What is Wedding Day Content Creation? And do you need it?

The newest wedding vendor to hit the market is Wedding Day Content Creation and couples are obsessed! Today we are talking all about content creation, what it is, why it is so popular, why we are adding it to our repertoire of services, do you need it for your wedding, and what other events could you have captured? If content creation is something you have been curious about… We are about to dive in!

What is wedding day content creation?

By definition wedding day content creation is “A professional who captures and curates real-time content from a wedding day, focusing on short-form videos, Instagram Stories, TikToks, and other social media-friendly content. They are not a replacement for photographers or videographers but rather a compliment to their work, offering instant access to wedding footage for sharing and quick memories.” According to Google.

It isn’t all about the gram thou, one of couples biggest regrets is not having video content on their day and they don’t always have the budget for a professional videographer. The difference is we are not out here posing you, or telling you what to do to get certain shots, we are capturing the behind the scenes moments, the fun times in the morning with your wedding party, the adventures that play out on the day, raw, un-edited, good stuff! You want some fun videos for social media, we can do that too, but the roll of a content creator is to be your shadow on the day of, not interfering with the other media professionals you have hired.

Why is it so popular?

The beauty of wedding day content creation is that it isn’t a cinematic production, it doesn’t need editing or anything like that, so you get to re-live it all 48 hours post wedding, and that is priceless! It is an affordable option for couples who want some video memories of their big day!

Why we started Dos Goats Captures…

We LOVE creating content (have you seen our Insta? Naturally we are already taking videos throughout the day, but adding it on as a service came from a passion we have of doing it on more of a professional level. Adding it on as a service allows for a desginated Assoat there to shoot the content! If you are a Dos Goats couple, you still have your planning team their to do all of the Dos Goats stuff, while another person is their capturing everything! It also gives us a chance to be creative with our couples, and it seemed like a seamless service to add on.

Should I Hire a Content Creator?

best ways to figure out if wedding content creation is worth the investment is to think about your priorities. Start by ranking your vendors in order of importance to see what they should spend the most money on. If capturing behind-the-scenes moments, getting content sent to you within 48 hours, having tons of raw footage for Social Media or just to share with your loved ones is high on your list, it may just be what you are looking for!

Not just for the wedding day!

The best part about content creation is it’s not JUST for the wedding day, we could add coverage to your Engagement party, engagement photos, wedding showers, rehearsal dinners, welcome parties and more, there is no shortage of content to be filmed when it comes to your wedding!

Have I got you excited yet?

I firmly believe that content creation is here to stay and is only going to become more popular, if it is something you are now interested in, we have a great group in Minneapolis (including us) So reach out and let’s chat about how we can capture all of your finest wedding moments!

From Yes to I Do: Couples Guide to Intentional Wedding Planning Journey!

Clewell Photography

You are about to embark on your wedding planning journey, WHOO HOO! Wedding planning can be extremely fun, but what I often see online is people stressing out over every little thing, and some end up hating the process. I see so many vendors talk about “Intentional” wedding planning, but I don’t see anyone talk about what that actually means, or ways to implement intention into your wedding planning, so I thought I would talk about that today!

Lexi Ryan Photography

Intentional wedding planning is about approaching your engagement with purpose and mindfulness. It means making decisions that align with your values, celebrating your unique love story and staying true to what truly matters tou you as a couple. Instead of getting lost in the pressure of perfection, intentional planning focuses on creating a wedding experience that feels joyful, meaningful, and authentic to who you both are. It’s about enjoying the journey just as much as the destination.

So where do you begin? Before you start any actual planning, sit with your partner and go through this guide together, we have listed out some intentions, along with some prompts to help you walk you through how you want wedding planning and the wedding day to feel and mean to you two!

Samantha K Photography

Ready to set some intentions for an easy, stress-free engagement? Let’s get started.

1. Setting Your Wedding Intentions

The first step to intentional wedding planning is setting your wedding intentions. Think of these as guiding principles that will keep you focused and grounded throughout the planning process. Here are some examples:

• Prioritize Connection Over Perfection: “We will focus on creating moments that bring us closer together rather than stressing over achieving a picture-perfect wedding.”

• Celebrate Our Unique Story: “We will make decisions that reflect our personalities, values, and relationship, rather than conforming to traditions that don’t resonate with us.”

• Honor Our Budget Without Guilt: “We will plan a wedding that aligns with our financial goals, ensuring we can enjoy this season without unnecessary stress.”

• Keep Fun at the Forefront: “We will seek out moments of joy and playfulness throughout the engagement process, keeping the planning experience lighthearted.”

Take some time to discuss what feels most important to you as a couple. These intentions will serve as a roadmap for your engagement and wedding planning journey.

2. Prompts for Setting Intentions

Not sure where to start? These prompts will help you clarify your goals and set meaningful intentions:

For Connection and Communication:

• What moments during our wedding day do we want to feel most connected to each other?

• How can we support one another throughout the planning process?

For Personalization:

• What traditions or personal touches will make our wedding feel like a true reflection of us?

• What are three words to describe the vibe we want for our wedding day?

For Mindfulness and Presence:

• How can we embrace the engagement season as a time to celebrate our love, not just as a checklist to get through?

Answering these questions together will help you create a vision for your engagement and your big day.

Samantha K Photo

3. Navigating the Planning Process wih Ease

Wedding planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With the right approach, you can stay focused and have fun. Here are some tips:

• Stay Organized: Use tools like a shared Google Doc or wedding planning app to track tasks and deadlines. Start with big-ticket decisions like your venue and guest list to create momentum.

• Communicate Boundaries: Let your families know where they can offer input and where you need to make the final call. For example: “We’d love help with the guest list, but we’ll decide on the décor ourselves.”

• Stay Flexible: Not everything will go as planned—and that’s okay! If your dream venue is booked, see it as an opportunity to discover something new.

4. Keeping the Fun in Your Engagement

Amid the decisions and details, don’t forget to have fun! Here are some ideas to keep things light and joyful:

• Celebrate Small Wins: Booked your dream venue? Found the perfect photographer? Pop some champagne or plan a date night to celebrate.

• Take Breaks from Planning: Schedule “no wedding talk” nights or spend a weekend binge-watching your favorite shows.

• Find Joy in the Process: Treat fun planning moments like tastings or DIY projects as opportunities to connect and create memories together.

Now that you are going into it cool, calm, and collected, check out our next blog on where to start wedding planning!

Studio Twelve 52

Your engagement is about so much more than planning a wedding—it’s about celebrating your love and building a strong foundation for your marriage. By setting intentions and approaching this season with mindfulness, you’ll create a wedding experience that truly reflects who you are.

Take a deep breath, stay connected, and enjoy every moment. You’ve got this, and if you need help? Hit us up!

TIPS FOR ELEVATING YOUR GUESTS EXPIERENCE AT YOUR WEDDING

When planning a wedding, it’s natural to focus on creating an unforgettable day for you and your partner. But as you meticulously plan every detail, don’t forget the guests who are there to celebrate with you as well! Elevating your guests experience can turn your wedding from a beautiful event to an extraordinary memory that people will be talking about for years to come! From thoughtful amenities, to creative vendors, there are so many ways to ensure your guests feel special, we wanted to share 9 of our favorite ways to truly make a memorable experience for everyone at your wedding, if you are getting married in 2025 or 2026, keep reading for some vibey wedding inspo!

1. Live wedding painter

Steena Anne Photography | Artist - Christina B.

I love when our couple decided to get a live wedding painter! This wedding in particular the groom surprised his wife with a painter, and she did a replica of her dress and bouquet!

There are other live painters that will recreate a scene from your wedding as well. It is always fun for you and your guests to see the painting come to life throughout the evening! Plus it is a unique way to capture your day!

2. Llamas or other barn yard animals

Brynn Wheatly Photo

Is there anything more fun than getting your picture taken with adorable Llamas? This picture is actually from our wedding, we hired Llamas from Carlson’s Loveable Llamas to greet our guests as they came into our ceremony, and they stayed around for the social hour to take photos with guests as well! This is our go-to when couples want a little something quirky for their guests!

3. Sip N’ Solve

Sip n’ Solves are not only a way for your guests to get to know you as a couple better, but they also are great for getting your guests to interact with each other!

4. A coffee cart!

Coffee Cart MPLS

Photo - Studio Twelve 52

A coffee cart might be my favorite! It energizes your guests, and the coffee from Coffee Cart is SOOOOOOO GOOD! This can be a pre-ceremony and social hour activity, or it can be something that comes for after dinner and dancing!

5. Interactive food stations

https://eileenkphoto.com/ | North Mallow

There are so many interactive food ideas, but one of my favorite is a build your own smores indoors! North Mallow is a great company that will come out and set up a cute table with gourmet chocolate and home made marshmallows!!! Seriously, guests love this and couples do too!

6. Photobooth

https://alileigh.com/

We love a good photobooth, after guests get some drinks in them, they love it too! The best are ones that are super interactive and have props! Northerly Photo Camper is one of our faves!

7. Tarot Card Reader

How fun would it be to have someone doing fortune telling, Tarot cards, or palm readings? Setting up a vibey little area for them to chat… I think this is such a fun and different idea!

8. Conversation cards at each table

https://jolsonweddings.com/

Another activity that guests can do at their table, conversation starters!

9. Live musician mixed in with your DJ

Photo - Jes Clewell

This is always a hit at weddings, live music mixed in with your DJ! They play along to the DJ songs, and get in with the crowd dancing, it is seriously one of the best ways to keep your dance floor hoppin!

Photo Wildly Connected Photography

10. Drag Performance

Starting your party off with a drag show is literally the best idea ever!

11. Casino Games

12. Have a sketch artist do personalized sketches of your guests

Our Amazon Black Friday Picks!

Black Friday is coming and if you are getting married in 2025 or 2026 and you need wedding decor, BF is a GREAT time to get all your goodies! Our wedding planning company comes with decor for our couples, so I am sharing some of our favorites that we use every weekend!

