helpers at wedding

Okay, the one area that a bride should never consider handling herself (or leaving it up to her bridal party or family members) is the clean-up. Please, please, please...hire someone to do this for you. I can barely stand the thought of a bride deconstructing her dream. I've said it before, the saddest episode of Bridezillas I ever saw was the one in which the beautiful bride, dripping in crystal bling and decked out in her professional make-up, false lashes, and white gown, was sitting there crying with a white garbage bag in one hand and knocked over chairs in the background. Everyone ditched her, and there she sat, picking up the trash that her guests left behind. Everyone said they would help, but at the end of the party, they weren't interested in clean-up duty. Please -- whatever level of elegance you're having at your wedding -- leave while everything is still intact. Let your guests leave while everything is still intact. Pay someone who has no emotional connection to the wedding to clean up. Get a cheaper pair of shoes that nobody will see, skip the candy bar...whatever...but don't be involved in the clean-up.

@Centerpiece AMEN!

Haha I didn't meant to start anything with the junior wedding planner idea -- had no idea whether it even exists! I see how it could quickly go south. But I was thinking that any warm body (and functioning brain) helping with research and coordination would be better than none, with the full understanding that you're not getting a really professional service, just some assistance. I have a day-of coordinator with my venue, so I'm not looking for extra help, but it would be so wonderful if there could be a legit place to find people who were gaining experience by working under other planners, and who needed to start experimenting with branching out on their own. So, not total newbies. People that would definitely take it seriously, and have knowledge of the field and local offerings. I'm pretty sure there's a business idea in here somewhere lol

And to be clear, I still would recommend professional help over any of this! I'm just saying, if it's not in the budget...

The venue for the ceremony has staff (included whether you use them or not) for the ceremony. The venue we are looking at for the reception is all-inclusive, so staff is included.

If for no other reason I wanted my kids, grandkids, and a few friends to play apart of my new beginning to know they are still important.

You can make them feel important without making them bus tables.

At my sister's wedding i ended up having to help drive the food. No way in hell will I do that to friends or family. I will not be making my own food but we are not getting it catered. I decided to hire a couple of friends of friends that will be there to help keep the food warm and cold and full. I might even have them help set up and clean up.

I was asked to help cut and serve cake at a cousins wedding. I still resent her to this day. When people offer to help setup, cleanup, serve, etc. at my wedding I flat out tell them "No. None of my guests will be working".

The number of guests plays a factor into how many servers you will need. Assuming your have a self-serve buffet and 100 guests, you probably need at least 2-3 servers to help bus tables, refill buffet stations, help cut the cake, etc. Those same people can also be responsible for setting up and breaking down the buffet, and cleaning up/trash duty. If your serving alcohol you probably need one person to act a bartender. Please do not ask a guest to do any of that...hire somebody. Anybody. A couple responsible kids from a local church youth group. Anyone who is not a guest.

As for watching over gifts/guest book, etc, that I think you can ask a family member to be in charge. The extent of their responsibility would be "hey, can you make sure that gets to our car by the end of the night? thanks". Same for any personal decorations or whatever that needs to be removed at the end of the night. But don't give them a broom and a trash bag, please.

Ushers can be a family friend, or your grandkids or whatever. All they have to do is hand out programs and help people to their seats.

I would like to hire someone for day of set up and breakdown for small wedding at Prado. I will provide all décor, garland, lights, draping, etc. but I need some to set up and take down. Any ideas?

How where do i look for this kind of help....like serve the cake, ensure table clean up from time to time as needed