Truly DIY day - tips please?

Hi Kentish.

In a similar position. We have a pub supplying our food / bar / plates / cutlery / glasses though.

But the marquee decor / running of the day is down to us.

Will watch this with eager eyes.

My only tips - i.e. what I'm doing is make sure you box and label everything when you take it to the venue.

Rope anyone you can into helping, no room for unhelpful bridal party people, make them help! Tell them what to do - think about it beforehand, what can each person do, how will it work logistically? I.e. you can't have one person putting out cutlery when another is putting out the table cloths as that task can't be done until the latter has been etc.

On the day - ask Best Man and Ushers to make sure everything runs smoothly? Give them the timings of the day? There shouldn't be that much - give them a time to get everyone seated by, once everyones seated the caterers will see they can start serving, then all the Bridal party need to keep an eye out for is when speeches can begin?

Our reception was completely DIY. We decorated the hall the day before and on the morning (was meant to be done all the day before but there was a power cut at the venue) , we rented glassware, crockery, linen, cutlery, serving trays etc. We had an outside caterer doing a hog roast, and paid for people to run the little bar at the venue.

It all went really well because people mucked in to help. The in laws helped decorate, my Dad was running errands to pick up cake, canapes etc, and mum ironed metres of bunting. OH's brothers and their partners were in charge of the day. We gave them a general running order and asked them to get the evening to vaguely follow the right pattern. One BIL served as toastmaster, both were wine waiters serving the champagne, and their partners served canapes and made sure everyone had what they needed. The girls also portioned up the cake once we'd cut it.

I am SO glad I accepted that much help. I was worried about asking family to basically be staff on the day, but they rose to the occasion and loved helping out. A few times they came to me and asked if I wanted so and so, but mostly my answers were that I didn't mind, and they should do as they saw fit.

I'm also glad I paid for cleaners to sort the hall out so all we had to do the next day was pop down and collect stuff we'd left there, such as the decorations and centrepieces. They also put all the hired kitchenware back in the hire crates so the company could collect direct from the hall without us being involved.

HTH xxx C

I had a completely DIY wedding too. The best advice I can offer is plan plan plan. Make sure you plan absolutely everything from who's decorating the cars, to who's clearing away at the end of the night.

I wrote checklists, I wrote guides (yes, I know, pathetic) and I delegated chores to people.

I had a fabulous day and nothing went wrong!

We are DIYers too.

We have the bonus that when we asked the three best men (three wise men ? ) my three bridesmaids and my brother that they are with us two days before the wedding and help help help.

Nearer the time I will write out small instructions of who is doing what.

They are all cool with this and I have some amazing friends and family and it looks like there will be about 10 of us the day before decorating marquee and laying tables etc.

Also I have appointed my brother as a coordinator so to speak for the day, he has experience in restaurant management and is happy to order people around.