Let’s start with one of the most popular items we see people purchasing, bud vases! We have these in clear and amber, and our couple LOVE using them! They are small, but they look so good on a table with a single stem flower or a few flowers! These come in a variety of colors!

Link to Bottles

We love getting votives off of Amazon, and these are just a few of what we have on our storefront! Clear votives are classic, but colored votives can really help your centerpieces pop!

https://a.co/d/0tSe7Hh

Taper candles are all the rage right now and these holders are awesome because they are modern and sleek! If you get these and you are using real candles, your venue probably requires the hurricane vases to go over them, and we have those on the storefront too! These are heavily discounted for BF so I would totally snag these!

If your venue doesn’t allow real flame, check out these LED candles!

Get your guest on the dance floor with these fun sunglasses that can double as a favor!

The foam glow sticks are a fan favorite, plus they give your guests something to do with their hands while they dance!

Lastly, pretty hangers to hang your dress on for detail photos! These are a must! No one wants their spendy dress hanging on an ugly plastic hanger!

We will be rolling out some more of these this week, so stay tuned!

Let's Talk About Common Mistakes Couples Make While Wedding Planning...

Photo - Uppercase L Photography 

If I can save couples a few menty b’s while wedding planning, I will, because I see so many people getting married on social media sharing their frustrations with wedding planning, and I thought I would write a quick blog on 7 issues I usually see people struggle with when they are planning their wedding, no gate keeping here, I will give you some actual solutions to help with this shit!

Image - Storytellers 

Catherine Chapman 

1. Underestimating your budget vs. the actual cost of things

   We often time see couples go “venue broke” because they didn’t really price out everything before landing on a venue. They went with the venue, that took up more of their budget than they planned for, and now they are pancaking. It is important to do a bit of research before signing contracts with some of your big ticket items like venue & catering.

2. Not paying attention to the max guest count of your venue.

   If your venue has a max guest count of 200, that does not mean inviting 250, hoping that 200 will show. The max guest count is MAX for a reason, if you want your guests to feel comfortable, and ensure they have a chair, don’t over invite guests.

3. Not setting goals and priorities - We often see couples get caught up or overwhelmed in small details and forget or lose sight on what truly maters.

4. Procrastinating on planning - We see so many couples get planning anxiety and freeze up, if this is you, a partial or full- service wedding planner is the easiest way to eliminate this problem, because we take over most if not all of the communication an d organization with vendors, and that takes a lot off of your plate, being organized immediately and have a really good and thought out checklist really help from getting overwhelmed!

5. Neglecting communication with vendors - Keeping vital information from your vendors is only going to lead to a hectic wedding day. Timeline info, delivery info, set up info, all should be clearly communicated ahead of time so that people are not coming up to you with a million questions on the day of. This is one of the reasons we give all of our couples a Google Drive that helps keep all of this information in one place for us to access on the day of!

6. Not planning for the weather - We’re not just talking about rain, but wind is probably a bigger issue that we have to deal with. Or let’s say your venue doesn’t have a fridge for your cake, and it’s displayed outside, on a hot Summer day, getting set up at 2pm but not eaten till 8… That isn’t going to work…

7. Poor day of timeline planning - Planning your day of timeline is one of the most difficult parts of planning, people like to just assume you work around the sunset, but so much more goes into creating a day of timeline.. Your photographer typically will help if you don’t have a coordinator to help you, but they might not take into account how long hair & makeup is going to take, if a room flip needs to be done, how long will it take? How long catering service is going to take, there are tons of little details that go into creating a solid day of timeline. We have another blog to help create your timeline (here)!

8. Not having a proper day of emergency kit. Having a solid kit with any and all emergency items one of the best ways to avoid stress on the day of the wedding! Click the link to download our wedding day emergency kit checklist!

9. Not understanding your linen choices - Floor length linens will make or break a wedding design, couples often don’t really think much about the linens they are going to use. Most of the time linens will come through your venue / caterer - These are usually basic “lap length” linens, and often do not come pressed. You can rent linens, this is the best way to guarantee they will be pressed and the correct length. You will have a really great variety to choose from as well if you rent your linens! You can purchase your own, this is time consuming and often doesn’t save that much money. We always suggest renting linens, the quality is just always better when you rent!

10. Not having an end of night plan. You need a plan of who is taking down decor, who is taking decor with them at the end of the night, who is taking gifts and cards, and most importantly, who is taking YOU TWO home! This is by far the most over looked thing we see at most weddings, proper end of night planning!

Marit Williams 

These are just a few of the things that we have witnessed over the past couple of years, we are hoping that you found a nugget of wisdom in here so that you can plan with less stress! If you find yourself ever in need of a planning buddy, we are always here for you!

Check out our Amazon Storefront for our favorite wedding products!

Happy Planning!

Things we DON'T think you should DIY for your wedding.. And a Few Things we Think you should!

As wedding planners, the number one thing we see couples stress out about when planning their wedding, is taking on too many projects of their own, instead of hiring the respected vendors to do it for them. Adam & I always ask our couples “What is your time worth?” Because DIY projects tend to be a time sucker, and we don’t want that for anyone!

Rachel Leigh Photo - Venue: Urban Daisy in Minneapolis, MN

The thing is, there is always couples that really want to DIY some of their stuff for the wedding, we are not agents doing some projects, but over the years, we have seen couples get majorly stressed out by doing TOO MUCH DIY wedding stuff… So today we are giving you a list of things we see that tend to stress people out to much when it comes to doing it yourself… And a few things that we actually don’t think are that bad! Please understand, this is our opinion, and you know your limits and if you choose to take on these projects, were not judging, we’re just here to let you in on what we often see…

Photo Type & Timber

Tablecloths

I will put this bluntly, buying your own table cloths is such a pain for not that big of a payoff… There are so many rental companies that have really amazing quality linens, they come pressed and the fit the tables properly. Most catering companies will offer tablecloths as well, these are not as great of quality as rentals, but they are better than buying them. *note that most catering linens will not be floor length!

When you buy your tablecloths, you have to make sure they are the right size, you need to take them out of their bags and they are going to be super wrinkly and mid quality, so you will need to steam and iron them, then you will need to find a proper way to store them so that they don’t re-wrinkle.

Hair & Makeup

This is your wedding day, you will have thousand of pictures taken of you through out the day, this is a time to spoil yourself, so please please get your hair and makeup professionally done!

Pro Tip - Get a quality skin care routine started early, like right when you get engaged! Having your skin be in tip top shape is going to make your makeup look absolutely flawless on your big day!

Center Pieces & Other Big Decor Items

Do you want a room, or even worse (we have seen it) a basement, dedicated to decor for the next 6 months?

Also, do you want to spend weeks post wedding cleaning all the decor to try and resell it on FB? Probably not, so we always suggest renting decor, or getting decor through your florist. T

Now, if you want to add some personal touches to your day, we love that! We had a couple who had lots of brass animal figures, we used those around the space to bring in a touch from home! Cute personal items are not the same as making vases and collecting candles.

Catering / Bar

This is pretty obvious, but I see couples on the internet all the time seeking venues that allow you to bring in your own catering… You need a professional licensed and insured caterer for so many reasons, but properly cooked food is probably number 1, the other reasons, well, do you really want your aunt Sally cooking beans at your wedding? Who is going to serve and clear the plates? You don’t want your family doing that!

Flowers

If you are creative, it might sound fun to go buy buckets of flowers and create your bouquet and other flowers elements on your own, but what you might not think of is… Where will you store the flowers? Do you know the proper temp to keep the flowers alive? The time it takes processing the flowers, the things you need to properly assemble the flowers.

Photo - Type & Timber Floral: Florology

Photo Rachel Leigh - Venue Urban Daisy - DJ Benny Nord

DJ & Entertainment

Couples now a days seem to think they can create a Spotify playlist and rent a speaker and that is going to be equivalent to a professional DJ, but things that you might not realize a professional DJ does, like announcements and over all MC the evening, read the crowd and play music that keeps the dance floor poppin!

Day of coordination, Set - up, and Tear - down

Rachel Elle Photo

You should get to enjoy the big bash that you planned, and hiring a wedding coordinator is the best way to do so! A proper wedding coordinator will have planning documents to help keep you organized, they will create a top notch timeline for you, they will be your buffer between all of your vendors on the wedding day, and they will assist in the set up and tear down of stuff, so that you and your partner can be present in your day!

Things we think you could DIY for your wedding

Signage & or Invites

If you are a crick person, or you like to get creative on Canva, designing your own invitations and save-the-dates can be a fun and creative way to set the tone for your wedding. Sip n Solves, signage, programs, escort cards, these are all things that you could create on-line.

There are plenty of online templates and design tools available, and you can personalize them with your unique style. Just make sure you find a local printing company to get everything printed!

Photo by Uppercase L Photography

Favors

Handmade wedding favors can be a sweet and memorable gift for your guests. Consider homemade jams, candles, soaps, or personalized items like custom keychains or ornaments.

Guest Book

Make your guest book special by creating a unique version. Ideas include a photo book, a fingerprint tree, or a custom artwork piece where guests can leave messages.

So there you have it, what do you see yourself doing for your wedding? Are you a crafty type that sees yourself doing a lot of wedding projects? Don’t let this blog leave you discouraged, feel free to take on as many projects as you feel called to, just try to give yourself ample time, and deadlines! Also don’t be afraid to pivot if you feel like you are in over your head! I often see couples continue through with their projects because they feel they need to, but honestly there is no shame in ending a project and finding a vendor to do it for you if it saves you your sanity!

Happy Wedding Planning!

Wedding dress shops in Minnesota that don’t Disappoint!

Wedding dress shopping might be something you are super excited for, or it might be something you dread, we often hear it is not something people are excited to do, so when that comes, we try to give them options where we KNOW they are going to be taken care of a little bit more then some of those… Let’s call them “big box” wedding dress shops!

These are all local to the Minneapolis, Minnesota area, while some might have nation wide sister stores. But I would say that lots of couples choose to look in Minneapolis, because it can be more affordable than others like Chicago, or the Coasts. So if you find yourself wedding dress shopping in the Twin Cities, this is for you!

