Reception Set-Up!

It is wedding weekend! You have all your family + friends in town and ready to celebrate with you and help you get ready for your big day! YAY for helping hands, you get to the venue ready to set-up and everyone is asking you what you want and it is so EASY to get overwhelmed! So here are a few helpful tips to help the day go smooth!

> I cannot write this without first mentioning the importance of getting a coordinator - A full out wedding planner + a day of coordinator + day of decorating helper -whichever you can afford in your budget you will be glad you spent that extra money!

>The second most important step is to be prepared! A few months before the wedding day come back out to the venue + take a closer look at all the things we have to offer. Set up a table and get a good idea of what you would like so you are prepared when the day comes. >>This also gives you a chance to decide what you like without a bunch of different opinions<<

Now that you have done some of the prep work and feel a little bit more prepared for the day, here are a few set-up day tips.

>Set a time for all of your helpers to meet at the venue, typically around 9:30, when everyone arrives unload the vehicles, put drinks in the fridge, and put the items in their designated place. >>Example: Koozies by the bar and cake topper on the cake table<<

>Review the table layout + talk with the venue staff if you wish to make any changes. If all is good, then start setting out chairs and putting the linens on the tables.

> If you are planning on steaming the linens, I would suggest you put your table runners + chargers on the table first (if you are using them) and then steam around them. >>>This job takes a while, so plan to have one-two do this for you while everyone else finished setting up.<<<

>Start adding in all the other decor you want on the table, the best thing to do is to fully set up one table so everyone sees how you want it, and they can go from there. >>>Think about your center pieces + your tableware<<<

>Now the fun - start adding in extras - like photos of the couple, set up what you are doing for a big exit, if you have favors, if you are using our gifts + card sign set that out - all of the extra neat things you want out.

>If you want anything down at the ceremony site, have it ready to go set-up by the back door of the barns to make it easy to take to the ceremony site when the time comes.

>Do a final walk-through, putting all the garbage in the trash pins, the extra boxes in the storage room, and putting back any used decor so you are ready to go for the reception!

Again I stress, how helpful it is to have a wedding or day of coordinator if your budget permits.

- Camp Retreat also offers day-of decorating -

Every couple is different + so everyones set-up day will be slightly different! The most important thing to remember is at the end of the day you will be MARRIED to the person you love most + if someone ends up with only 4 candles on their table instead of 5, it WILL be okay. I promise. Your guest will remember most the love they see between the beautiful couple.