You’ve spent months (and probably your whole budget!) planning your dream wedding, so the last thing you want is for anything to go wrong on the day.

Things like spills on the dress, food coming out cold, speeches going awry; you know what we mean.

No matter how much planning you’ve done, accidents do happen, and you can’t control everything. But, with a little pre-planning in damage-limitation, you can avoid any potential pitfalls.

Cake Catastrophe

Crushed cupcakes, smashed sugar decorations or beautiful tiers of cake slowly collapsing on top of each other… Wedding cakes are delicate things, so when your friends or family generously offer to deliver or present the cake, DON’T take them up on it. Transporting these sugary masterpieces may look easy, but it really isn’t, so leave it to the professionals and have your cake maker deliver and arrange your cake.

Alcohol overindulgence

If there are any key players who have a tendency to overindulge, or might have taken too much Dutch Courage to get through their speech, then have someone in place to steer them away from the alcohol. Having fun is one thing, but winding up with a blubbering bridesmaid, or a rambling, slurred speech, won’t be part of your ideal wedding day.

MIL goes off-script

Does your Mother-in-Law, or another relative, have a tendency to over-share? You may wish to head off potential disaster by having a bridesmaid or good friend on the lookout, and ready to put a cork in potentially embarrassing stories. You can help them feel like a VIP by making sure they’re introduced to new people, and the conversation is kept to safe subjects.

Dress Disaster

You’ve taken care of it for weeks, made sure it’s in pristine condition for the big day, and now someone’s smudged their nail varnish on it, or a button’s come loose. Or (even worse!) one of the page boys had a foot on your train and it tore as you attempted to move… arghh! Keep a calm, sensible friend or relative on standby, armed with a steady hand and safety pins, even a needle and thread, for such sartorial hiccups.

Floral Fiasco

The buttonholes are AWOL, the centrepieces are baby pink instead of hot pink and the bouquets are starting to droop. Flowers are such an important part of the wedding décor, so you really don’t want any floral disappointments on your big day. Make sure you and your florist are on the same page from day one and request samples and examples, so you know what you’re paying for. Have some of the flowers delivered the day before if you can, keeping them in a shady place or even in the fridge overnight. That way, you know that your floral masterpieces are just as they should be on the day.

Someone else looks like a bride

Ooooh this is a tough one! Of course, you want your friend, sister-in-law, etc, to look beautiful on your big day, but you don’t want her wearing something that steals your limelight – it’s YOUR day after all! If you get wind of what she’s planning to wear before the wedding, and it wouldn’t look out of place in a bridal showroom, then nip it in the bud early. Have a quiet word and explain how you’d love her to really stand out in a gorgeous pop of colour. Or set the rules for everyone early, with a clear dress code or colour scheme for your guests, subtly putting a blanket ban on anyone wearing ivory.

Cash Bar Chaos

Having a paid bar is a very generous thought, whether funded for by you, or a generous family member. However, it’s wise to set a limit, and ensure that that is understood. Placing a notice limiting people to a certain number of drinks each, or having a sign ready to tell people that they now have to pay for their own drinks, will help avoid any difficulties. If everyone’s enjoyed the welcome drinks, wine on the tables and champagne toasts, they probably won’t notice anyway.

First Dance Failure

You and your dearly beloved gently swaying on the dancefloor has left the gathered onlookers a little bored and they’re starting to move away. What can you do? Make sure your DJ or musicians are ready to belt out some upbeat tunes if your first dance is failing to hit the right notes. Party anthems rarely fail to fill a dancefloor, so keep the volume (and the beat) up and you two can still dance together, just with a little more energy.

Speech Shambles

If the speeches are heading downhill fast, it might be time to step in and save the day. Try to get a pre-edit of the best man’s speech in advance, but if he’s keeping it locked down, prime one of the other groomsmen to step in if things start getting a little risqué or he starts slurring. If things really start going badly, nudge your new spouse and get them to step up with a swift “moving on….”. Or, just grab the mic yourself.

Catering Calamity

The soup’s coming out cold, the chicken’s not cooked properly and Table One are on desserts while Table Ten haven’t even had starters yet. Aargh! Make sure you have someone in place to approach the caterers if things are starting to move too slowly. It might also be an idea to invest in some dinner entertainment, like a magician, who can keep the crowds occupied while they wait.

Worried about everything not going to plan or running smoothly on your big day?
A wedding coordinator can make sure it does, working with you and your suppliers before, during and after to give you that much-needed peace of mind. Take a look at our services or contact us  for an informal chat.