​When I was planning our summer camp wedding, one of the things I knew was going to be a BIG task was set up, but what I didn't realize is exactly what that would entail. 

I guessed on how long set up would take. I guessed at how many people we would need to help. And I guessed about the areas we would need to set up. 

As a result, I, Rick (my wonderful, now husband), and our nearest and dearest were totally under prepared for doing the set up for our DIY wedding.

We're blessed with AMAZING friends and family with inspiring can-do attitudes, but had we known all that setting up would entail - truth be told - we would have done it differently  (and avoided seeing some of our best helpers look a bit like zombies toward the end the of wedding). 

So now knowing what I know as a wedding coordinator for DIY weddings and having helped with set up for dozens of weddings, this is what I would have done differently:

• I would have gotten super clear on what set up entailed beyond putting centerpieces on tables
• I would have trimmed the non-necessities (goodbye bed linens for the camp cabins and hello B.Y.O.B.S. a.k.a. bring your own bed sheets!) 
• I would have delegated better (and not had a few champion helpers do the vast majority of tasks)
• And I would have added in a lot more time for set up (I've since learned underestimating set-up time is very common for DIY weddings)

This week, after a couple people asked about it, I made it may goal to help couples anticipate their own set-up needs by talking about it frankly in the Facebook group DIY Wedding LOVEFEST.  

Hope this helps you with the set up for your own wedding, and leads to wedding day zen for you, your partner, family and friends! 

By Caitlin 

My experience with DIY weddings is that couples are pretty great at finding hidden gem DIY wedding venues, booking awesomely unique vendors, and creating amazing ambiance with personal touches.

Why are they awesome at these things? Well, it's because  DIY couples are incredibly resourceful. They are smart, and they figure out how to get things done.

There's one area though that I see a lot of DIY couples struggle with, however, and that's the wedding day timeline. Most often, I see wedding timelines that are about ten line items long, and truth be told, these are woefully short for a DIY wedding.

The fact is there is just not a ton of great planning information out their for DIY couples beyond cost-saving tips and DIY decor ideas. So couples often end up thinking they are making an awesome timeline based on their research, and then on the day of the wedding things still slip through the cracks. 

If you think about a short, ten-to-fifteen item timeline, it makes complete sense at a traditional wedding venue. Ceremony, cocktail hour, cake cutting, etc. are the "main events" that a couple needs to know about at a venue where a team of staff is handling everything behind the scenes.

At DIY weddings, there is no magic team behind the scenes organizing everything on their own. That job (and all the small tasks that need to be done to make sure everything goes smoothly) needs to be organized in advance by someone - generally the couple or their wedding coordinator.

So today I'm giving the overview of what to do if you want to make sure you timeline is completely adequate for your DIY wedding. I'm going all DIY wedding coordinator on this blog here, and sharing one of my very best tricks of the trade. Get ready :) 

STEP 1: Start with the standard items for your wedding

Pick the standard items that  you want to do on your wedding day. Think about things like first look, pictures with your immediate family and wedding party, the ceremony, cocktail hour, introductions, first dance, speeches, bouquet toss, etc.

Then talk to your vendors, and work with them to assign times to each of these big items.  

There are also plenty of samples of this part of the timeline, and here's a great post about getting the big timeline pieces in place by my one of my favorite wedding blogs, A Practical Wedding. 

STEP 2: Fill in your timeline with the details (psst...this is the crucial step!)

Now this is the step that a lot of folks miss. Again, it's no fault of their own because no-one is writing or sharing information about it (until today!).

Once you have the big items in place, you want to go back in and fill in all the smaller details of the wedding day. For example:

• What time are the vendors supposed to arrive? If it's not on the timeline, no one is going to know if a vendor is late or missing. 
• When should the bridesmaids have their bouquets? If it's not on the timeline, the bouquets may miss the pictures (true story - happened at our DIY wedding). 
• Do chairs need to be moved from the ceremony space to the reception space? If so, when and who will do it?

Hopefully, you get the idea, and if you want help thinking of these types of items, I've created this Wedding Details Checklist with 70+ items to make sure nothing slips through the cracks. 

And as you add these smaller details, make sure to add times for them and people to handle the various tasks. This way whoever is coordinating or acting as the point person for your wedding day knows all the tasks that are supposed to happen (not just the big events). 

