When planning a wedding things can already be stressful and it soon becomes clear problems may arise on the Big Day. Actually that isn’t entirely accurate. There is almost a 100% certainty that SOMETHING will go wrong on the Big Day. Damage to wedding clothing, bad weather, drunk guests, and similar issues happen to many wedding parties. Fortunately, for every problem there IS a solution and the Equalli Wedding Center is here to help!
Damage to the Attire
Every bride has a special connection to their wedding dress and the worst fear is something ruining its beauty. Whether there is a piece of loose fabric, a tear in the dress, grandma spilled her wine on the dress – fear not, we have the answers for a quick solution.
Treat stains on the spot if you can, especially if it happens before photos are taken. For gowns with layers, separate them and put a clean, white cloth between the layers in order to keep the stain from seeping through. For surface stains you want to treat while still at your wedding follow a few simple tips:
- Blot, Don’t Rub. This is the number one rule no matter what the stain. Rubbing will help to set the stain, making it more difficult to remove later.
- Don’t Use Bleach. Bleach r stain pens may be great in the laundry room, but harsh chemicals can damage the delicate fabric of a wedding dress. Instead, try using a paste of lemon juice and salt then after careful observation of the dress, rinse the area immediately.
- Club Soda isn’t Always the Answer. Club soda has been to Go To option for brides dealing with last minute stains for generations. This is partly because the beverage can get the job done – but not always in the way you think. Club soda doesn’t help with greasy or oily stains – so forget it if you got makeup on your dress (try blotting with makeup remover if you do). If club soda does work, it can leave faint rings in the fabric.
- Spilled Drinks. Plenty of brides need an extra coffee, tea or other beverage in the run up to their wedding. It’s best to swear off all drinks (other than water sipped through a straw if possible) once you’re in your dress. If a spill should happen, though, quickly rinse the area with a solution of 3 parts water, 1 part dish soap.
No matter what the stain, they key is to act quickly but without starting to panic. Take a list of potential stain makers and their solutions with you if you are getting ready away from home. That way, if something does happen, you are well prepared.
Mother Nature
Rain suddenly in the forecast? Keep umbrellas on deck and with the proper planning, you could color coordinate umbrellas to the theme and/or colors of the wedding. Umbrellas can also serve as a unique and spunky prop for wedding photographs. Prepare plenty of tents. When having an outdoor wedding, tents are crucial even if you plan a designated tent shelter spot.
If a cold front is moving in, coordinate heaters (if it’s an outdoor wedding or reception) or designate a place for coats. High winds can also play a role in overall temperature and some couples have even needed to shorten the outdoor ceremony.
There isn’t anything you can do to prevent bad weather, so in this case, being prepared and having a plan is the best you can do. If you begin planning a fully outdoor wedding day event, go the extra mile to have a backup venue should Mother Nature have different plans for the day.
But if your wedding day comes with grey skies and the threat of inclement weather, remember the old wedding superstition that getting married on a rainy day means your marriage will be strong. The logic goes that since water on a knot makes it tighter, rain on the day you tie the know will make your wedding stronger as well.
Problems With Transportation
Transportation on your wedding day is about more than simply getting you to the wedding on time. It’s the coordination of getting dozens of people in the right place at the right time.
Almost anything can throw a wrench into the works here, from running out of gas or getting stuck in traffic to a flat tire or serious engine issues. The best course of action here is to ensure ahead of time that everyone has access to each other and rideshare apps to coordinate last minute rides.
Someone Drank Too Much
Weddings tend to be the one place people let loose and have a little fun and sometimes, a little too much fun.
The key is to have a plan in place and for people to be ready to take action right away. Invite your guest to come with you for a breath of fresh air or even take them to the restroom. Once you have separated them from the group, confront them (to the level you are comfortable) and remind them to keep their calm as this is your special day.
Other options including having the bar or wait staff cut off over-drinkers. You can also recruit members of your wedding party of guests who may be able to help with the situation. Over drinking is a common occurrence at celebrations, and it’s likely you’ll receive a sheepish apology in the days or weeks following the event.
Kids Going Crazy
Having kids at a wedding can be a touchy topic. Some couples draw a line and declare their wedding a ‘Kid Free Zone’ while other allow a few kids to come and still others take a ‘the more the merrier’ approach.
For anyone who welcomes children to their wedding, it’s important to embrace the fact that where there’s children, there will be noise and disruption.
It is impossible for kids to stay calm and collected when they are in a large crowd of people, especially for a long day. But there are solutions to keeping them under control.
Designated kids tables will serve as a tremendous benefit in ensuring that your wedding day does not go up in flames. Be sure to serve kid-friendly meals as well as providing kid-friendly activities so that the children are occupied and less likely to cause a disturbance. Drawing, dancing and even playing outdoor tag with supervision will keep the kids entertained.
Planning ahead is the key to handling these – and any other – challenges to your wedding day. While nothing is perfect and it’s impossible to avoid all problems, being prepared will keep you feeling in control and ready for anything. Things will not always go as planned and that is okay, stay calm and be sure to have solutions handy.
