Do you have an upcoming wedding?
Are you plagued by restless nights and days full of "what if" scenarios playing out in your head?
Don't worry, if you are like most people in the midst of planning your wedding day, you should know that almost everyone worries about potential problems or downright disasters. It's common enough, but here's the thing - not many people take any steps to ensure those worst case scenarios DON'T play out.
Why not?
They just don't really believe it can happen to them. Unfortunately, many of them are wrong. Wedding day disasters are a reality, and we have a lot of evidence to prove that's true, but, you do need to ask a serious question about them:
Are wedding day disasters unavoidable or inevitable?
If you use the Internet to look for stories about wedding day disasters, it can start to feel as if the answer to that question is a resounding yes. After all, so many things creep up unexpectedly and there seems to be absolutely no way to prepare.
On the other hand, the stories that couples share about wedding day disasters can also start to share a lot of themes and similarities. That means that there are ways to plan for wedding day disasters…and avoid them!
In this article, we are going to look at some of the most frequent unpleasant surprises, and explore the simple steps you can take to avoid them. While it might seem that you are already overwhelmed with making plans, and the thought of further "steps" seem exhausting, realize that a lot of these tips and tactics involve very little time to tackle and will let you rest a lot easier in the days before that "big day".
No-Show Vendors - From the cake maker who thought the wedding was the next day or weekend to the band that just failed to arrive, vendor no-shows are always at the top of the list of wedding day disasters. How do you avoid this? There are a few steps to take.
The first is to demand that they arrive around one hour before they are actually required on site. This gives you that window of time to troubleshoot if they just fail to materialize.
What else does it do? It lets you book a window of time a day or two before to make a confirmation call about that early arrival.
A surefire way to prevent a vendor no show is to get it all into a contract. Not only do they "offer security in knowing they won’t back out before the wedding date" but will also incorporate blocks of text that explain the what the vendor's "backup plan is in the event of illness or some other unforeseen circumstance."
Finally, love your friends but never hire them to do anything for a wedding. Unless they are proven professional who puts everything into a formal contract, you are setting yourself up for a potential disaster.
Grill the photographer - One of the most common wedding day disasters relates to the photographer or videographer. While you need to use the tip above about a vendor "no show" solution with the photographer (such as contracting and using a professional), you also need to ask them about some further specifics.
Such as?
One thing you must, and maybe read that as MUST, do is to ask them about their camera equipment.
Do they have spares for everything from the body and lenses to the lighting?
Do they have an assistant to ensure no mechanical failures leave you without any photos or video of the day?
Go over the entire setting with them long before the wedding day, and review the plans for the actual event. Will they come to the house to photograph everyone getting ready?
Do they know the "must have" shots with relatives and friends who have travelled a long way?
Making a list of every possible disaster that could occur where photography is concerned and then addressing them with the photographer is the only way to ditch this particular disaster.
Always expect the weather to thwart you - Being proactive about wedding day weather disasters is essential to avoiding them. Too many couples book part of the day outdoors and then "hope for the best".
That's all well and fine until wind, rain, hail or even worse conditions cause a disaster.
How do you prepare for this?
Make a fail proof backup plan.
Does the venue have a space that can be converted in a pinch?
A large gazebo, a smaller hall, a decorative foyer…these can be good options if the forecast shows that your outdoor event is unlikely to "weather" the storm. Tents are great, but even they can be a no go if there is severe weather.
If you are booking in an area where this could occur, also consider the season and alter plans if you are booking in the midst of traditional hurricane, tornado, heat or rain seasons.
Hair, makeup or clothing disasters - Spilled drinks, tears, the stylist that doesn't show…these can all feel like wedding day disasters, but they too are easy to avoid. It just makes good sense to have a seamstress on hand in the hour before the wedding.
It won't cost much at all to simply pay a professional to stand in the sidelines until your ceremony is done and your photos are out of the way. This also goes for a stylist who can handle hair or makeup issues. Paying them for an hour or two of time between the ceremony and the beginning of the reception (when all of the photos are done) ensures everyone looks and feels their best.
Are there other potential disasters?
Absolutely - melting or ruined cakes, broken down cars, illness, the wrong flowers, family fights, toasts that turn into roasts or embarrassing moments, stumbling in overly high heels…these are all things that have the potential to occur.
Take some time long before the wedding to troubleshoot your approaches to handling them and you can easily avoid the worst of the worst wedding day disasters.
