Clean up After Reception?... what did you need to do?

Our caterer will handle all the food stuff, but any decorations we bring in we're responsible for removing. Our families have offered to take care of that, me and FH are planning to leave before break down. All they'll have to do is take up the tablecloths, centerpieces, etc and get them in the cars. And get all the trash into the garbage can. No heavy lifting. We're doing minimal decorating and there will be 5-7 people breaking down I don't imagine it'll take them too long.

I'm hiring the same people I used for my daughter sweet 16. They will set up, serve the food and clean up after. It's a team of 4 people. The cost is $15 per hour per person. For me it was worth it at my daughter sweet 16 that's why I'm hiring them again for my wedding.

Yea, i am sure people would stay to help pick things up, fortunately i dont need to worry about taking trash away.

i am waiting to hear if i can leave things overnight and pick them up the next morning. But collecting everything and boxing stuff up (like the vases and candles) I suppose i can give center pieces away, i dont need 40 Milk Glass Vases

I didn't want anyone to have to clean up either but with the venue we chose, there is no other option. The same family/friends who are helping set up are going to be the ones to help clean up - Mom, stepmom, aunt, & a family friend. I really don't want to help clean up either but it looks like we are going to have to. With a bunch of people, it doesn't take very long. Just make sure you have a bunch of larger tupperware containers to throw everything in.

The caterer cleaned up the food, place settings, linens etc. And we had to go in by the next day to get the centerpieces personal belongings etc.

My family is going back the next day to do the cleanup.

I say go through a staffing agency or ask your venue. My daughter sweet 16 venue is how I found out about my clean up crew. If you don't need them the whole day like I do it won't cost that much. Hire someone for 3 hours even at $20 per hour for 2 people it's only $120.

The person you hire to clean up is not like the rest of your vendors they don't have to specialize in weddings. I rather pick someone off of craigslist then clean up myself.

Everything either needs to be out that night by 11 or i can go back and get it the next day for an extra $90 but it depends on what the venue has going on. I dont mind the $90 i really just dont want things thrown into a lump and then i have to spend an hour picking it up the next day and putting it in the car

The tupperware containers are a really good idea, i am going to need them any way to get things there

All we need to do is collect personal items (decorations we brought, etc.) caterers are doing all the other clean up.

All we have to do is remove whatever we want to take home. Catering will box up cake and a meal for FH and I to go, and any decor we leave behind will either be taken to Goodwill or trashed.

How are you guys getting you belongings such as center pieces out of there? are family members packing their cars with the stuff? or are you taking your car and packing it up? or are you able to leave it and get it the next day?

The waitstaff at the venue removed tablecloths, dishes, etc. All I had to do was move gifts and cards to the vehicle and collect my wood cookies from the centerpieces the next morning.

Bump

because i think this something brides need to think about

My DOC will be decorating with her team and breaking down.

I am having my reception in my back yard. Food and cake will be taken care of by caterer. Decorations and everything else will be torn down by my daughter and myself the next morning.

No big deal if something gets taken during the night because I am done with it and less for me to clean up LOL.

We have to have everything off the roof by 10pm, but it can be put in the storage room until the next day. The caterers will clean up all their stuff and I am hiring couple of people to do all the set up and break down under the guidance of my DOC (we don't want to do it and I don't want my friends to have to stay to do it either). The venue provides large trash cans as well that they bring up to the roof for us. I have labeled totes that should make packing everything that is not trash super easy. The tables and chairs all stay in the storage are because they belong to the venue.

My DH & I changed out of our dress and suit and our families stayed to help clean up. Everything needed to be loaded in our car, otherwise our family would've been happy to do it for us. It took less than half an hour. Not a biggie.

We're paying a fee of about $250 for the venue to do the cleaning. We are only responsible for bringing in any decorations that we bring to the venue, which should just be tablescapes. Those should be able to carted out in boxes. Our reception venue is at a nature center and they will let me bring decorations a couple of days before and will store it in an office. My mom isn't aware of this yet, but I'm hoping she'll take care of that, so FH and I can escape before the reception is over.

Caterer hasn't been booked yet, but I assume they'll clean up their stuff and the DJ will pack up their stuff too.

We are supposed to remove all things we brought in like candy buffet and candles etc. They take care of dishes and linens. I am lining up family and close friends for help with this at both venues. They are happy to help

This is one of the main reasons why we chose a venue that has the staff for clean up.

The last thing any Bride, groom, wedding party member ,family member or guest would want to do is clean up. Sometimes those "cheap" venues aren't worth it in the end if it means hassle of clean up ... Our DOC leaves after cake cutting and will clean up any gift table items and guest book stuff ...the only other decor we will have that we have to worry about taking out of the venue is the centerpieces , but our DJ will play a game and we'll let one person from each table take home the flowers ... Other than that ..the venue staff is In charge of.

Btw it would be way more tacky to ask your guests to clean up than to have them pay for their own shot of liquor