How To: Avoid Wedding Day Disasters

PLANNING

10 May

Your wedding day should be a perfect day. But for some brides, forgetting one seemingly minor detail can quickly result in a wedding disaster. Here’s how to avoid wedding day woes:

1. Make a checklist

Failing to plan is planning to fail. A dream wedding doesn’t happen by itself. Behind each beautiful wedding, there is someone who has planned everything to the last detail. So make a checklist and start planning. If you are a good organiser, by all means, take the lead, but don’t try to do everything yourself. Even if you feel a little overwhelmed, enlist the help of family and friends or a coordinator to take care of all the small details.

2. Reservations and booking

Once you have decided on the date, make all bookings and reservations as early as possible. Do not wait till the last moment, when the venue or band of your choice may not be available. You may end up booking something that you don’t really like, at a much higher price.

3. Look after yourself

If you want to look your best on your wedding day, the time to start is now. Eat healthy and hit the gym to keep yourself fit. This will be good motivation to keep a healthy routine after the wedding too.

4. Leave it to a professional

Your cousin may be handy with flowers and your best friend is a whiz at creating the perfect smoky eye and have they offered to help! Step away right now. Although it may be difficult to turn them down, for something as important as your wedding, hire a professional.

5. Wear your wedding shoes

Break in your new shoes by wearing them around the house a few times a week. It’ll be hard to enjoy dancing at the reception if your feet are covered in blisters.

6. Keep checking

Remember to keep in touch with all the important people – the manager of the venue, the florist, the cake designer, the DJ, the caterers – and make sure things are happening on schedule. That way you will avoid any last-minute surprises. Confirm everything twice! Get a contact number for the person that you will be dealing with on the day.

7. Have a back-up plan

What if you have planned an outdoor wedding and it rains on your wedding day? Your plan B needs to be in place before the wedding day to avoid a nightmare.

8. Put trusted friends or relatives in charge

Remember that you are the bride and you shouldn’t let the little things get you down. Put trusted and capable friends or relatives in charge of the arrangements. Especially to care for the wedding gifts and any envelopes that may have cash in them.

9. Have a ‘survival kit’ ready

Keep a bag handy with all the things you may need during the wedding and the reception. Have a reliable bridesmaid hold it. A lipstick, compact, deodorant, perfume, comb, extra hair pins, clear eyes solution if you are a crier, safety pins, tissues are just some of the things you may want to have at arm's reach on the big day.