doc or no?

No. Get a DOC. Don't put your closest guests to work. Your mother will be busy being in pictures, helping you out with the small intimate things, and being mom of the bride.


I wish I had had a DoC for my 9 guest backyard wedding that took less than 2 hours. My sister was super helpful, we only had the photographer and officiant for vendors, but I still felt pulled in different directions

Speaking as a guest who has been voluntold to act as coordinator with no clue what is happening, please do not ask guests to work this position. The size of guest list is irrelevant. A month of coordinator is a must to make sure the day runs smoothly behind the scenes. They have contact information for your vendors and know who to call on a dime if one vendor doesn’t show or gets stuck in traffic. Your guests don’t have this information. Also when your guests work any job, they don’t get to enjoy themselves as the rest of your guests do. They might get a 5 minute glimpse on a break but that wasn’t the original agreement when it’s your only child getting married for example. Also a venue coordinator, as they apply, don’t care about what the couple is doing as long as they are following venue rules so they don’t do the same job.


Cut out unnecessary expenses to pay for a coordinator. Skip signage, champagne, welcome bags/favors, proposal boxes, send traditional phone calls instead of buying save the date postcards, etc to be able to afford them.

Don’t ask your friends or family. We hired one and we’re only having around the same amount of people. She’s already helped us more than just being there day of. Your friends and family are your guests, not unpaid labor. Your mom is there to celebrate her child getting married and celebrate with you and family. Plus coordinators are there to take care of last minute trouble with vendors and you/ your guests shouldn't have to be worrying about that stuff. You guys will be taking photos and getting ready and won't really have time to worry about much else. Like michelle said, cut out some stuff to afford a coordinator. We're paying ours $750.

View Quoted Comment You’re probably right! I know someone who does event planning so I was thinking about asking them so guests can enjoy themselves.

I am getting married in a month and my day of coordinator is already a life saver. Find other ways to save money!!!!

I think it is totally doable to do it with just parents and the wedding party.

I didn't have a wedding coordinator of any kind and they weren't missed. It's just about planning well ahead of time.

The vendors shouldn't need much direction if instructions have been provided. How many vendors will you have turn up on the day? Presumably the photographer will turn up early in the morning for getting ready pictures etc anyway, and if the florist hasn't set up the day before they'll be coordinating with your venue unless it's a home wedding in which case, it's just about providing clear instructions ahead of time.

For 50 people I'd definitely say you don't need one! I'm unsure what a wedding coordinator would do all day. I guess the issue arises if a vendor fails to turn up or something but thankfully that's highly unlikely.

We I invited 45 people to ours, and due to various circumstances there will be 33 in attendance including us and the photographer. We have a DOC (I found one that spacialozes in elopements and microweddings for $900 in Southern California), and it's been a complete game changer. Granted, I'm planning a destination wedding, so she's been helpful by video chatting with me while she walks through my venues BUT she's also coordinating with all the vendors on my behalf. She has an inventory of small decor items we're able to borrow, she has two assistants that will help out on the day of (one to get started setting up the reception while she sets up the ceremony and one to supervise ceremony clean up while she heads to the reception). Originally I wasn't going to have one, but that would have meant asking my friends and family at my small intimate party to give up hours of their day to set up or tear down or meet vendors, and that just didn't sit quite right with me.


I highly recommend shopping around and inquiring about micro wedding packages! Most can give a discount of some sort because there's less effort involved in setting up for a 50 person wedding than a 200 person wedding! Also, my vendor had a 10% discount because I found her on The Knot, so look for that as well!!

Idk for a wedding of only 50 people i say skip the DOC. What other vendors are you using? What i mean is, our DJ and photographer both include helping with the timeline as part of our package. The ONLY reason I got a DOC is to set up decor at the reception venue as we can't get in the night before and won't have time the morning of. Otherwise, I'd be fine without. I've paid this girl $1300 and have never spoken to her once because I prefer to do the planning myself 😅

View Quoted Comment I plan on only have 5 vendors there. I also plan on doing a lot of the planning myself, I’ve set up a separate email exclusively for wedding vendors to contact me so I can read through all contracts and discuss my wedding plans in detail with each vendor. I love being in control and doing the planning, and it’s a smaller wedding (and most our family lives in Ohio, so they’ll have to travel here) that’s why I’m not sure if I can do without a DOC. But I’m leaning towards yes, just to be on the safe side. 😊 cause 50 people is still a lot of people to keep up with by yourself

Hey I hear you I am doing the same thing but we do have someone who will be helping out with the decorationing but she is for FREE! and my daughter. But everything else from the Liens tablecloths, dinnerware to the flowers and centerpieces and bountaires and bouquets. Will be done by us to save money and went with a buffet style dinner and not so much of top shelf alchohol. You do what you think is best to save money

The way it was put to me was “do you love you family?”


If yes, get a coordinator. If no, torture them with stressful last minute details, potential problems, event timings, and decorating.

Hey everyone, thanks for the answers! We are having a smaller wedding now for around 20 people but I’m still having a wedding coordinator. My friend happens to do special events all the time and she’s been so helpful so far. Thanks for the input!