The Three Smartest Ways to Prepare for a Wedding-Related Emergency
Wedding-related anxiety comes in many forms, and many couples struggle with thinking about all the things that can go wrong. What if weather ruins your outdoor setting? What if a guest slips and falls on the dance floor? What if your DJ doesn't show up? You can drive yourself crazy thinking through all of the what-if scenarios of your wedding day. Instead of going down that rabbit hole, lean into the expertise of the people you've hired to put together an incredible event, let go of the little stuff, and know who's your go-to when a real emergency hits. All these tactics work together not only to minimize your anxiety, but also to help you navigate what to do when a real wedding-planning emergency strikes.
Related: Very Common Wedding-Day Emergencies You Should Prepare For
Lean into your vendors and their expertise.
Wedding planner Rebecca Marín Shepherd of the Wildflowers says, "There's always a chance of something going against your wedding-day plans that's out of your control. Perhaps there is a downpour that wasn't expected to hit until the next morning, but it suddenly begins sprinkling during your outdoor cocktail hour. If you have a team of professional wedding vendors, the only thing you can do is lean into them, their expertise, and their preparedness. As a planner, I would work with my team, the venue team, the catering team, the waitstaff, and bartenders, to welcome guests to the reception earlier than usual or in a prepared indoor area and continue the flow of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres while adjusting any dinner reception issues if they have arisen."
If you don't have a wedding planner, you should at the very least have a friend or family member who can act as your lead troubleshooter. This person can be the contact for vendors and your venue in case anything doesn't go according to plan. Shuttles haven't shown up yet? This person should have all the contact details to get to the bottom of what's going on, and find a solution that'll work in a pinch.
Let go of the things you can't control.
When it comes to the details, Marín Shepherd says, "As a bride or groom, remember to try to let go of things that are out of your control. This might be the only day that you're surrounded by all of your loved ones at the same time. Enjoy every moment, even the hitches." After all, some of the funniest stories you'll tell later are based on things that don't go exactly as planned.
Know who to go to when a real emergency strikes.
It's easy to get sucked into thinking of the ordinary hiccups of a wedding day as mini-emergencies, but an actual emergency is a whole different story. If something happens to one of your guests or there's any kind of accident at your wedding, it's much more helpful to have one person take over crisis management than have a whole bunch of well-meaning friends and family in the mix. In most cases, your wedding planner, venue manager, or day-of coordinator is the person who takes on this role if a worst-case scenario hits. They can quickly and effectively communicate with emergency personnel if needed, and they can communicate with all vendors and guests about what needs to happen next. Emotions run high on any wedding day, and knowing you have professionals who can act quickly and pragmatically can literally be a life saver.