What we like about all of these dress shops, our couples have told us they overall have had really great experiences here!

1. Xandy’s Bridal - Located in Anoka, MN

   https://www.xandysbridalhouse.com/

2. Luxe Bridal - Edina, MN

   https://www.luxemn.com/

3. Flutter Bridal

   https://www.flutterbridalco.com/

4. Ivory Bridal Co.

   Ivory Bridal Co.

5. VOW’D Minneapolis

   https://vowdweddings.com/store?name=Minneapolis

6. Bridal Aisle Boutique

   https://bridalaislemn.com/

7. Effie’s Bridal Trunk

   https://effiesbridaltrunk.com/

8. Che Bella

   https://chebella.com/

9. Grace Loves Lace

   https://graceloveslace.com/collections/wedding-dresses

10. A&Be

    https://aandbebridalshop.com/minneapolis/bridal-shop

11. BHLDN - https://www.anthropologie.com/bhldn-weddings

12. The White Room MPLS

    https://www.thewhiteroommpls.com/

Local Dress Designers for those looking to have something custom made…

Tara Latour https://www.taralatour.com/2023-collection

Once you get you dress, you have to do alterations!

Alterations - Also check with the dress store that you got your dress from, but we love these two!

Amazing Alterations - Anoka

https://www.amazingalterations.com/

Mode Haus Bridal

https://www.modehausbridal.com/

Let's Talk About Things You Don't have to Do at Your Wedding

Our jobs are to help couples create a wedding day that feels truly them! Weddings are expensive and they are suppose to be one of the most greatest, magical days or your lives! Why get caught up in having to stick to traditions? We often work with couples that are looking to have non-traditional weddings, and we are always up for that! So today we came up with a list of typical wedding traditions that you simply don’t have to do anymore! If you are planning a wedding, and find yourself wondering if these traditions are for you, just keep reading!

Image Baurer Creative

1. You don’t have to have a wedding party

   There are so many alternatives to the typical wedding party now a days, so much so, that we started calling them “matrimony homies”! But if you don’t want to do the huge wedding party, you might decide to not have one at all. Maybe you just have 2 close friends or family members that sign the marriage license.

   Along the same lines, you also don’t have to have a big getting ready production in the morning. Adam and I got ready together the morning of our wedding with Adam’s sister’s and our Moms, and it was really fun and low key!

2. You don’t have to get married in a church!

Church weddings are beautiful, they are traditional, and for some couples, it is what feels right to them. Some don’t see it as any other way, but times have changed and so many reception spaces include ceremony spaces, that couples have started to prefer the convenience over the tradition.

Image Uppercase L Photography

3. You don’t have to have a plated meal!

This is one we are super passionate about! Buffets and Food Stations are our favorite style of catering! Plated meals again are very traditional, and most likely, your parents are very opinionated on this subject. But trust us, there is nothing wrong with buffets and food stations! We wrote a whole blog on this subject, you can read that (here).

While we are on the subject of meals, we also don’t need to have water glasses at the tables. We understand that it is a nice touch, but if your catering doesn’t do water service, and your bar doesn’t do water service, it might be easier to just do a water station, and forgo water at the tables.

4. You don’t have to wait till the ceremony to see each other!

Photo Just James

There are so many reasons to see each other prior to the ceremony… For starters, you can get more photos done so that after the ceremony you can spend time with your guests. Secondly, and most importantly, your wedding day is going to fly by, and after the ceremony, you are pulled in a million different directions, don’t you want to spend as much time as possible with your person? A first look allows you two to spend more time together on your wedding day, and we feel that is super important!

https://rachellynnphoto.com/

5. You don’t have to have a guest book…

There are so many other guest book ideas out there! Or you don’t have to do anything, but the days of a old school book and pen have gone. Couples now take this opportunity to really personalize their guest book, you can see some of those examples on our Pinterest.

6. You don’t have to do the bouquet toss and garter toss…

I can’t express how outdated this is. Garter toss, the history of the garter toss is strange and creepy, so it doesn’t surprise me that people are not into it anymore! Some will do a bouquet toss, but what we think is cool is to give the bouquet to the couple who has been married the longest!

7. You don’t have to do the traditional cake cutting!

Desserts are way more personal now, and while cake is always going to be a favorite, the options are endless to customize your desserts to really fit your taste and personality!

Image Jeremy Lee

8. You can walk down the aisle however you want!

There are no rules, you don’t have to have your Dad walk you down the aisle. It is ok if you don’t like the idea of being given away.

Some other ideas we have seen

• Walk down together

• Walk down alone

• Walk down with their pet

• Walk down with their siblings

• Walk down with a Grandparent

Image Rachel Lynn

9. You don’t HAVE to do parent dances.

This is another one of those, if you don’t feel comfortable dancing with your parent, don’t feel obligated to!

10. You don’t HAVE to have an open bar!

Oh my gosh, do not feel it is necessary to do an open bar, again, there are options! You have options!

• You can do an open bar for a number of hours, or up to a certain dollar amount.

• You can host just beer and wine, while giving guests the option of buying their own cocktails.

• You can host two signature drinks, and do cash for everything else.

• YOU CAN DO CASH ONLY!

11. You don’t have to wear “White” or a Black Tux… Get creative!

There are some amazing dresses right now! Dramatic sleeves, splashes of color, the possibilities are endless!

Same goes for the suits! More and more couples are wearing suits, and you can really get creative! Textures, colors, styles… We are always ok with a fun suit moment!

Photo Uppercase L Photography

12. You don’t need to do favors.

What traditions do you find yourself wanting to do? Or which ones do you think you will skip? Let us know in the comments below!

Looking for a wedding planner? We are currently booking 2023 and 2024 weddings! Learn more Here!

Let's Talk About Head Tables!

1

Hi friends! Today let’s talk about your head table, the different styles of head tables, and what is best for you two! Your head table is going to be your most photographed table, so the style and how you design what it is going to look like is important!

Starting out, you need to know how many people you plan to have at your head table. Typical head table has you two and your matrimony homies (what we call your wedding party). Next question, if your matrimony homies will be sitting at the head table with you, do you want to include their partners? Third, do you want your ushers and personal attendants sitting up there as well?

Once you know these things, it will help you decide on what style of head table will fit your vibe the best! So if you are curious about head table styles, just keep reading!

2

Sweetheart table

For the couple that wants to spend dinner canoodling with each other!

Love Big Live Small Photography

The sweetheart table is great because it allows you two to just enjoy some time with each other during dinner. Couples will also do a sweetheart table if they don’t have a wedding party. If you like the idea of a sweetheart table, make sure you talk to you venue about table size, Some will do a small cocktail table, while others will use a 4-6 foot rectangle. A half round is also a great option for a sweetheart table.

A common question we see is what do we do with our wedding party if we sit by ourselves… You could still do a homies table off to the side, or you could sit them among the guests.

4

Harvest Table

For the couple that want their matrimony homies to be more interactive with each other!

5

Harvest tables are going to be a grouping of rectangle tables fit together to make a huge table!

Harvest tables are great because the couple gets to be surrounded by their people, and it is better for conversation among the whole wedding party!

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A harvest table is also going to be the best option if you want your head table to include your wedding parties partners.

Beware of your head table size if you have 8 homies on each side, plus their dates, that is going to be a 30 person head table, which is cool (see pic below) but, your venue might not be able to accommodate a table that size, so just make sure to check with the venue manager when discussing your room layout!

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We like to call the third style “Jesus Style”

For the couple that wants them and their wedding party to be on display!

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Last supper / Jesus style is where everyone sits on one side and looks out to the guests, sometimes if the venue offers it, you can be on a stage, which really puts you on display! This is for the couple that really wants to feel like royalty! It allows for guests to come up to you during dinner and chat, which some people love, others are not too into. Typically the couple sits in the middle and the wedding party sits to the sides.

Sometimes this can be set in the corner of a room as well, it really depends on the layout of the space.

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Ways to spruce up your head table!

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Rent chairs that are super comfy and a statement piece! We love when couples do different seating for themselves, it’s an easy way to add style to your head table!

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Statement linens! Doing specialty linens for the head table allows for it to pop among the other tables!

You can also add chargers or fancy flatware or goblets to the head table to really give it a pop!

No matter what style you go with, remember that dinner lasts about an hour, and you are there to soak in the love with your partner!

Photo Credits

1. https://www.justjamesstudio.com/

2. https://shanelongphotography.com/

3. www.jeremyleephotography.com

4. https://lindseywhitephoto.com/

5. https://www.mattlien.com/

6. http://rachellynnphoto.com/

7. Vow House Studio

8. https://wildtrailstudio.com/

9. https://www.vbphotomn.com/

10. https://www.uppercaselphotography.com/

11. https://rachellahlum.com/

Let's Talk About Venue Coordinators VS Wedding Coordinators

It has been a minute since we wrote a blog, but we wanted to come back with one that gives some clarity to a question we get all the time.. Do you really need a wedding coordinator if you have a venue coordinator? This topic was so easy for me because I have personally done both rolls, I worked for a number of years as a venue coordinator, and I had a scope of work that I handled, I saw time and time again, couples needing additional help, something a hired wedding coordinator would take care of that didn’t fit into my roll at the venue, that was a big reason we started Dos Goats Plans, we saw the need, and over the years, we have never not been needed at a wedding, reguardless of the venue coordinators. Every venue and every planning comppany sell different packages, we wanted to lay out what we see the most here in Minnesota. So if you have questioned this very topic yourself, just keep reading!

Photographer Shane Long

What Does a Venue Coordinator Do?

Your venue coordinator will be your person who you might meet with throughout your planning process after you book your venue. Your venue coordinator is going to get the details about your timeline, room layout, vendor information, and all the details that you have planned. A venue coordinator is great because they are the experts with the venue, and they know what to do and what not to do, they are typically there throughout your wedding day, ensuring everything with the venue is secure.