STEP 3: Create  your "getting ready" timeline

This is particularly for all the ladies out there. You definitely want to have a getting ready timeline for hair and make up even if there are just a couple people in your wedding party. 

The morning-of the wedding is SO MUCH FUN, and time can fly by at the blink of an eye. So to make sure you and all your ladies are ready when you are supposed to be, make a hair and make up timeline to stay on track. This way you can show up to the ceremony relaxed, and bliss out on all the wedding love. 

And it's not a bad idea to let guys know when they should start getting ready, too, so they don't get lost in the excitement of a pre-wedding corn hole tourney. 

So that's it! It can seem like a lot at first, but once you get into it, things just start clicking into place. 

Want to learn more about creating a wedding day timeline that you know is going to work? Once that covers all the details and makes sure everyone - your vendors, wedding party, & helpers - are ready for the day? Check out our membership site. Get all the wedding planning materials you need for just $19/month. Opt out anytime! 

By Caitlin 

Photo: Wonder-Bliss Photography

When Rick and I got married we rented a hall that held up to 200 people and ceremony site on a lake (both on the same property) for $400. Crazy!? We know! With a little (well, actually a whole heck of a lot) of internet research we were able to find an amazing venue at a great price. 

Now people often ask us how to find DIY wedding venues, and since I was asked this question quite a few times at the Lovesick Expo yesterday, I've decided to make it this week's blog post and share our list of top internet search terms. 

When searching, make sure to plug in 1) the region or area you are looking in and then 2) various combinations of the words below. 

One other great trick is to not only look at the website results but also the image results. Sometimes an image is tagged with a certain location but it's buried somewhere in a site that wouldn't show up easily in the website results. Do a quick scan through the images and you very well may discover a hidden gem.

Know of any other terms that are helpful? Leave a comment and let us know!

We are super excited to be handling events for Jeudevine Falls in Hardwick, Vermont. It's an AMAZING venue with a waterfall surrounded by 15 acres of idyllic beauty (definitely worth checking out if you have time: www.jeudevinefalls.com). 


They asked us to create a list of top things for couples to ask about when choosing an outdoor venue, and we're sharing it with you because you are all so awesome and we know others can benefit from it, too. Let us know what you think about our list by leaving a comment below. And feel free to add to add to the list as well!

10. Parking

Guaranteed parking is essential when selecting any outdoor wedding venue. If your guests can't park with ease, you risk having people arrive late--or even worse--not arrive at all. If it can't be reserved, make sure there is adequate parking close by (like a school or public parking lot) and, if need be, get a permit and arrange transportation to/from the ceremony and reception site. Also make sure to consider any guests who may have particular trouble without reserved parking like elderly and handicap guests, and make sure there is a solution in place. Long story short, it's essential to make sure that your guests won't be competing for parking with any other potential visitors at the venue, so be sure to ask or choose a venue that has private parking.

9. Lighting

Generally lighting mostly applies to evening ceremonies and nighttime receptions, however, if you plan on having your reception end anytime near dusk, you want to make sure there is appropriate lighting in place for guests to walk around the venue with ease. At dusk, rocks and branches may be a bit more difficult to spot on the ground, so make sure that paths and walkways have some lighting in place. If you are having a nighttime reception, you want to make sure the reception space is going to be very well lit from start to finish. Not only does this enhance the overall experience for you and your guests, but it also makes sure you get great pictures all night long.

8. Privacy

"Public vs. private venue?" is a question that most couples getting married outdoors ask themselves at some point. It is important to assess how much privacy you want on your wedding day and make your decision accordingly. At public venues, there are likely going to be local residents and tourists taking in the beautiful scenery with you and your guests. And for some couples, that works just fine. For others, more privacy would be preferred. If thinking about going with a public venue, it's always a great idea to ask what, if any, policy is in place to make sure that you don't have unexpected guests. And if you are of the "more the merrier!" philosophy, then no worries here.

7. The Tent

The tent is often one of the most expensive items for an outdoor wedding--and for good reason--because it's the most essential. A good tent will keep guests dry even if there is a little summer shower the day of. A proper tent should be able to withstand winds and won't collapse even in the face of a big gust. Make sure to know what weather your tent can handle, and if it doesn't sound impressive, look for another rental company or venue that can provide a very high-quality tent. Though it can be tempting to cut costs here, keep in mind that you are likely saving elsewhere and this is one area where you definitely don't want to shop around based on price alone.

