RH question *edited title*

Hi ladies I just wanted to ask a question since you guys have great advice.

FH and I went to see the reception hall set up for a wedding. We loved this RH when we saw it empty, and this was the first time we saw it being set up for a wedding. We arrived at 10:15 and the wedding was supposed to start at 12:00.

There were catering vans in the front of the mansion (the bride is getting married on the front lawn). Guests were arriving at 10 and there was no one to direct them where to go (FH and I were talking in an area and guests were confused so we directed them to the foyer entrance), the catering company was running around, napkins were still being folded, all the doors were open so guests can see the place being set up.

FH is scared that this is going to happen to us. We did not book the place yet. We're not sure if its a good idea. I know FH is dying to get married here but if we use their coordinator will the same thing happen to us? I was telling FH that maybe we could get a wedding planner or DOC, so they could help move things along.

So the question is should we book with them and hope for the best? Hire a coordinator? Or run away and never look back?

Thanks ladies in advance. I hope my rambling made sense.

I am just wondering why guests were arriving at 10 if it started at 12? I would imagine most halls are not set up completely for the wedding 2 hrs in advance. In fact, we were told that we could view it all one hour prior.
Why don't you do a search on LIW to see what others brides encountered for their day at this venue?

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Posted by minniesmom

I am just wondering why guests were arriving at 10 if it started at 12? I would imagine most halls are not set up completely for the wedding 2 hrs in advance. In fact, we were told that we could view it all one hour prior.
Why don't you do a search on LIW to see what others brides encountered for their day at this venue?

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I agree and its exactly what i was thinking about...ANY hall you go to won't be all done and set up 2 hours before its supposed to start

it seems all the LIW brides loved this venue. Maybe we came on an off day. Our contact for the hall was telling us they could not do set up the night before so they had to come in at 7am that morning to set up. I personally love the place and I think FH and I should book and we should just get a coordinator to trouble shoot for us but hes terrified all hell is going to break loose.

The place still was not set up at 11, we stayed a good while to see if we were just early. I talked to our contact and she said that for our wedding they should be done by 11 and all the doors will be closed when our guests arrive.

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Posted by angl2001

i was thinking the same thing...........a little early for guests to arrive

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I think almost all their guests arrived at 10:30am. I told FH maybe the bride told them to come at that time and it might not be the caterers fault.

My FH is a total groomzilla

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Posted by wo0shply

it seems all the LIW brides loved this venue. Maybe we came on an off day. Our contact for the hall was telling us they could not do set up the night before so they had to come in at 7am that morning to set up. I personally love the place and I think FH and I should book and we should just get a coordinator to trouble shoot for us but hes terrified all hell is going to break loose.

The place still was not set up at 11, we stayed a good while to see if we were just early. I talked to our contact and she said that for our wedding they should be done by 11 and all the doors will be closed when our guests arrive.

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ALL places do that, they really START setting up an hour before. They are used to this and how they do things...I was in a room when they were setting up for a wedding, less than an hour and everyone was running around getting everything done, they did get it done, its how it works...Sorry to say but just about every hall does this so thats why i wouldn't base the decision on that. As long as by the time of the wedding everything looked great then that is what matters

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by wo0shply

it seems all the LIW brides loved this venue. Maybe we came on an off day. Our contact for the hall was telling us they could not do set up the night before so they had to come in at 7am that morning to set up. I personally love the place and I think FH and I should book and we should just get a coordinator to trouble shoot for us but hes terrified all hell is going to break loose.

The place still was not set up at 11, we stayed a good while to see if we were just early. I talked to our contact and she said that for our wedding they should be done by 11 and all the doors will be closed when our guests arrive.

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ALL places do that, they really START setting up an hour before. They are used to this and how they do things...I was in a room when they were setting up for a wedding, less than an hour and everyone was running around getting everything done, they did get it done, its how it works...Sorry to say but just about every hall does this so thats why i wouldn't base the decision on that. As long as by the time of the wedding everything looked great then that is what matters

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Should we hire a DOC just incase? Any thoughts?

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Posted by wo0shply

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by wo0shply

it seems all the LIW brides loved this venue. Maybe we came on an off day. Our contact for the hall was telling us they could not do set up the night before so they had to come in at 7am that morning to set up. I personally love the place and I think FH and I should book and we should just get a coordinator to trouble shoot for us but hes terrified all hell is going to break loose.