If the catering and bar go through the venue, then your venue coordinator is most likely helping with these things as well, assisting the bar, making sure catering is staff is doing what needs to be done. Non glamourous things are their duties as well, making sure the bathrooms are stocked and the venue is looking good for guest arrival. They should

Photographer Rachel Lynn

Wedding Coordinator, Day of Coordinator, Month of Coordinator, Wedding Management…

Every planner out there has a different name for the service, but the gist of it, we are there to be your buddy during the planning process, run your day for you, be your point of contact, be your voice to the other vendors. Your coordinator, is the most important part of your wedding vendor team! One thing is for sure, your coordinator / planner is going to in most cases be your go-to person from the moment you hire them.

Photographer Brynn Wheatley

The reason why “Day of Coordinator” is outdated is because a coordinators job never starts on the “Day of” Any good coordinator is going to want to have a meeting with you at least 30-60 days out from the wedding to nail down the timeline, get an game plan in place for the decor, attend your final walk through, and solidify your vendors with you. Here at Dos Goats, we go a few steps further, doing an initial detail meeting and even a meeting 6 month out meeting, ensuring you have access to our recommended vendors, get your timeline started early, and show you access to our decor before you go and do that stuff on your own. We find that our meetings allow for a more vibey wedding planning experience, and to make sure you are as stress free as can be! We are also there to run your rehearsal, lining up the wedding party and making sure everyone knows where to be and when to be there. So you see, the term “Day of Coordinator” is just simply silly!

What does the Coordinator do on the day of the wedding?

Your coordinator is going to be at the venue while you and your peeps are getting ready, they will be there to oversee all of the vendors getting set up, as well as setting up your specialty tables (place cards, gift table, other specialty tables.) They will set up your center pieces, make sure the layout is perfection, and everything is set up the way you envision. They are also your advocate on the day, making sure that everything is done with you two in mind! They are running your timeline throughout the day, making sure all of the things get done in a timely order. If there are any hiccups, they make sure that you don’t have to stress about it. They are there for clean up, and making sure your gifts and decor go in the appropriate persons car. We like to say we are your stress shammies throughout the day, allowing you to be fully present on your day, not having to worry about a thing!

Photographer Eileen K

So do you need both?

The main difference between the two, one works for the venue and the other owns their own business, someone that owns their own business is going to always give you a more personable experience.

First, check with your venue, if they have a coordinator, ask for a breakdown of what the coordinator is actually responsible for. Most venues might actually require you hire an outside coordinator, while others will say that they handle everything for you and you don’t need one. We say, be diligent in your research. If the venue coordinator is in fact meeting all of your needs, you could possibly skip the outside coordination help, but if your ceremony is off site, you would benefit from both! Plus from our research and prior experience, we have always been an asset to a wedding day! One thing we tend to see with venue coordinators, the turn over is high, and often a couple will go through 2 sometimes 3 different coordinators through the planning journey… Sometimes this can be a bit of a pain because notes don’t always get transferred correctly, where as your Wedding Coordinator is by your side from the moment you hire them, and will be with you throughout the planning process.

Remember your friends at Dos Goats are always here to answer any and every question you have!

Photographer Halle B.

Positive Affirmations for a Vibey Wedding Planning Process!

If you are familiar with us, you know we love positive affirmations, so we thought we would come out with a part 2!

Our first set of affirmations were geared towards the dreaded C word… Since restrictions are being lifted and celebrations are starting to happen again, we want couples to get excited about wedding planning again and we have found that it is not always easy to jump back in after such a traumatic year.

Affirmations are great for strengthening your mindset, especially when wedding planning has you stressed out, but you have to also work towards inspired action, if you are looking to manifest your dream wedding day! Is this something that is interesting to you? Let us know and we will work on some more blogs! For now, here are some more affirmations to help you with your wedding planning mindset!

Photo by https://rachellahlum.com/

Before we jump in, if you are wondering “How to use these affirmations?” Here are some tips… Write them out, repeat them often, sing them in the shower, do a meditation and breathe with the words. Dance to high vibe music while saying them out loud, put them on post-it notes and place them around.

1.      We choose to have a fun and positive wedding planning experience.

2.      Wedding planning has become easy and effortless.

3.      We book the most amazing wedding vendors with ease!

4.      I breathe in positive vibes, and I breathe out what no longer serves me.

5.      I am in control of my emotions.

6.      We are unavailable for outside negative opinions about our wedding.

7.      We are so excited for a high vibe wedding planning process.

https://esterknowlen.com/

8.      I release the “how” things will happen, and know that they will happen at the perfect time and in the perfect way.

9.      We are open to receiving expected and unexpected blessings from the universe surrounding our wedding.

10.   I choose not to worry about what could go wrong on our wedding day, and focus on how amazing everything will be.

11.   We are co-creating our perfect wedding with the Universe.

12.   Good things are always happening to us!

13.   Ideas flow to me with ease!

14.   We are worthy of having a magical, stress free wedding day!

15.   We get to have everything we desire when it comes to our wedding!

16.   I am open to receiving money in expected and unexpected ways!

17.   We are grateful for everyone’s support, guidance, and generosity.

18.   We choose to tap into our wedding planning mindset.

https://brynnwheatleyphotography.com/

19.   I release any worry about what could go wrong on our wedding day.

20.   We believe that we will have a fabulous, high vibe, wedding day, it will be perfect in the right way.

We hope you find some inspiration in these, and if you are looking for more advice and vibes, we are always around!

https://brynnwheatleyphotography.com/

Stay weird ma dudes and dudettes

Vendor Gratuities... Who Do You Need to Tip, and Which Ones to Skip!

Photo by Ester Knowlen Photography

Dos Goats here with some more wedding planning advice, this one has been one of our most asked questions lately, so we thought we would write a blog on it! Over the years, we have updated this, as weddings are always evolving, the topic is a fun one… Tipping your vendors!

We get it, weddings are hella expensive (We are in the middle of planning ours, so we feel the pain!) When you have already spent so much money, it is hard to believe you are expected to shelve out even more! So we want to get into this and say, you are not required to give any of your vendors a tip, but there are some vendors where it is pretty standard, as well as some, that you can decide on later.

It takes a village to pull off a wedding, and that village is a team of professional wedding vendors who put their hearts into their work, so we thought we would give a little run down on what is customary when it comes to tipping your wedding vendors!

For starters, gratuities doesn’t always have to mean cash money… There are other ways to show your appreciation. Reviews on Google, and other wedding websites is the best, and if you are tight on money towards the end of planning, don’t feel bad if that is your form or gratitude.

Small gifts are a great way to show your appreciation, when couples get us crystals, it is so kind hearted! Find out what your vendor loves and get them something nice!

The best way to hand out gratuities to your vendors, put it in envelopes, labeled, and make sure your coordinator has them at the beginning of the day!

People you should always tip!

Delivery set-up and tear-down crews

Chairs, tables, linens, decor, lounge furniture, lighting, arches - If someone is coming out and delivering these items to you, you typically would want to leave them a tip.

How much?

$25-$50 For them to divvy up is standard.

Floral delivery that includes set-up / tear-down

If your florist is delivering, setting up your ceremony space, reception space, as well as coming back at the end of the night, you would typically leave them something.

How much?

$35 - $75 per person

Note - If they are charging you extra to do the set up and tear down, you might want to opt out of giving them cash, and give them a gift card or small gift instead?

Officiant

If you are getting married in a church, it is custom to leave a donation to the church, we typically see it around $350 - $500.

If it is a friend or if you hired and they need to get ordained, pay for those fees. If it is a professional service, it is custom to give them a cash tip.

How much?

$75 - $100 is standard

Dessert delivery & set-up

If you have your dessert company coming out and setting up the stands, and desserts, it is always nice to leave them a little tip!

How much?

$25 is standard

Hair & Makeup

Always tip your hair and makeup team! They are keeping you looking freshy fresh through out your wedding day! P.S. check to make sure it’s not already built into their invoice!

Photo https://esterknowlen.com/ | Hair http://hair-by-theresa.com/ | Makeup https://www.makeupbymindie.com/

How much?

$25-$30 per person is standard

Bartender

Tipping your bartender will depend on the type of bar you envision having. If you have an open bar, but they have tip jars, then you don’t have to worry about an extra tip, but if they do not have a tip jar, then it is standard to tip $150 per bartender.

Optional Tips

We call these optional because they tend to be the more expensive vendors, but again, if you had a wonderful experience with them and they went above and beyond to make your day special, you might want to give them something!

Band or DJ

If they kept your party high vibe and hopping, consider leaving them a small tip - $30-50 per person is standard for a band… DJ’s we would say $150-$200 is standard!

If you have a band and they have a sound guy or someone that works the Emceeing for you, you should leave that person a small tip, typically $50 - $75

Photographer & Videographer

This section is a total edit because over the years, we have seen a shift in what people consider standard and we feel it’s important to keep things up to date.

We think that a small gift or Cash is great for your photographer, especially if they kept the timeline on track in terms of photos, and were a joy to work with… We also think it’s ok to save the tip until after you get your photos back, so keep that in mind.

$100-$150 per photographer

If your photographer comes with a second shooter, it is always nice to leave them something. - $75 - $100 is standard for a second shooter.

Photobooth Attendant

If your photobooth person is awesome, lively, and is able to get people over to take photos, you should definitely consider giving them something.

Photographer https://alexandrarobyn.com/ | Photo booth https://thesnapshotphotocamper.com/

How Much?

$25

Coordinator / Planner

As planners, we don’t like to boast that tips are standard, we have seen some companies have a set gratuity that they build in… We don’t believe in built in tips, we are all about working for them, so if you loved working with your planner, they made the planning process easy and stress free, and you just loved us, then we are always so dang grateful to get a tip from you! Standard is $100-$125 per person.

Catering staff

This is a hard one because every catering company is different. Some use the service charge and part of that goes to the serving staff as a built in gratuity… We always say that it’s never a bad idea to make envelopes with catering staff in mind, and if they went above and beyond, leave them one to divvy up between the staff. - Typically $25 per staff member, or just give it to the ones that stood out the most to you.

