In a perfect world, every wedding would go off without a hitch, with every detail falling right into place. Yet ask any wedding professional (or married couple!), and they’ll tell you that simply isn’t the case. Things have a way of going awry at any event, but weddings come with the added pressure of the couple’s emotional investment.
The good news is that most of the time, the things that go “wrong” are not noticeable to guests and don’t stand in the way of your goal of getting married. You’ll still walk away as newlyweds, even if wrong-colored linens are delivered or the best man gets delayed in traffic. And that’s what really matters, right?
Of course, the inevitability of something unplanned happening shouldn’t stop you from addressing the matter—not just in the moment, but with a proactive plan.
If you worry about all the possible incidents that could occur at your wedding, keep reading for expert advice on how to avoid and handle these situations.
Hire a Trusted Professional
First things first, you need to feel confident in your support system. With a reliable team of vendors, you will be far more equipped to deal with issues that arise on the wedding day. Better yet, a great wedding planner could fix the problem before you even realize there was trouble in the first place.
“Something going wrong is inevitable and part of what makes an event an event,” Jamie Chang of Mango Muse Events assures us. “This is why you hire a wedding planner to foresee potential problems and fix them ahead of time and adjust on the fly without having to worry about it. Knowing this eases the pressure of perfection and allows you to better go with the flow and still enjoy your wedding day despite any problems.”
Build your day-of team with qualified professionals so you know they have experience with problem-solving and risk management. That way, you can trust they’ll leverage their years of knowledge to keep your wedding day running smoothly.
Don’t Forget To Insure Your Big Day
Beyond a team of trusted professionals, special event insurance is another vital layer to shield your wedding from unexpected threats. These threats could be anything from a no-show vendor to a surprise thunderstorm that throws a wrench in your well-laid plans.
“As you begin the planning process of creating your wedding day, it is imperative to protect your investment,” states Tara Melvin of Perfect Planning Events. “Consider purchasing your wedding insurance when you begin the planning process but no later than four to six months before your wedding. Be sure to read the policies in detail and that you are covered for event cancellation and liability.”
Your wedding involves a significant investment of time and money, so it’s wise to ensure you’ve covered all your bases should anything go wrong!
Get Ahead of the Curve
Next up is a good, old-fashioned backup plan. You know you’re covered by insurance, and you’ve hired an incredible team of vendors. Now, it’s time to work with your wedding team to prepare for undesirable scenarios that may arise.
“Have a contingency plan ready for such situations and vendors so you can quickly implement it,” suggests Jacqueline Vizcaino of Tinted Events. “This could be anything from having an extra pair of shoes on hand in case your heels break to having the ceremony songs on a playlist in case the DJ gets caught in bumper-to-bumper traffic… [It could also mean] having disruptive family members escorted to another area to cool their heels.”
Don’t be afraid to bring others into the loop. “If needed, communicate this plan to the wedding party or trusted loved ones who can help execute it,” Vizcaino adds.
It never hurts to be proactive. After all, you’d much rather have a backup plan you don’t need than scramble around at the last minute because you weren’t prepared!
Lay the Cards on the Table
Speaking of contingency plans, don’t forget to have the difficult conversations with your partner and family members if you have tricky family dynamics. While you can expect some awkwardness, opening the dialogue early in the planning process prevents issues from heating up on the big day itself.
“Have meetings before the wedding when family dynamics are in play,” encourages Meredith Ryncarz of Meredith Ryncarz Photography. “Some families will have issues that range from divorce [to] separation [to] relatives that don’t get along. If you know this could be an issue, speak with each family member to ensure they know the expectations for your wedding and the consequences of not following these set standards.”
It’s also a good idea to share your concerns with your wedding planner or venue coordinator so they know to keep an eye out for potential drama. The more people on the lookout, the better!
Don’t Be Afraid To Speak Up
If an issue does arise on your wedding day, know that you have every right to bring it up with your team. This is especially true if you believe one or more of your vendors are at fault (or could have prevented it).
As Nora Sheils of Rock Paper Coin and Bridal Bliss notes, “While some things like wind or acts of God are not necessarily your vendor’s fault, letting them know you were disappointed with what went wrong and what you would have hoped would have happened will help them better their business.”
With that said, nothing should get in the way of you enjoying your wedding day! So if something happens that doesn’t interfere with your ability to celebrate, let it go for the day and bring it up after the fact.
“It’s always better to enjoy the moment and then voice your concerns the day or two after the big day,” promises Jen Avey of Destination Weddings Travel Group. “Stay calm and listen to the professionals guiding you through the decision-making process.”
And remember that there are worse things than a rainy day or a family disagreement. You and your partner will still say, “I do,” so there’s no need to add extra tension to the day.
“It’s important to remember you only have so much control,” reminds Katie Mast of Rock Paper Coin. “Accidents happen, and emotions arise, but how you handle these moments is what you, your wedding party, and your guests will remember for many years.”
You only get one chance to tie the knot with your partner, so naturally, you want it to be a picture-perfect day. But, to flip that idea on its head, you only get one chance—so why spend the day worrying about things beyond your control? Plan wisely, trust your vendors, and most importantly, enjoy it!
