toasting glasses, favors/scrolls)

AT CEREMONY
Check ceremony site setup
Bring emergency kit
Provide food and drink to both dressing sites
Assist with last minute dressing problems
Assist photographer with pre-ceremony photos
Distribute and pin on flowers
Set up guest book table and unity candle table items
Instruct guest book attendant
Confirm instructions to ushers on seating plan
Confirm instructions to best man on ring
Keep marriage license and or ketuba safe
Keep ring pillow and misc items until needed
Coordinate with officiant on timing
Coordinate with musicians
Organize processional line up
Space bridal party in aisle
Watch perimeter of wedding area
Confirm payments/tips to ceremony vendors
Direct guests to reception location
Coordinate flowers and guest book transfer
Wrap up unity candle/tapers
Organize departure of wedding party to reception site

AT RECEPTION
Ensure bridal suite accommodations
Check table set up with information provided by bride
Greet vendors announce any changes
Check room set up and layout
Arrange gifts on table
Check band/DJ set up
Review schedule with master of ceremonies, musicians and banquet captain
Place favors and place cards on tables
Determine placement of transferred florals
Check cake table for setup
Bring and place cake topper/server on cake tables
Pay all services that work on event
Line up bride and groom and bridal party for announcements
Cue bride and groom and best man for toast and cake cutting, bouquet toss, dances and garter toss
Pack up all misc items and arrange to be taken from reception
Arrange for delivery of gifts, personal and wedding items

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Posted by sheyrena1314

um, lots. here's an all encompassing list - not all DOCs do ALL of this but most will help you do much of this.

DAY BEFORE (Rehearsal @ ceremony location)
Meet and greet family and friends
Direction and coordination of wedding rehearsal for bridal party and family as per Brides request
Collection of items at rehearsal to be brought and set up on wedding day
(Ceremony: candles, programs, readings, petal cones, tissues, water
Reception: guest book, cake knife, place cards, bathroom baskets, toasting glasses, favors/scrolls)

AT CEREMONY
Check ceremony site setup
Bring emergency kit
Provide food and drink to both dressing sites
Assist with last minute dressing problems
Assist photographer with pre-ceremony photos
Distribute and pin on flowers
Set up guest book table and unity candle table items
Instruct guest book attendant
Confirm instructions to ushers on seating plan
Confirm instructions to best man on ring
Keep marriage license and or ketuba safe
Keep ring pillow and misc items until needed
Coordinate with officiant on timing
Coordinate with musicians
Organize processional line up
Space bridal party in aisle
Watch perimeter of wedding area
Confirm payments/tips to ceremony vendors
Direct guests to reception location
Coordinate flowers and guest book transfer
Wrap up unity candle/tapers
Organize departure of wedding party to reception site

AT RECEPTION
Ensure bridal suite accommodations
Check table set up with information provided by bride
Greet vendors announce any changes
Check room set up and layout
Arrange gifts on table
Check band/DJ set up
Review schedule with master of ceremonies, musicians and banquet captain
Place favors and place cards on tables
Determine placement of transferred florals
Check cake table for setup
Bring and place cake topper/server on cake tables
Pay all services that work on event
Line up bride and groom and bridal party for announcements
Cue bride and groom and best man for toast and cake cutting, bouquet toss, dances and garter toss
Pack up all misc items and arrange to be taken from reception
Arrange for delivery of gifts, personal and wedding items

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but i thought the Maitre'd is suppose to do all that, thats why we tip them a lot more?

The Maitre'd does do a lot of that. But they work for the Hall. Having a DOC is having someone who only cares about you. They have all of your contracts and know exactly what you want for the day. They make sure your vendors are going to arrive on time, they get there before your vendors to make sure things are in place. They are a second set of hands picking up where the Maitre'D doesn't. They'll tell you that you need to reapply your lipstick. They'll know that Aunt Mary and Cousin Joe are starting to get into a conflict and diffuse the situation. They are going to know all the intimate details about you that is going to make your day run smoothly.

You don't need a DOC. I was on the fence but for all the $ you spend, it's added insurance that things will run better. It will also take a lot of pressure off of you having to deal with things when they go bad. I'm happy to pay someone else so I can sit back and relax after all the planning.

It all depends on your Hall - some Halls have a maitre d who will do much of those things, but he won't be at your rehearsal dinner, or at your house the morning of answering all the questions - troubleshooting if the limos or late or the bouquets never arrived, etc.

If your area of worry is the reception location, then just talk to your BM to make sure you'll have a bridal attendant with you that day, and then you can decide if you still want a DOC.

Hope that helps!

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Posted by OY

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Posted by sheyrena1314

um, lots. here's an all encompassing list - not all DOCs do ALL of this but most will help you do much of this.

