How to Deal With a Wedding Day Disaster
I know, that’s a super scary title. Nobody likes to think about something going wrong on the happiest day of their life, but as a tried and true wedding professional, let me put at you at ease: I’ve never come across a SINGLE situation that I wasn’t able to handle. From busted zippers to broken arms, I’ve seen it all with the Ivory & Beau team.
You know how we’re able to handle these disasters with ease? I mean, yeah, we’re freakin’ awesome, but it’s not just that. The Ivory & Beau team preaches one thing above all: come ready to handle the unexpected. If it can go wrong, you need to be ready for it. That’s exactly why we’re preparing this disaster-readiness guide for all those DIY couples who haven’t had as much practice as we have!
Broken Zipper on Your Wedding Dress? No Problem!
Sewing kits aren’t just for your junk drawer, y’all. Grab some thread that matches your dress (your seamstress or tailor may have some extra handy), a needle, and some safety pins. Tuck them into a box and keep them in your 911 emergency bag. We’ve personally had to help sew brides into dresses, and while it’s never ideal, we can say that it definitely helps give the gown a truly form-fitting look! (PS: have some scissors on hand, too, not only to snip the thread, but to help get you out of the dress at the end of the night.)
Something Borrowed, Something Blue. Something Old, Something…. Stained?
Hey, spillage happens. It’s okay to cry over wasted wine, but don’t stress about it if it just so happens to have all sopped up into the train of your gown or on the sleeve of a rented tux. Take a deep breath and ask bar service for some soda water. Dip a napkin in the soda water and dab the stain-- NEVER rub-- to remove most of the color from the area. If you plan on preserving your gown, send your dress off to the dry-cleaner ASAP.
My [insert vendor here] was a NO SHOW.
The Ivory & Beau team only works with Savannah’s most trusted vendors, but if you took a leap and chose to work with someone who turned out to be not so reliable, trust us: it’s gonna be okay. The key when ANYTHING goes wrong at your wedding is to stay calm and put your rose colored glasses on. Your guests will probably love your order-in Dominos or Chick-fil-A platter if your caterer can’t make it. No flowers? No problem. Send someone near and dear to the nearest grocery store and have them make your own custom bouquet. If all else fails, call a local planner. We know everything and everybody and can make magic happen on the fly!
Remember: at the end of the day, as long as you got to meet the love of your life at the end of the aisle, your wedding was a massive success.
Rain on Your Wedding Day? It’s Okay!
While we always recommend that couples consider having a backup plan in case of rain, we understand that it’s not always in your budget. Even if you can’t score yourself a big ol’ tent, find some umbrellas for your photographer, officiant, close friends/family, the bridal party, and of course, yourselves, and do it Notebook style. Proclaim your love for each other in the pouring rain. It’ll be a tale that will have people clutching their hearts for YEARS to come… and the pictures will be freakin’ phenomenal.
Save the Drama for Your Llama
Seriously, if you expect there to be drama on your wedding day, let your coordinator or a trusted member of your bridal party know what your plan is. If you want them booted from the party, it’s your day: you don’t have to feel bad for protecting your enjoyment and your investment! Try to nip it in the bud, though, and have a friendly, open pre-wedding convo with any invitees you may feel need it. A little communication goes a long way.
At the end of the day, the moral of the story is to visualize your big day. Take into account every working element and at least think about what you would do if one of them just so happened not to work out. We can guarantee that while it all may be important to you, nothing would be absolutely earth shattering if it didn’t work out. There’s always a solution; it’s just a matter of facing a problem head on with a smile on your face!
Got a disaster scenario we didn’t mention? Tell us about it in the comments or on our Instagram and Facebook pages. We’ll get back to you with our best tips for crisis management!
{Photo Credits} Stephanie & Eric via Izzy Hudgins // Clarissa & Max via Happy Bloom // Christina & Greg via Jeff + Mollie