6. Ceremony and Reception Distance

If the ceremony and reception are going to be spaced apart, it's a good to think about elderly and handicapped guests. How easy will it be for them to get around your outdoor venue, and will they need assistance getting to the ceremony, to the reception, to the bathrooms, etc.? Normally this can be solved pretty easily by asking helpful friends or cousins to escort your grandparents and other guests as needed. Just make sure that various guests' needs are considered beforehand, and to get a good plan in place. If the distance is far, make sure to arrange appropriate transportation and that a drop off/pick up areas is close enough to each location.

5. Onsite Employees

Having an onsite employee for your wedding day is a key factor that should not be overlooked. During the course of your wedding day it's likely that someone in your group is going to have a question or request for the person in charge of the venue (think, "The parking gate needs to be unlocked," "The trash needs to be emptied," "Where's the extra toilet paper?" etc.). If there is no onsite employee, it will be up to your group and/or wedding coordinator to solve these issues. If there is someone on hand to address these sorts of minor issues (or in the very least, someone who is able to be reached by phone and within close proximity to the venue), then they will stay just that--minor.  And, even better, a good onsite employee will anticipate all of your needs well in advance. If an onsite employee is not available, definitely make sure to work out a good plan with the venue to avoid any last-minute issues. 

4. Bathrooms

This item, like parking, applies more to public venues than private but, nevertheless, it is important for everyone to consider when selecting a venue. It's always a good idea to ask--indoors or outdoors--to see the restroom. If the bathroom doesn't look like one you want to use while touring the venue, then chances are that you're definitely not going to want to use it on your wedding day. The main thing that you want to look for is cleanliness. These days there are luxury porter potties that are amazingly clean (some even have chandeliers and TVs in them!), so it's definitely OK to be open to different types of bathrooms--just make sure they are clean and they will be clean throughout your ceremony and reception (again, an onsite employee is great for this reason).

 3. The Ground

If there is precipitation or dew the night before the wedding, this may cause the ground to get a bit muddy or slick, so you want to consider what the ground covering is. Cement and textured stone are great because they mean no mud and no slipping. Also, keep in mind if you are getting married at the residential house of someone you know, lots of foot traffic could damage their beautiful lawn. If they are OK with that, then no problem, but if they may not be, it's a good idea to discuss how the lawn will be brought back up to snuff after the wedding.

2. Maintenance Crew

Maintenance crews are the unsung heroes of outdoor wedding venues because it's their responsibility to keep them venue looking beautiful all season long. There's nothing worse than getting to your venue the day before or day of your wedding and realizing the maintenance crew hasn't been by in weeks. Talk about last minute stress if you have to pick up branches and sweep pathways! To ensure your venue is going to be just as beautiful on the day of the wedding as when you're touring the site, be sure to ask who the maintenance crew is, how often they tend the grounds, and what you can expect the grounds to look like on the day of your wedding. A professional team will have a plan in place to make sure your venue is looking great all season long.

1. Eye Sores & Construction

Outdoor venues are definitely the most naturally beautiful, and that's why couples love having weddings outside. To ensure your venue is looking as beautiful as you expect it to on the day of your wedding, be sure to ask about things like trash receptacles, dumpsters, and construction. Are all the trash receptacles out now when you're visiting, or could there be some additional ones put out between now and your wedding day? Is that dumpster staying put for the rest of the season? Is there any chance it will make the area smell at all in the hot summer months? And is there any construction planned that will leave the site looking anything short of pristine for the day of your wedding? Make sure that you ask these questions to ensure there are no last-minute decor surprises.

Bonus: Heaters and Fans

It's always good to have a back up plan in place for a hot summer day or chilly fall day. As always, if the venue doesn't provide what you need, make sure you have a back up plan in place (such as tentatively reserving heaters and fans from a rental company). And if your venue provides heaters and fans, it's a good sign that they aim to please.

Hope this gives you some good questions to have in hand when visiting potential venues, and if you think of any other items to share with couples, definitely comment below--they'll appreciate it! And if you'd like to receive our future blog posts, let us know.