Story By Caroline Shively Sucher
Perfection. That’s the goal for most brides-to-be. A wedding day filled with sunny skies, flawless decorations, perfect timing, and a new husband who doesn’t drop chocolate cake down that flawless white dress. But sometimes… that’s not what you get.
“Expect something to go wrong,” Terry Kaye, owner of Terry Kaye Events, advised. “In my 24-years of planning, I have seen it all. Just because something goes wrong it should not ruin your couple’s day.”
We thought of the worst wedding calamities (so you don’t have to) and asked Kaye plus Kate Wertsch, manager of K&B Bridals in Bel Air, for their best pro tips. Here’s their advice on how to dodge a disaster.
Disaster
It’s pouring rain on your outdoor wedding
“Weather is one thing I cannot control on your wedding day. What I can control is planning ahead and coming up with a solid inclement weather plan. No one wants rain on their wedding day, but it is always a conversation I have with my clients. Delicate conversations are best handled early in the planning process so that all parties make hard decisions without the stress of the event taking place.” — Terry
Disaster
Your dress fit when you bought it a year ago but now you can’t zip it up
“Having your last fitting with your seamstress just a few weeks prior to the wedding is the best way to make sure you’re happy with your dress on the wedding day. You want to start the process two to three months before the wedding. You don’t want to be surprised when you try your gown on right before your wedding after altering your dress months ago!”
— Kate
Disaster
Your vendors need four hours to set up, but the venue only allows two
“Many venues have set-up and tear down restrictions. This is something you need to discuss prior to signing your venue contract. Set-up restrictions affect the budget and can challenge your vendor’s capabilities."
“To ensure your set-up and tear down goes as smoothly as possible, you will need to share these restrictions with all vendors prior to signing any contracts. Most vendors require a minimum of two to four hours for set-up… If the time is limited, vendors will need to double or triple their staff, which will up your budget. Always ask if you can add on set-up and tear down hours directly through the venue. Many charge an hourly rate which is more cost effective than your vendors adding on staffing fees.”
— Terry
Disaster
The guests are at the door and your decorator is still tying bows on the pews
“You should always be set and ready for the earliest guests to arrive approximately 45 minutes prior to your ceremony start time. Setting “completion” time with all vendors ensures you have a buffer in case something does not go to plan.”
— Terry
Disaster
Your bridesmaid ripped her dress right before the ceremony
“Throw a portable steamer, some safety pins, spare travel toiletries like deodorant and oil-absorbing wipes, and a small sewing kit into a tote bag and keep it handy!”
— Kate
Disaster
Your cousin’s friend’s sister with no experience said she could plan your wedding but then flaked
“Your planner should have years of ‘real wedding’ experience under their belt so that they can handle any crisis… Create a strong and cohesive vendor team that can tackle any hiccups.”
— Terry
Disaster
Your new husband tried feeding you cake at the reception but instead dumped it down your dress
“Use spot cleaner from the wrong side or back side of the fabric and have a paper towel on the stain to easily get rid of stains from the front of your dress. Try and do it as soon as possible before the stain sets in. Dry cleaning will remove most stains in the process. We offer cleaning and preservation for brides at K&B Bridals.”
— Kate
Disaster
Something went wrong at the wedding and you’re about to freak
“There will be small problems that pop up on your wedding day whether you know about them or not. The important thing is to stay in the moment and don’t let these things take away from the joy of your wedding.”
— Kate