DAY BEFORE (Rehearsal @ ceremony location)
Meet and greet family and friends
Direction and coordination of wedding rehearsal for bridal party and family as per Brides request
Collection of items at rehearsal to be brought and set up on wedding day
(Ceremony: candles, programs, readings, petal cones, tissues, water
Reception: guest book, cake knife, place cards, bathroom baskets, toasting glasses, favors/scrolls)

AT CEREMONY
Check ceremony site setup
Bring emergency kit
Provide food and drink to both dressing sites
Assist with last minute dressing problems
Assist photographer with pre-ceremony photos
Distribute and pin on flowers
Set up guest book table and unity candle table items
Instruct guest book attendant
Confirm instructions to ushers on seating plan
Confirm instructions to best man on ring
Keep marriage license and or ketuba safe
Keep ring pillow and misc items until needed
Coordinate with officiant on timing
Coordinate with musicians
Organize processional line up
Space bridal party in aisle
Watch perimeter of wedding area
Confirm payments/tips to ceremony vendors
Direct guests to reception location
Coordinate flowers and guest book transfer
Wrap up unity candle/tapers
Organize departure of wedding party to reception site

AT RECEPTION
Ensure bridal suite accommodations
Check table set up with information provided by bride
Greet vendors announce any changes
Check room set up and layout
Arrange gifts on table
Check band/DJ set up
Review schedule with master of ceremonies, musicians and banquet captain
Place favors and place cards on tables
Determine placement of transferred florals
Check cake table for setup
Bring and place cake topper/server on cake tables
Pay all services that work on event
Line up bride and groom and bridal party for announcements
Cue bride and groom and best man for toast and cake cutting, bouquet toss, dances and garter toss
Pack up all misc items and arrange to be taken from reception
Arrange for delivery of gifts, personal and wedding items

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but i thought the Maitre'd is suppose to do all that, thats why we tip them a lot more?

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well not everything the maitre'd does, for example remember they are not at your ceremony well thats if you get married at a church theyre not unless you are getting married at RH. But if you are getting married in a church, the maitre'd has absolutely nothing to do with that. SO the DOC is there for the ceremony too, they get there ahead of time to make sure all the right flowers were delivered, they have a copy of your contract to make sure of this. My DOC started her day in the morning and came to my house first, came to see if anybody needed help with anything. She helped my girls with some stuff. Also i still had stuff at my house that should've been at the church lol like RB pillow, basket for programs, also FG kissing ball was delivered to my house, my fault i forgot to tell them it goes to the church bc fg wasnt coming to my house. So my DOC took everything from my house and brought it to the church early. She made sure from ahead of time that all other vendors were on time and doing what they needed to do from before the ceremony. She also took my overnight bag and everybodies bags and kept them in her car so they didnt have to carry it around.

At the church, she made sure guys had their bouts on right, that programs were set up, that everything was the way i told her it should be, she stood by the doors and made sure everybody knew what they had to do and out in the same order. ALso after the ceremony when i walked out of the church, i mustve rubbed up against some flowers the church had, but i had a HUGE orange stain on my bodice and she took it right out. Thank god bc otherwise wouldve been stuck taking pics with an orange stain lol.

Not only that but before the wedding she did my timeline for me which was a lifesaver. I had it a little different than her and thank god bc her way was great, all morning i had so much time, wasnt rushed at all and had time to relax, it was a very calm atmosphere.

Then after ceremony for example there was a big issue, my cousins bf was in an accident but thank god nothing happened to him. I didnt know at first but she took my cousin to go pick up her bf and then bring her back to where we were taking pics.

Then they get to reception to make sure everything is running smoothly. She stands by placecard table also to make sure everyone knows where they are supposed to go, there was one problem and dh gave me the wrong name for somebody and this person couldnt find their table, she resolved it and figured it out before it became a problem.

ALSO, a maitre'd doesnt hand out your tips to other vendors. The DOC will hand out all the tips you give to her, this way you dont have to deal with it and can just enjoy your night while any tips or payments are handed out. BUT she also can take care of final payments for you before your wedding, the last 2 weeks is when you'll have most of your final payments. If you want she can make all these final payments to save you time and the stress. So they are there for you even before the day, for example the week of my wedding i forgot to make menu's and i had no time at all, i talked to her about it and she did the menu's for me, and even brought them to the RH for me so i didnt have to worry at all. The maitre'd also doesnt deal with the other vendors as far as making sure limo is on time, and knowing what flowers shouldve been delivered and if they are right, or any of that.

The biggest thing for me was peace of mind. The day of i didnt worry about one thing, i wasnt on top of vendors and worrying about what theyre doing or not doing bc i knew she was handling it. I didnt have to pay attention to what others were doing, if everything was going well bc again, i said thats why i hired a DOC and not my problem, whatever happens she will fix. I have to say that day i was so calm and relaxed and that was the best gift of all, and my friends and family didnt have to worry either.

Ladies .. Thanks for this.. I needed this.. I was considering a DOC and didn't know exactly what they did.. I will talk to FH.