Venue coordinator

We again leave this up to you, if you feel like your venue coordinator went above and beyond, a small gift is nice!

Photographer Lindsey White Photography

We hope this list brought you a sense of calmness and answered some of your big tipping questions! We are always here to help as well, so if you have any questions about who you should be tipping, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Stay Weird!

Dos Goats Plans

Our Favorite Sweet Spots in Twin Cities!

FEED ME SWEETS AND TELL ME I’M PRETTY!

We love wedding desserts; it is definitely one of the top 5 reasons we love being planners haha! Our couples often come to us asking for suggestions, and we are always looking at the best places to send them to. Because life is too short for gross desserts am I right?

The number one question we get is “What are couples doing for desserts now a days?” Our response is “Whatever makes you happy!” Because today, there are no rules! From 5 tiered cakes, to groomsmen cakes, cupcakes, bars, cookies, ice cream, cotton candy, donuts, and more, the options for wedding desserts are endless!

Every small town has a great bakery, we can tell you where to get the best donuts in Glenwood Minnesota, but if we talked about our favorite bakeries around Minnesota, this would be 10 pages long, so today, we will talk about our favorites from the Twin Cities / surrounding areas!

1. Thirsty Whale

I don’t think it is a secret how much we love this little hidden gem in North Minneapolis, Thirsty Whale does it all, and we have never had a bad thing from there. Specializing in Donuts and cakes, they love to throw some flair on their cakes! You can get mini desserts from them as well! Most of the time, our couples will get a small cake to do their cake cutting photos, along with a mix of donuts & mini desserts. Need gluten free options, they got it! Looking for a funky and wonderful small bakery, Thirsty Whale is your jam! Thirsty Whale Website

Fun Fact: We had Thirsty Whale for our wedding and did 500 mini cupcakes plus maple bars, plus, a cake for us!

Photo by Sea Circus Weddings

2. Café Latte

If you have not tried their Tres Leches cake, stop what your doing and go there right now! Café Latte specializes in gourmet cakes, tarts, and cheesecakes. Located off of Grand Avenue in St. Paul, if you want something special for your guests, this is the place! Cafe Latte Website

Photo by Lindsey White

3. Amy’s Cupcake Shoppe

Photo by Brian Bossany

I remember the first wedding where we had Amy’s Cupcakes at, I think Adam ate like 3 of them that night, the flavors are always a hit! While yes, cupcakes is the game, they always have fun treats like mini cheesecakes, pies, tarts and more! Located in Hopkins, MN, this gem is always a great option! Amy's Cupcake Shoppe Website

4. Hey There Cup Cake

If you want a Pinterest cake that is also mouth watering good, Hey There Cupcake is your spot! Chelsea creates simply amazing cake creations, often times way to pretty to eat, but once you dig in, you won’t want to put it down! Hey There Cupcake Website

Photo by Eileen K

5. ‘Sammy’s Sweets

We have so much love for Sammy’s Sweets! These mini cupcakes are made by Sam & his Mom out of their home, they have the cutest little garage set up like a cupcake shop! These things are seriously so drool worthy, the blueberry pancake is YUM! If you haven’t heard of Sammy’s story, we urge you to go read more! Sammy's Website

Photo by Eileen K

6. Heights Bakery

Photo by Veronica Barnes

Unless you grew up in Columbia Heights, Heights Bakery might not sound like something you were going to try, but this hometown bakery has some of the best donuts around! If you are looking for delicious simple donuts, Heights Bakery is it!

7. Nothing Bundt Cakes

Photo by Two Oaks Photography

Everyone loves NBC, when we have a wedding that has the bundtlets, those babies almost need a security guard of their own! They have a variety of different flavors, and they are simply to die for! Nothing Bundt Cakes Website

8. Patrick’s Bakery

Alright, so the desserts at Patrick’s Bakery will make you cry with joy, you want to wow your guests, get some of their mini desserts an create magic! Patrick's Website

9. North Mallow

We are huge fans of enhancing your guests experience, and this is how you do it! Obviously smores are always a hit, but how about fancy smores, with gourmet chocolate & marshmallows (that do not burn btw). The stand is super cute, and it comes with a host to assist guests in making their smores! Seriously you cannot go wrong with North Mallow! North Mallow Website

Photo by Eileen K

10. Fletcher’s Ice Cream

Handmade ice cream, custom flavors, its perfect! Fletcher’s is our go-to ice cream shop, but for weddings, we could not recommend them enough! Jason is the owner and master ice cream maker, when I say that his blueberry ice cream changed my life, I am not kidding, legit blueberries the size of marbles throughout, fresh and refreshing, his ice cream is out of this world! Why not change it up a bit and serve your guests ice cream!?! Fletchers Website

11. Muddy Paws Cheesecakes

When we think of super good cheesecakes, we head to Muddy Paws! You can wow your guests with their decadent cheesecakes, if you want to really enhance the guest experience, they also have trucks!

Let's Talk Wedding Signage

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Invitations, signage, and paper goods oh my! Your wedding stationery is as important as you want it to be. It is the perfect way to add a little style to your wedding. There are so many ways to display wedding signage, when we are going through detail meetings and we get to the signage part, the sky is the limit on what kind of signage you can have. We wanted to create a blog that goes through it ALL!

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Some things to think about is what do you really NEED and what you want. Signage is the perfect way to add color and details to your wedding, also while being informative for your guests! The signage you get definitely can depend on the venue. Sometimes you do not need a welcome sign, but other times, your venue might have a bit of a confusing layout, in which, signage is needed.

Today we are going to talk all about signage and stationery, and paper goods, the different styles and how to get it done! If wedding stationery is something you are in to… Just keep reading!

First things first, who actually designs this stuff? Like everything, there are designers that specialize in this stuff, we love working with them because they can take your ideas and run with their creativity, and they are experts so they can tell you the best type of materials to display things on. This grid seating chart in picture number 2 is a great example of a designer using her creativity to create magic! Josie with Ivory Isle Designs is an expert stationery vendor that we love working with! Sometimes we have a couple who might enjoy graphic design or have a sibling that is a designer, but they don’t know where to get it printed from. There are may options for printing, local print shops, The UPS store, just to name a few! Lastly, Etsy is a great place to look for custom wood options!

Here are some examples of what you can use to create your signage displays!

Escort Cards vs. Place Cards vs. Table Seating Signage

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If you are having a plated meal where guests choose their meal prior to the wedding, you will need meal indicator cards. These are typically called place cards, it will indicate the guests name, what table they are sitting at, and what meal they are eating. You can indicate the meal by stickers, like a cow for beef, chicken for chicken, carrot for veggie. You can also incorporate your wedding colors by doing a green, blue, or yellow dot in the corner.

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If you want your guest to sit at a specific spot at the table, then this would be considered an escort card, here you would have either a sign that has everyone’s name with the table they are at, or individual name cards, and then a second name card that is placed at the seat where you would like them to sit. It is nice to have escort cards at the head table, so that your wedding party knows what spot they are sitting at once the grand march is over.

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If you are doing a buffet, or you don’t need place cards to indicate what people are having for dinner, but you still want to have them sit at a certain table, then you could create a table seating arrangement (pictured above) for them to see what table they are at (Not specific seats).
You don’t have to just do a foam board, you can get creative by using glass panes, chalk boards, pipes with ribbon, large picture frames (just to name a few).

Pro Tip!

No matter the style you go with, we always suggest listing guests out in alphabetical order instead of by table number, this will ensure guests find their names and seats quickly!

Extra Pro Tip!

We LOVE fancy script, but consider guests names being written in something that can be clearly read!

Welcome Sign

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A welcome sign is a way to welcome your guests to the wedding. A welcome sign can display the couples name, and wedding date. It can be placed outside (if your venue, if it is in an area that doesn’t stand out, or if there are more than one event going on at a time. You could place it at the bottom of the stairs, or at the beginning of an aisle.

Order of Events Sign

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We love order of events signage! This helps your guests have an idea on what is going on and at what time, so if they don’t want to miss the first dance, they will know when it is taking place! These can be displayed on chalk boards, mirrors, or your whoever is doing your stationery can design something to be printed as well!

Individual Programs or Program Sign

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I can not lie; I hate paper programs! They are a complete waste of paper, and no one keeps them. If you want to be environmentally friendly and still show all the people you love that is apart of your big day, consider doing a large sign instead of ones that are passed out to everyone.

Gifts, Cards & Guest Book Signage

Not to much to this, but it is important to have proper signage for where gifts and cards go and if there is a guest book, because guests pay attention to visuals!

Pick a Seat, Not a Side

This is a nice touch if you don’t care what side people sit on, nowadays, it is not as typical to have a “Bride side” And “Groom side”, more a “There are no sides, so sit where you would like” sign.

Unplugged Ceremony Sign

Always nice if you want guests to keep their phones away during the ceremony, you don’t need people getting in the way of your photographer! You can also have your officiant make a polite announcement right before the ceremony starts.

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Table Numbers

There are so many ways to display the table numbers, depending on your vibe and tablescape, you want to choose a table number that will stand out so guests can find it, but also fit your theme. A station like the photo to the left, shows a great example of a simple table number that worked with their blue & gold color scheme.

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Bar Signage

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A bar sign is a must! Showing guests what is hosted, what is cash, and listing out what is available not only speeds up the bar lines, but avoids guests from just mindlessly getting drinks!

pro tip - Getting custom cocktail napkins and drink stirs is a great way to add some fun customized elements to your day!

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Shuttle Signage

If you have a shuttle leaving at multiple times, it is nice to have signage informing guests on when the shuttle is leaving so that they can prepare!

Dessert Signage

We enjoy dessert signage because we often set up some very lovely displays and some guests take before we can get any photos of the set up.

Dessert signage can be informative as well as add some design elements to your station! You can display what time desserts are available, what time the couple will be doing their cake cutting, or jokingly ask them to admire from a distance.

If you are having more than one flavor desserts, please have signage explaining what is what, I can not tell you how many times we have set out bundt cakes or cupcakes / donuts, and people come ask us what is what, and we have to try to tell the difference between lemon and yellow cake..