The place still was not set up at 11, we stayed a good while to see if we were just early. I talked to our contact and she said that for our wedding they should be done by 11 and all the doors will be closed when our guests arrive.

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ALL places do that, they really START setting up an hour before. They are used to this and how they do things...I was in a room when they were setting up for a wedding, less than an hour and everyone was running around getting everything done, they did get it done, its how it works...Sorry to say but just about every hall does this so thats why i wouldn't base the decision on that. As long as by the time of the wedding everything looked great then that is what matters

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Should we hire a DOC just incase? Any thoughts?

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you can get a DOC for other things but not for this, the hall will take care of it all and even with a planner they will still set up same amount of time...Just like Missliss said above, this is when they're told to do it, an hour ahead of time and thats it..Unless you hear of them not finishing in time you shouldn't concern yourself with this, you have enough to worry about.

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Posted by wo0shply

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by wo0shply

it seems all the LIW brides loved this venue. Maybe we came on an off day. Our contact for the hall was telling us they could not do set up the night before so they had to come in at 7am that morning to set up. I personally love the place and I think FH and I should book and we should just get a coordinator to trouble shoot for us but hes terrified all hell is going to break loose.

The place still was not set up at 11, we stayed a good while to see if we were just early. I talked to our contact and she said that for our wedding they should be done by 11 and all the doors will be closed when our guests arrive.

---

ALL places do that, they really START setting up an hour before. They are used to this and how they do things...I was in a room when they were setting up for a wedding, less than an hour and everyone was running around getting everything done, they did get it done, its how it works...Sorry to say but just about every hall does this so thats why i wouldn't base the decision on that. As long as by the time of the wedding everything looked great then that is what matters

---

Should we hire a DOC just incase? Any thoughts?

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If it makes you feel better, then hire one. But just so you know, a DOC is not going to be able to make the staff move faster, she's not their boss. They have a system and it usually always works. But seriously, those guest just should not have been there that early. If the event started at 12. or 12:30, whatever, they should have been there no more than 15-20 minutes before. IF they do get up that early, well then they're going to witness what goes on behind the scenes. There's not much any DOC can do about that. The room will most likely be set-up or nearly set up by then...and if/when they're still doing final touches, no RH will open the room up until it's totally ready, which will be the start time of the event.

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Posted by missliss

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Posted by wo0shply

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by wo0shply

it seems all the LIW brides loved this venue. Maybe we came on an off day. Our contact for the hall was telling us they could not do set up the night before so they had to come in at 7am that morning to set up. I personally love the place and I think FH and I should book and we should just get a coordinator to trouble shoot for us but hes terrified all hell is going to break loose.

The place still was not set up at 11, we stayed a good while to see if we were just early. I talked to our contact and she said that for our wedding they should be done by 11 and all the doors will be closed when our guests arrive.

---

ALL places do that, they really START setting up an hour before. They are used to this and how they do things...I was in a room when they were setting up for a wedding, less than an hour and everyone was running around getting everything done, they did get it done, its how it works...Sorry to say but just about every hall does this so thats why i wouldn't base the decision on that. As long as by the time of the wedding everything looked great then that is what matters

---

Should we hire a DOC just incase? Any thoughts?

---

If it makes you feel better, then hire one. But just so you know, a DOC is not going to be able to make the staff move faster, she's not their boss. They have a system and it usually always works. But seriously, those guest just should not have been there that early. If the event started at 12. or 12:30, whatever, they should have been there no more than 15-20 minutes before. The room will most likely be set-up or nearly set up by then...and if/when they're still doing final touches, no RH will open the room up until it's totally ready, which will be the start time of the event.

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i agree, i still dont understand why guests got there so early...if i arrived 2 hours early to an event then i would expect things not to be done and me sitting around with nothing to do.

ist, it seemes as though it was far too early for guests to arrive anyway. Also, I have learned so much about vendors by reading reviews on this site. I would say to do a search on your prospective RH...good luck!

You ladies are the best. I will tell FH everything. I'm also hoping the bride was a LIW bride cause I would love to hear her review.

I heart all of you!

maybe the guests who were arriving were family members and the bride asked them to come early for pictures? either way, i dont think anything is out of the ordinary and i think you guys should book since you love it so much!