The memory of your wedding
day should have only good
feelings associated with it.
Unfortunately for some brides,
they forgot one detail and
wedding disaster ensued. Here’s
why you need to be prepared,
and our tips on how to avoid
wedding day disasters:
Decide your budget: Are you paying for the wedding
yourself? Or are your parents or in-laws pitching in? The first
step to having the perfect wedding is to figure out how much
you want to spend. Good financial planning can actually bring
down your costs substantially and still allow you to have the
wedding you’ve always dreamed of.
Make a checklist: Failing to plan is planning to fail.
A fairytale wedding just 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 organizer, by all means do
everything yourself. But if you are not confident of your
organizing skills, then enlist the help of family and friends.
Reservations and booking: Once you have decided
on the date, make all bookings and reservations at early as
possible. Do not wait till the last moment, as then the venue
or band of your choice may not be available, and you may
end up booking something that you don’t really like, at a
much higher price.
Look after yourself: If you want to look your best
on your wedding day, the time to start grooming yourself
is now. Eat healthy for that fresh glow and hit the gym to
keep yourself fit. All beauty and exercise regimens take
some time to show effect, so the sooner you start the
better.
Leave it to a professional: Your aunt is an
amateur decorator, and cousin Heather is a self styled
hairstylist – and both have volunteered their services for
the wedding. Although it may be difficult to turn them
down, for something as important as your wedding, hire a
professional.
The wedding dress and accessories: Try on
your wedding dress a few days before the actual day
to make sure it still fits properly. Break into your new
shoes by wearing them at home – trust me, you will not
be able to enjoy the special day if your feet are pinched
and blistered, thanks to your new shoes. Decide on your
hairstyle and accessories, and if possible, try out the
complete look once before the big day, to see how it all
goes together.
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.
Have a backup plan: What
if you have planned an outdoor
wedding and it rains on your
wedding day? What if a lot of extra
guests show up? Remember that
Murphy’s law applies to weddings
too, so always have a backup plan.
Put trusted friends or
relatives in charge: Remember
that you are the bride and it’s the
most important day of your life. So
relax and enjoy the day.
Put trusted
and capable friends or relatives in
charge of the arrangements – of
course, share all details with them
beforehand. So if the DJ is not on time
or Uncle Charlie is acting difficult,
someone is there to handle the
situation and you do not have to run
around trying to fix things.
Have a ‘survival kit’ ready:
Keep a bag handy with all the things
you may need during the wedding
and the reception. Aside from the
usual lipstick, compact and perfume,
also keep some essential items like
a comb, extra hair pins, white chalk
(to cover any stains on your bridal
dress), safety pins, tissues, any
essential medication, and any other
item you may like to keep handy.
Relax and enjoy the day: It’s
your special day so no matter what
happens, keep your sense of humor
at hand and don’t turn into a bridezilla
every time a small glitch happens.
Remember the actual reason you
are there – it is to celebrate your
union with that special person, in the
presence of those you love. So go
ahead and have fun – and if something
does go wrong, just laugh it off and
focus on all the things that went right.
