I think you do what is best for you. A DOC is a life saver from what I have heard from most brides.  If I didn't need the help, I would have hired a DOC. But you what is best for you and your sanity.

Wow!!! All of you have given me allot to think about. <sigh> Into the fray I go..

I would recommend someone to be charge on the day of your wedding.  There were so many little details that had to be managed by someone: letting the caterer and baker in, lighting candles, final walkthrough for flowers, greeting guests as they arrived, etc.  It was so easy to have one person with a master time-line for all of the little details.  

I was wondering did you decide on a planner, or a day of coordinator?

I would definitely recommend having someone for the day of, but they don't necessarily need to be a planner by trade. I'm lucky & my grandma's a planner!

I would say yes.  Most of my things were DIY also and I was trying to figure out how I was going to do set up.  Our ceremony/reception all day time early afternoon so no way I could do it.  I can't even get into the reception venue until 7am.  In the end it's proven much better to have someone available for me to do all of this.  We lucked out in that DH had a small windfall of money so is paying for our DOC's services.

if you have the money to pay for one but don't have the time for all the nitty gritty details then i guess its essential. i plan to maybe just have a DOC. i know there are some planner that offer "month of" planning for entire month before and on the wedding day or 2weeks before and on the wedding day. that may help cut the price a bit

I asked a friend to be DOC for me. I'm offering a place for her to stay for 2 nights (our wedding is out of town for everyone) and will come up with some kind of nice gift for her too.

I think you have to know what your budget is and whether or not you can accommodate. I think a day of coordinator is a great idea, and at the very least I want to invest in this because I do not want to have to be worried about day of details and don't want my family so wrapped up in it either, I want everyone to enjoy the day. I plan to interview a few people and if the cost is reasonable I may even consider a wedding planner and this is only because we have less than 6 months to plan a July 2012 wedding and I am an accounting working through tax season therefore I know I will have limited time.

Good luck!