Day-of-coordinator asked if i needed her to stay until the end of the reception . . .

That would annoy me. I understand she honestly wants to know how long she should stay but that seems kind of rude/classless asking if she has to stay the whole time, especially if you're paying her for the whole time! If she cleaning up at the end or is that not in your contract?

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No, a DOC's job does not begin when the cake is cut lol. As I said in my previous comment, I'm a wedding singer, and I have over a decade's time of experience in this area. Timelines basically end after the cake has cut, because that's the end of the formalities. There is no timeline to follow after that. The band or DJ will handle everything from there, which is just dancing, and then saying goodnight when the reception is over.

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As I said in my previous comment, I'm a DAY OF COORDINATOR I would never leave early nor would I ever hire a DOC that left early. I've been a wedding planner for years...that's my profession. They shouldn't leave.

Some coordinators list that they are the first ones there and last ones to leave to pack your things and make sure everything is handled. Other's don't. When we interviewed i asked them how many hours were they going to be there for since i noticed some coordinators said "all day" and others didn't specify. Most of the people i requested information from did stay the entire night.

Hmm..a lot of the items on the tables (charger, votive holders, candles) are being provided by our DOC, so if she were to leave after cake cutting, I would be concerned with how she would get these items. Our DOC is amazing and will be bringing all of our stuff back to our house after she's done with breakdown at 11:30pm.

Is your DOC providing anything, or does she have any duties toward the end of the night? (clean up/break down/handing out tips to vendors?). If you don't need her at the end of the night, then I think she would be ok to leave early, but if not I don't think she needs to stay. She's coordinated the day!

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Disagree. There's nothing to coordinate after that point.

All DOC I’ve contacted say they stay til clean up. If she isn’t monitoring clean up to make sure you get your money back and won’t give you a discount for leaving early, I would have her stay the whole time. If she isn’t willing to give you a discount prorated to time, that’s just grossly inappropriate.

Huh, I'm a DOC and stay until the end. But I see a lot of historic venues and we make sure the vendors load out and that the couple gets their security deposit back. I usually make it home between 1am-2am. My contract is 8hrs, and most couples extend. Plus I don't want my name out there as the lady who let things go crazy because she left, weddings are a really small circle in DC and I don't want myself banned from places. I have called the cops, ambulance, got mops for vomit, everything, usually after cake this stuff goes down!

I also usually eat after cake, manage band, photographer, videographer, and dj breaks, that sort of thing. Tip out, all the stuff others have listed! There may not be much to coordinate but it is nice to know someone there is sober and has your back.

Our contract has her present for the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony, and the reception. The contract states the end time of her services are midnight.

She told me that she doesn't mind staying until the end of the reception because some brides prefer that. She was asking me what I prefer. I get that it'd make sense for her to be there in case an emergency comes up, hand out tips, gather gifts and things that need to be taken back to the hotel room. She stated she'd do all of that.

She mentioned she didn't want to just "hover" if there wasn't much for her to do.

Everyone's opinions are interesting.

Mine is staying through breakdown. It would be kind of odd for a DOC to leave early IMO.

It depends on her duties. Is overseeing clean up one of your DOC's responsibilities? If so, she can't leave early. If that's something that your venue is dealing with separately or that wasn't in your contract, I would say that yes she can leave after the cake cutting.

I just read your last post. It sounds like she still has duties through the end of the evening. I guess if she was asking for preference it's fine.

Both my daughters have Coordinators in their venue packages and will of course be staying until the very end. I would expect the same from an independent contractor DOC. Seems strange to me that she would expect to leave after cake cutting. What if any problems arise after the formalities? Power goes out, issues with the DJ or band, moving gifts and card box, sink overflows in the bathroom, cleaning up, etc. Her job definitely doesn't end with the cake!

Maybe it makes a difference that we are having our reception at a restaurant. We reserved a large banquet room that's in the restaurant where they host corporate meetings and stuff. We will have a full reception though, open bar, food, dj, etc. Theoretically if there is a spill of some sort, I'd imagine the restaurant would take care of it.

View Quoted Comment Disagree. There is cleanup for one. Which she can't coordinate if she isn't there. There is issues that may arise, which she can't handle if she isn't there. There is still the send off to coordinate, and that is a part of the timeline that happens after cake cutting. It is also something my band or dj can't (and won't be) handle(ing) because they should be doing their job of providing music, not handing out what needs to be handed out for send off. They will make the announcement after my DOC has coordinated the event with the guests. There is still a ton the coordinator for the day of my wedding needs to do after cale cutting because the day of my wedding doesn't end at cake cutting.

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Your DOC would be the person in charge of spotting the spill & alerting the restaurant. The idea behind the DOC being that handle all the things you would normally handle if you were hosting a party & it weren't your wedding.

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1. Not everyone does a sendoff, I've literally seen ONE in the hundreds of weddings I've played.

2. Not everyone uses their DOC for cleanup.

OP made no mention of needing the DOC for either.

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Good question. Yes, the Day of Coordinator needs to stay until the very end of the event. One of the most important duties is to "put out fires." (Which I have literally had to do after a guest accidentally tossed a napkin on a lit votive candle as she ran to the dance floor, setting the table on fire.) As it gets late, understandably, problems pop up due to intoxication. Plus, someone needs to be sure gifts are secure and packed up, flower arrangements are given away or donated, any bills are paid, transportation shows up, people get home safely, etc. The bride and groom, and their families, shouldn't have to want to worry about all of that. The Day of Coordinator should be the last person to leave, other than the venue staff.