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5 Nerve-Racking Wedding Emergencies And How To Handle Them
Who wouldn’t want to have a perfect wedding day? Soon-to-be married couples pour the best of their time, abilities, and cash into the success of their once in a lifetime celebration of love. They choose the best officiant and hire experienced organizers, caterers, florists, dressmakers, and photographers to ensure everything turns out the way they envisioned smoothly and flawlessly.
But let’s be honest, is there really a “perfect” wedding? Do couples, who spend the most of their time and resources, really achieve their ideal wedding celebration without running into bumps and hurdles in the process? I don’t think so.
Life is full of surprises, isn’t it? However, nobody likes it when not-so-pleasant surprises show up in the course of wedding planning, or worse, on your big day. A simple yet unresolved mistake can sabotage everything at the drop of the hat. Fortunately, most common wedding blunders can be remedied. You just have to think fast and handle them with grace and poise (even if they’re driving you nuts IRL).
Before you go into panic mode, stop, take a deep breath, and check out the following solutions for the most common wedding planning emergencies.
1. Last-minute change in venue
Your mind is set that you’re going to have a romantic seaside wedding. But there’s a problem – the wicked weather forecast has a different plan in mind.
How to handle: Having to change the venue at the last minute, whether it’s due to weather or some unexpected construction, is indeed a nerve-racking situation but you can still control the turn of events. Firstly, make sure you get a full refund then see if you can be reimbursed for the costs of relocating. Then, tell your wedding vendors about the change and try to ask if they know other comparable options. If the venue owners are good people, they’d be kind enough to suggest an alternative location.
2. Small room, big number of guests
Your goal is to invite 150 guests. The problem is the venue you love won’t be able to accommodate your number. Also, your family members are contributing to the guest list inflation by insisting on inviting their friends.
How to handle: Be honest. List down all the names of tentative guests and highlight your list based on the priorities. Divide the list into two groups: Guest List A (the VIPs to prioritize) and Guest List B (the other folks who may or may not be invited).
Now, work on trimming down Guest List B. Ask the following questions:
- Do you need to invite children?
- Do you need to invite the ones you haven’t met?
- Can you speak with your parents and siblings to reduce their guest list?
- Could you change them to evening guests?
If you’ve decided to fit everyone in the small room, you’ll have to rework your event space, like switching some 8-seater tables to 10-seaters rather than adding more. Print some spare invitations so you can invite some B-listers if you have space.
3. Blowing past your budget
Most couples fall into the deadly pit of overspending, hurting their bank accounts even before their actual marriage begins. They tend to buy things without planning, get carried away with the guest list, and splurge on the non-essentials. It’s easy to blow past your budget, but it’s hard to look at the bills.
How to handle: Fortunately, it’s possible to trim the costs while still throwing a splendid event. Reassess your wedding venue, food choices, floral arrangements, and glam team. If you still have months to prepare, then you still have time to find less expensive options.
If the contracts have been signed, you may consider ditching the frills, like welcome baskets, packages, favors, and other keepsakes. These are nice but most guests won’t even notice they’re not there. Also, work on slimming down the guest list.
4. Beauty emergencies right before the wedding
It’s one week prior to your wedding day and all is well except your face and hair. The pre-wedding stress took its toll on you and made you develop a big, red pimple on the most visible part of your face – the nose. Make it worse by the bad hair job that left you with bright golden blonde locks when you asked for subtle ash blonde.
How to handle: Minor blemishes like redness, small pimples, and tired eyes can be resolved with professional makeup. But if your zit is an impossible case, it’s time to call your trusted derm clinic for a quick cortisone injection. For unanticipated hair disasters, ask what the best guru in town can do to fix them. Wigs, hair extensions, and headpieces should be your last resort.
To avoid these last-minute beauty emergencies in the first place, make sure to schedule all your beauty appointments two weeks to one month prior to your wedding day.
5. Weight, what?
Did your wedding dress just shrunk or did you gain a few pounds? Either way, a wedding dress that doesn’t fit its bride is bad news, especially if you only have a week before your wedding.
How to handle: Well, apart from calling your tailor for quick alterations, you can shed a few inches with last-minute body toning. Spend an hour a day working out to meet your ideal shape. Focus on cardio exercises and watch your diet. It’s not just about eating less, but about eating smart. Cut back on processed foods, fill up with fresh whole foods, and chow down slowly for a slimmer figure on your big day.
Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is one of the enthusiastic writers for Jennifer Regan, a shop in Sydney that caters to women who are looking for the perfect bridal dress to wear as they walk down the aisle. Her articles mainly focus on fashion and beauty, which help soon-to-be-brides prepare for their wedding day.