 Menus

A menu is a great way to add a little detail that can allow for you to add some color to your tables, and let guests know what they will be eating for dinner! Again, this can be individual at each place setting, or it can be stand alone at the table for guests to look at. A third option if you are having a buffet or stations is to display it on a sign. Below they used an old door with a chalkboard and wrote out the menu.

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Directional Signage

If you are doing a guest book that involves some directions, having that printed out and put in a frame is super helpful!

Are you dizzy yet? What is nice about your wedding stationery is that it is not something to stress over, it is really based on your vibe. Some people love to put extra thought into it, and others just want to make sure they have the basics down. You can get trendy, or keep it simple, just remember, have fun with it! Below is some things that we have not personally done, but we are loving the trend! Want to try something creative out? Reach out and we can chat! Let us know in the comments what your favorite part about wedding stationery is!

Let’s Talk Wedding Day Timeline Tips!

Is there anything worse than a poorly timed wedding? Have you ever been standing around after a ceremony, not knowing what the hell is going on, and just twiddling your thumbs, waiting for dinner to start? Weddings have many transition periods that if not thought out properly can leave your guests feeling a little lost.

Photo by Brynn Wheatly

We strongly believe that everyone deserves a curated timeline for their wedding day, one that takes all your vendors individual timelines and puts them all into one, neat little sheet. While this is something that your wedding planners will do for you, we realize that not everyone might have little angels like us, so today, we are giving you tips and tricks on how to curate your wedding day timeline.

Start with the Ceremony!

Image Morgan Elizabeth Photos

When we are building your timeline, we think that the ceremony time is the most crucial time on there. This dictates basically the rest of your day, it helps us figure out when hair and makeup need to arrive, when pictures need to start and when you two will have some alone time after the ceremony… We always recommend starting with your ceremony start time and working backwards to create the first half of your day, then going ceremony and beyond to finish up the night! A well prepared timeline leaves no detail untouched, it notes when you need to be dressed, to what time the sunset is, so that you know when the best time is to get those dreamy shots!

Some things to think about when deciding on your ceremony start time…

• Some venues have it laid out by blocks of time because they have multiple weddings in a day. Make sure you check with your venue!

• How much decor will your ceremony space have, and what time can that decor be set up? Knowing what time you can get into the space is super important, and will dictate when things can get set up.

• If your ceremony is outside, you will want to consider when the sunset is that day. You can look up sunset times on specific days on Google! If you are getting married off season when the sun sets early, you might want to consider an earlier start time to ensure you have enough daylight!

• Is your ceremony and reception in the same place. If your ceremony is inside, does the space need to be flipped for the reception? If so, you might want a bit earlier of a ceremony time, because your social hour might be an hour and a half, compared to a typical hour.

Variables to your wedding can be endless and to stress about them is silly. We can only control what we can and for things we can’t we just roll with it and make it work! There is no need to get sad on your wedding day as long as you have a plan in place and professionals by your side.

Vanessa Lee Photos

   Make sure you allocate enough time for hair & makeup and getting dressed!

Typically, the bride will get ready either 2nd to last or last, ensuring she looks mighty fine for that first look! Always make sure to ask your Hair & Makeup artist how long they predict each person will take.

We will make lines on our timeline for times that the wedding party needs to be dressed by, as well as the couple. This helps them stay on track!

Pro Tip: The more people getting ready, the earlier you must be awake! If you have more than 5 people getting Hair and Makeup, it isn’t a bad idea to have additional artists there to help!

   Have designated times for snacky snacks! No one needs a hangry couple!

If you are getting ready at a venue, they may have snack options for you to order while you are getting ready, but beware, sometimes it is crazy expensive! Always ask if you can bring your own getting ready snack, sandwich platters, fresh fruit, and nuts are great snacks to keep you fueled! Don’t skimp on the water! Mimosas are great for getting ready, but hydration is fun!

   Make sure you know what time vendors & people setting up can get into the venue.

Rachel L photography

Setting up a wedding takes quite a bit of effort, time, a good plan, and some patience. Having a timeline of not only what time everyone can be on site, but when each vendor plans on showing up, will be so helpful when it comes time to start setting the space.

We time out when the place cards will be set out, to when the gift table gets set up, this helps us allocate enough time between each activity, but if the tables for these activities is being delivered and not on-site, that can throw a wrench in setting those items up. If you have a room of 250 people, and you are setting up the napkins, favors, place settings, center pieces, lighting candles and so on, this can take on average 2-4 hours, depending on how many people are working on it. Your florist will need to know when the tables will be ready with linens so that they can set the center pieces. They will also have to know when they have access to your ceremony location to set that up.

Your vendors typically try to show up 2 hours prior to make sure they have things set up properly, but if you have décor and floral that is more extensive, you may need to add extra time to the venue rental.

Pro Tip! If your caterer is providing linens, you may need them earlier than they plan on arriving so that your other vendors can set stuff up. If you work with us, we will always pick these up for you so that our day gets started nice and early!

Extra Pro Tip!!! If your wedding is on a Weekday, ask the venue if no event is happening the night prior to your wedding, if you could possibly get into the space early and set up!

   Deciding on having a first look or waiting to see each other at the ceremony, will determine what kind of social hour you are going to have.

Uppercase Photography

We will never push you into doing a first look, if it is your dream to wait till the ceremony, but, there are many befits to doing a first look. Our main reasoning is because your day goes by FAST, and a first look allows you to spend time with your partner more on the day of! You will have more time during the social hour to enjoy with your guests, or wedding party if you chooses, and you can have some cute private moments together! If you want to wait till the ceremony that is ok as well, just make sure to allocate enough time during the social hour to ensure you get all your photo needs taken care of!

      Consider guest arrival time and the ceremony start time.

If guest arrival is 15 mins prior to the ceremony start time, but they have to find parking, pay for parking, and walk to the venue, this can push back the start time, or even worse, they can miss the ceremony all together. We once assisted at a wedding that the guests had to take a tractor ride to the ceremony site and the turn around time was about 15 minutes and this wasn’t really allocated into the timeline, needless to say, that ceremony started a few minutes late. If you are worried about guests being late, indicate on the invites or your wedding website what the parking situation is, if there are shuttle options, and when guest arrival is and when ceremony start time is, that way no one has excuses!

How many hours do you have your photographer for?

Most photographers have packages that can be 6, 8, 10, 12, or full day coverage, knowing your package and hours of coverage will help determine certain aspects of the day you might want photographed. Let’s say you hire your photographer for 6 hours, but you want pictures of your wedding party before you get dressed, photos prior to the ceremony, and pictures of dancing, and sparkler photos… You will not have enough coverage to do all of this because your photo timeline would be starting at 11am and going till at least 30 minutes into dancing, so let’s say 8:45, that is almost 10 hours of coverage. Something to keep in mind when you are envisioning what photos you want captured on your wedding day!

      Your ceremony is going to be no more than 20-25 mins unless its being held at church and it’s a “traditional ceremony.”

A receiving line after the ceremony can sometimes last 25-35 minutes.

      Your social hour will typically be a 1 hour to 1.5 hours.

This time is used for photos after the ceremony, the signing of the marriage license, bustling your dress (this can take up to 20 minutes if you do not know what to do.) Time for the couple to enjoy being newly married and spending 5 minutes alone, and in the case of your venue needing a flip this will allow for plenty of time to get that done as well!

      Make sure you have ONE-point person who oversees your timeline.

 There are a lot of egos running around on a wedding day, and we have seen many times where a photographer or other vendor, might just try and push everything back an hour… AN HOUR! Having someone make drastic changes like this last minute can ruin your wedding day. Imagine pushing everything back an hour and BAM, you now cut your dance time in half because everything ran so behind. P.S. This is where wedding day management comes in real handy.

https://www.savannahkayphoto.com/

Speeches, Couples Cake Cutting, Sunset Photos, and Special Dances, and sparkler photos, should all have a spot on your timeline. (But are also easy to move around)

We will typically have the couple get seated for dinner and once the last table is served, we will start speeches. After speeches wrap up, we like to get the cake cutting photos and first dances out of the way, and then have the couple go off to do sunset photos because this will allow for the dance floor to open up for everyone. This is not always the way it goes, but it is the way it works best. Having it laid out on the time line, allows for someone to be aware that the special things will be happening, the point person will be the one to decide which one might be moved around. Checking to see how late your photographer will be on-site will also help determine when it is best to do these activities!

How many hours do you want to dance?

You want to keep the dance floor a vibe but no one really knows (or can agree on) how many hours the dance party should be, we believe a few things will determine this!

Are you doing a DJ or a Band…

For bands, you will probably do 3-4 hours of coverage, but they will take breaks in between that time, so you will want to make sure you can fit that 4 hours in…

Photo by Uppercase L Photography

For DJ’s

2 1/2 to 3 hours seems to be the amount of time a dance floor stays packed. If you have several people working on your timeline, they will all put their idea’s in, but what it really needs to come down to is how long do you have your photographer for? Because I know DJ’s like to start when the sun goes down, but if the photographer is only there till 8:30, dances need to get started by 8, and in Summer, that sun stays up till late. So if you start early, and want to stick to that 2 1/2 - 3 hour rule, you can always end the party before midnight. Have dancing 8-11:30pm. If you really want it to go till midnight, look at extending your photographers time.

Bonus Tip: Make sure you are giving yourself time to mingle with guests, after speeches, while desserts are out, is a great time to mingle!

Make sure you are clear on when everyone needs to be out by the end of the night.

J. Olson Weddings

Typically, last call is 45 minutes prior to the end of the night. The Wedding will end at midnight, and vendors have till 1am to clear the space. SOMETIMES, a space will have the event ending at 11 and the vendors have till 12am. Just make sure it is clearly stated on your contract!

We take timelines very seriously here at Dos Goats, and pride ourselves on keeping them flowing pretty much down to the minute, but we always let our couples know, this is our guideline for you and if you would like to change something up we totally can! And this is due to preparedness in the timeline and communications to all the relevant vendors(who are located one the timeline and will also have their own copy) to watch this or that because we may be running behind because of pictures, people showing up late…the list goes on.

We would like to remind anyone who reads this to know…this is YOUR DAY and to spend it how you want to!!! But as professionals we like to see a well planned out timeline!

But the day will flow how it will flow, a timeline is only really a suggestion to stay on track and ultimately make your day smoother being that you know where all the time is going, and remember to breathe throughout the day and not to get wrapped up in it and allow yourself to be present.

Need more timeline help? We now offer hourly consulting and can help you curate your perfect timeline or show you some samples as well, or maybe the thought of all of this is way too much and you are interested in our planning services, you can learn more about working with Dos Goats here!

Much Love, Christina & Adam

Photo by Rachel Lynn Photography

Light Hearted Postponement Templates

Postponing your wedding sucks! We are not here to make the blow of moving your wedding any better, we can tell you that everything is going to be ok, we can say not to worry about it, but we get it, there is nothing to make you feel better, and we should just let you grieve in peace.

We made up some light-hearted templates that can be customized with your new date and name, it is also completely FREE for you to use!

See one you like? Message us at hello@dosgoatsplans.com with which template you like, your names, and your new date!

Positive Affirmations to Strengthen Your Wedding Day Mindset

Here at Dos Goats Plans, we are all about keeping that vibe high and positivity. Our job is to guide couples through the wedding planning process as well as take care of everything on their big day, so when something like the current state of events happens, and times are uncertain, our goal is to remain a positive and educational source of energy for our clients.

We are huge believers in positive affirmations and have used them to create our successful business, so I wanted to create some for people who are feeling anxiety over when their wedding will be taking place and if it will be what they are envisioning. Below you will find some positive affirmations that you say to yourself or write in your journal. We like to write out our affirmations in the morning and before bed. If you find your mind start to wander through out the day, just remember your affirmations and when a negative thought pops in your head, stop and remember that is just your sub-conscious talking non-sense and replace the negative thought with a positive affirmation! Please enjoy the following positive affirmations and if you feel you need more or just want to chat, we are always here for you! We can have virtual brunch!!!

Stay healthy and positive!

*Note - When you read these you will see them say (date) in some of them, that is where you would put in your wedding date.

Kickin it with Jesse Mast of Mast Wedding Films!

One of the things we pride ourselves on is finding the perfect vendors for our couples to work with. There are so many people in this industry, sometimes it can be hard to choose who is going to be the best option for you. We wanted to start doing vendor spotlights on some of our favorites in the industry, giving you a little glimpse into their personalities and their passion!

We kick this off with one of the most charming guys out there, Jesse Mast of Mast Wedding Films! Jesse is the kind of guy who literally lights up a room with his smile. His genuine love for what he does, comes through in his perfectly curated videos that he makes, showcasing the love and happiness his couples get to experience on their wedding day!

We dug deep to ask him some questions about his business, family, and some silly ones thrown in there as well! So If you are curious to know what Muppet Jesse relates to most… Just keep reading!

Starting off easy, what made you decide creating wedding films was the path you were going to take?

It'd been a combination of things. It's a rewarding job, but also a God-send to support my family. Sending the final product to clients, and seeing their reaction, knowing they'll cherish the wedding film for years to come is really special to me. 

Tell us about your family!

My wife is an incredible teacher, she subs part-time at our kids school. I have a highly creative 8 year old daughter, who enjoys selling custom “Picture stories” on the sidewalk in the Summer. My 7 year old son is the most extroverted kid there is, he doesn’t care what game you are playing, as long as you are playing with him!

Can you describe your approach to creating wedding films?

Photo by Unique Touch Photography

I'm a filmmaker. I look at the wedding day like I'm making a movie. I want to tell a great story about my heroes (the couple), and please the "fan base" (family & friends) who can't wait for the release date! My vision is to capture visually, what they are experiencing emotionally :)

Do you have anyone in the industry that influences your work, or work that you admire?

In this field, I've really enjoyed the work of Curtis Kennedy. He's been doing this for 6 years, and had lots of success. We met for coffee last winter, and he gave me lots of helpful, professional advice. 

As wedding vendors, we all have our struggles when it comes to booking our ideal clients, what do you think are some of the biggest struggles in the land of videographers?

Getting bookings is an uphill battle. It seems like most couples want videography, but it's not in their "Top Ten" list of wedding priorities, but I think that will change in the next 5 years. Most couples who don't get a wedding video often regret that decision.

Describe to us, your spirit animal?

A handsome, friendly brown horse named Julio.

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of wedding days? 

FAVORITE: Getting "lovey-dovey" shots of the couple, along with the photographer. It's always a ton of fun, and the shots turn out great!

LEAST FAVORITE: Filming the "grand entrance," when the wedding party enters the reception area. It's hard to get good shots in the midst of all the chaos.

LEAST LEAST FAVORITE: When a wedding guest takes photos on their phone during the ceremony, especially when they're told NOT to. My motto is, "Guests enjoy the moment, tourists take photos. Don't be a tourist."

What are some of your dream wedding venues you want to work at? 

FAVORITE PLACES: The Calhoun Beach Club, The Blaisdell Mansion, The Varsity Theater, The JX Event Venue, Camrose Hill, Legacy Hill Farm, The Gardens of Castle Rock

PLACES I WANT TO FILM: Filming anywhere in Hawaii would be great, but in the Twin Cities, I would like to film at the Mill City Museum, Aria, and The NP Event Space

FIRST TIME 2020 VENUES: Pinewood, The Hutton House, The St Paul College Club

 What do you like doing in your free time?

Binge-watching Netflix, working out, and disc golf!

What Muppet would you say you most relate to? 

Kermit, especially when makes his scrunched face (when perturbed) 

What advice do you love giving to couples that are planning their wedding?

First, hiring Dos Goats (We’re blushing)

Second, having them instruct the officiant to "winsomely" tell the wedding guests to turn off their cell phones before the ceremony begins, and lastly, reminding them that during the wedding day, they can completely ignore, and just enjoy getting married. Again, my vision is to capture visually, what they are experiencing emotionally, so when they watch the wedding film over and over, they get to remember how it all felt!

www.mastweddingfilms.com

Instagram - @Mastweddingfilms

Photo by Tom Thornton Photography

Wedding Management - What it is, and Why it is Better than "Day of Coordinator"

https://www.thestoryteller.media/

Planning a wedding is no joke! With roughly 260 hours of planning and the average cost in Minnesota being $33,000, its no wonder people want to run away and elope!

Image - Eileen K Photography

The term “Day of Coordinator” is almost boundless, there are over 200 “Wedding Planners” in the Twin Cities, and every one of them offer a different version of “Day of Coordinator”. We believe there is the perfect person out there to be by your side on your wedding day, because let’s be honest, we are not everyone’s cup of tea. We try to offer our clients the best experience possible, so what most call “Day of Coordination” We call our package “Wedding management” because in all honesty, the term “Day of Coordinator” is a bit outdated, Even with our wedding management package, we are by your side to some capacity, because we would never just show up on your big day and run everything, that is silly business!

So, if you are newly engaged, soon to be married, or just genuinely curious about wedding management, just keep reading!

Weather it’s your first wedding, or your third, we truly believe everyone deserves to fully enjoy their wedding day. You put hours of blood, sweat, and tears into this amazing day and its time you get to celebrate it!

It’s true that most of our clients will say after the wedding that hiring us was the best investment they made, that’s because having us run your wedding is basically insurance that allows for you, your hunny, and your family to be completely present! Yes the day goes extremely fast, but when you don’t have to worry about anything, you actually get a chance to remember all of the beautifully orchestrated chaos!

We have always had the philosophy of being as helpful as we can be, which is why, even with our Wedding Management package, we have at least 2-3 meetings prior to the wedding with our clients. Ensuring they are on the right track and coaching them along the way as well! Not only does the ensure everyone is on the right page, we get to know our couples more, making the wedding day extra special!

Here is a small list of what Dos Goats does for you during the wedding planning process:

Image Brynn Wheatley

• Give you guidance and advice through the planning process

• Give you vendor recommendation

• Set you up with our Dos Goats Guide to Planning, filled with planning check lists, and tips & advice for an easy planning process

• Meet with you through out the planning to make sure you are on the right track

• Be involved with the final venue walk through, ensuring you ask all the right questions

• Create a full timeline starting from the week of wedding activities, till the next morning

• Manage the wedding party on the wedding day

• Running the timeline and acting as the main point of contact

• Assist with setting up special tables and decor

• Taking down decor at the end of the night

• Take gifts & cards to the proper persons car at the end of the night

• Manage the vendor set ups and tear downs

• Run the wedding ceremony

• Manage transitions

• Facilitate speeches

• Fluff and bustle your dress for you

• Hand out gratuities at the end of the night

• Assisting with sparkler photos

  And so much more. . 

We pulled some of our most asked questions to help give you a bigger glimpse into what we offer!

Frequently Asked Questions:

What if my venue comes with a coordinator?

This is a great question! I use to be a venue coordinator, so I know more than anyone, how important it is to have both! We work great along side of a venue coordinator, allowing them to focus on their main job, running the venue. Venue coordinators take care of a tons of back of house details on the day of the wedding, usually they are helping the staff as well. So while they are extremely helpful, we can provide a little more hands-on help to make the day extra special. While we are with you through the entire process (When you hire us) The venue coordinator is there for you for a detail meeting, and on the day of to turn on lights, make sure the room is set properly, make sure the staff knows what is gong sure catering is getting set up, among other things. These positions also have a high turnover, so there is a likelihood that you don’t end up with the coordinator that you started with.

http://thehawkandsparrow.com/

Will both of you be at the event?

Absolutely! Part of the reason Adam & I started Dos Goats, was so that we could spend all of our time together! While we plan on hiring interns in the future, all events will have us both there. Occasionally, we have a wedding on the same day that we are helping run a rehearsal ceremony, in that case, we have an assistant on staff while one of us goes and runs the rehearsal.

How did you come up with your name?

You will have to hang out with us and we will tell you! We love Fletcher’s Ice Cream!

Do you set up all of our decorations?

With in reason! We are usually a two man team, so we will do the appropriate amount of setup that will still allow us to serve you through out the morning. If it is something larger that you want us to take care of, we are always willing to add one of our assistants to help out! We always go through this during our consultations!

Do we have to book with people on your preferred vendors list? Do you get a kick back if we do book with them?

A. Our number one priority is to create your dream wedding! Our preferred vendor list is full of vendors that we have personally worked with and we know that we work well with them, and they produce work to our standards. That being said, the wedding industry is vast and we love finding vendors of all shapes and sizes for our clients! We always encourage them to ask us for other recommendations if they don’t find someone they like on our list. Our list is always growing as we create such amazing vendor friendships through out the Mid-West!

B. No we do not get a kick back, often times, these vendors will give a discount to our clients, but we make no money off of you booking with them.

When it comes to wedding planning, it’s never a bad idea to have a professional by your side to help you out through the process. Seeing happy people on the most special day of their lives is our passion! Maybe you just got engaged, or you are a month out and want some last minute expert help for the big day, we can help! Let’s schedule a consultation and chat all about your vision!

Nameste!

https://www.alyssasmolen.com/

Let's Talk About What to Ask During Venue Tours!

Image by Love Big Live Small Photography

One of the first things you need to do after getting engaged is, hire a planner (umm hi!) and start your venue search! Venues book out sometimes 2 years in advance, yes that is crazy pants, but the venue game is strong here in the Midwest.

Allow yourself time to sit with your partner and get a basic idea of what you are going to be interested in. Deciding your budget, estimated guest count and most importantly, a date, or at least a time of year that you would like to get married, is going to help when it comes to looking for venues.

When you start the touring process, it can sometimes be overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be! If you hire us, we can sit with you and get a good idea of what you are looking for and we can set up those tours for you as well as come with so we can ensure all the questions are asked. Or if you don’t have the budget for a planner, we offer venue consulting at an hourly rate as well! If that is not in the cards, we still want to make sure you are set up for success, so we have come up with a list of questions you should be asking during your venue during tours, if you are starting this process, keep reading!

1. What is the max guest count?

If you are having a seated dinner, you want a clear max guest count number. So often we have couples who say “The max guest count is 250 and we are inviting 300, hoping that 50 people wont come.” While it is true that 20% typically will decline or not show up, we never suggest banking on that to accommodate max guest count. Our advice, cut back on the guest list or create a no stranger rule to cut back on the guest list. Why should you have to pay for someone to be there that you have never even met?

https://rachellahlum.com/

2. What is their catering policy? Who does the Bar service?

Every venue has different catering requirements. We always recommend checking out the catering before booking the venue.

Some venues offer exclusive catering, if they do, you want to get a quote on what that cost is going to be before booking the venue because it could be more expensive then you might be looking to spend on food, this could make your budget skyrocket!

J. Olson Weddings

Some venues have open catering, which offers tons of freedom, but with open catering, you have to be careful and make sure they come with serving staff, and everything you need.

Some venues have a list of caterers that they work with, so you get a little more choices.

Some venues don’t do catering, but the bar service runs through them, they will typically just have a bar minimum that you have to hit.

Extra Tip: If it is an in-house caterer, can you bring your own dessert? Do they have a fee for outside bakeries? Dessert plating fee? Cake cutting fee?

You can learn more about the kind of catering your venue offers by clicking here.

3. What is the food and beverage minimum? Is there any other fees?

When venues and caterers have minimums, it is simply a minimum amount of money that has to be hit.

If the venue is working with an exclusive caterer, they typically have a food minimum, if the venue is not handling the food, but they are handling the bar, they might have a bar minimum.

Sometimes they have both. We have also seen catering fees and bar fees being added on to bills, so we always tell our clients to look at every line item and don’t feel bad asking questions, because sometimes these fees and minimums can add up to thousand of dollars!

You can learn more about what to ask your caterer by clicking here.

https://adriansteinbach.com/

4. Are tables, chairs included? If so, who sets them up? Does the room needs to be flipped? Is there a fee involved in flipping the room?

This is very important because it can make or break your budget if you not only have to rent the space but you have to rent everything that goes into the space. If you have a backyard or private home wedding, this is often the case, tables, chairs, linens and tents all have to be brought in.

Just James

Remember you don’t only need tables for the guests, you need place card tables, gift table, memory table. So if these need to be rented, make sure you are not forgetting those specialty tables.

You also have to make sure you like the chairs, some venues have ridiculous looking chairs!

5. Do they have a separate ceremony spot?

Some venues will have everything in one space and there is a time in between the ceremony and reception where the staff flips the space. If your venue does a full flip, its a good idea to do a 1.5 hour long social hour, because it will take time to set everything up.

Another thing to ask, is who sets up the ceremony chairs. Some venues will have housemen to set those up for you, others leave that task to the couple and they have friends and family set them up.

J. Olson Weddings

6. If the ceremony is outside, what is a rain backup?

Don’t just assume it will be 72 and sunny on your wedding day. Always… ALWAYS, have a back up plan for rain. Asking when that needs to be determined is also important. Some venues have a 24 - 48 hour policy, some will let you choose the morning of.

7. Are table Linens and napkins included? If so, are they floor length? Do you get a choice of colors? Who sets them up?

8. What is the House fee/ Service charge? Does that include gratuity for the staff?

There are often service charges as well as other fees that are associated with the venue. Be sure to have a clear understanding of what those charges are.

Always ask what the service charge goes towards, some use it to pay their staff gratuity and sometimes that is something they don’t.

Photo by Lexi Ryan

9. Is staff included?

It is good to get an idea of what the staff is responsible for taking care of as far as set-up and tear-down go. Do they set up the ceremony chairs? What about tables, chairs in the reception space? Do they assist with tearing down decor?

If they are in charge of bar, do they clean up all the bar glasses or is that your responsibility? We run into this all the time, the venue runs the bar but they don’t clean up the bar glasses and leave that to either the wedding party or catering, but sometimes catering doesn’t do it either, so making sure you have a clear understanding on this is always important.

Pro tip! Your coordinator or wedding planner is not going to clean up bar glasses, that is not their job, so if your venue doesn’t do it, you might want to consider hiring extra staff!

Who stays until the end of the night?

10. Do you hold more than one event in a day?

If your venue has multiple spaces, they most likely will rent all of them out for events. We have seen some venues hold 3 weddings at a time! Just make sure you get a clear answer, to ensure you don’t get any unexpected surprises on your wedding day!

Image Vanessa Lee

11. Are there any other charges that get added on to the rental fee?

Sometimes the rental fee will not include the getting ready rooms, additional bathrooms, bar set up, making sure the trash is taken out at the end of the night, just to name a few. Always look through the contract in depth as well as the invoice that they give you.

Photo by Eileen K | Floral by 651 Studio Floral

12. Is there an venue coordinator included – If yes. What exactly will they do for you the day of?

Just because your venue says they come with a coordinator, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still consider hiring someone like us! We are there from the moment you hire us and we are ALWAYS your biggest advocate! The venue coordinator has a job to assist you in figuring out the logistics at the venue, but they are not going to go outside of the venue parameters. I will also touch on the high turn over rate that venue coordinators have, (I know because I was one of them once.) I would say 9 times out of 10, a couple we are working with has at least one venue coordinator change through out their journey with a certain venue. So while we always say to find out what the scope of work a venue coordinator will do for you on the day of, don’t also look at hiring someone like us to help make your day perfect!

13. Is there separate places for both people to get ready? Is there an extra cost for using those spaces?

Brynn Wheatly

Having a getting ready space for the morning is lovely! Some venues have designated getting ready space for both partners. Others might have a bridal suite, leaving the guys to fend for themselves. (Don’t even get me started on same sex couples and their limited options.)

Another question is to ask when you need to be out of the getting ready rooms, some venues make you get your stuff out before the ceremony, some let you have access all day. Always have someone in charge of clearing out the getting ready rooms, it’s a great job for a personal attendant!

Pro Tip! Maybe your venue doesn’t have a getting ready space, but they have a room that you could use, instead of bringing in your own mirrors and things like that, look into Dream Day Dressing Rooms and see how they can transform any space into a luxurious getting ready wonderland!

Shane Long Photography

14. What time does the party have to end? What time do vendors have to be out?

Usually, the party & music have to end at a certain time and guest have to be out, then the vendors have an hour after that to clean up what they need to and clear the premise.

Image by Jes Clewell

15. What time can vendors get on-site?

If you are planning to do a hefty decor set up project, make sure you have enough time to do so! Some venues will let you pay hourly for extra time.

16. Is there any noise ordnance that we need to be aware of?

Most weddings will go till midnight, some venues have an 11pm cut off and on some occasions, there are venues where you have to have the music done even earlier because of city or building ordinances. Have a clear understanding of this in your contract so that there are no surprises on the big day!

17. Do you have any decor restrictions?

Can real candles be used, or LED? Do they have to be enclosed by glass? Can you do sparklers or fireworks outside? Are there any dried floral restrictions? If we are hanging anything from the ceiling does it have to be from a licensed and insured vendor?

If you are dreaming of a fun hanging ceiling decor, or pampas grass, you might want to check with your venue to make sure that you can do it. Most venues will not allow confetti or loose glitter.

Photo by Eileen K | Floral - 651 Studio Floral

18. Do you have on-site parking? Is there a cost involved? If there is not on-site parking, where are the nearest ramps?

Extra Tip: Can we leave our cars here overnight?

19. Do we need to hire security?

Guest what!

We created a venue tour checklist for you! Sign up for our newsletter to get your FREE download, and stay up to date with Dos Goats!

Helping couples choose their wedding venue is one of our favorite parts of being wedding planners! We have been making a venue master list that can help you find that perfect fit for you both! If you feel stuck or confused, don’t be! Get in contact with us today and we can get you on the right track!

Namaste