It is often the best laid plans that go awry and although we always hope your wedding day isn't one of those days, it is not often that the day goes off without a hitch. In July, I was interviewed on CBC's Alberta at Noon on the topic of wedding disasters and I had a hard time thinking of a wedding that didn't have a minor hiccup or two. The thing is, when you have a wedding coordinator, such as myself, things may not be going smoothly behind the scenes but it is handled so that there is no need to cause panic to the bride or groom.

My first tip to all the brides-to-be out there is get yourself a wedding coordinator that will be there to manage the day-of. Wedding disasters can be avoided by using a wedding coordinator not only because they have done hundreds of these events but also because they often have a relationship with vendors who deliver their services on time and as requested. A vendor has a lot more to lose if they tarnish a relationship with a wedding coordinator who may have 50 weddings this year as opposed to the couple who has one (hopefully just the one) wedding in their lifetime.

Without a wedding coordinator there are usually only two people that know the details of what is supposed to happen; if the flowers are the wrong colour or the photographer is running behind, don't make a scene and nobody will know. Guests are generally oblivious to the small stuff and will have a lovely time even if the ceremony starts fifteen minutes late, or the place settings were ivory instead of white.

What about the BIG disasters? Be as prepared as possible.

Weather is the one that is beyond the control of anybody, be prepared for rain and temperature changes throughout the day. You can see my post about Rain on Your Wedding Day.

Drinking and driving, if this is a concern, provide transportation to and from your venue. Your MC can also offer a friendly reminder to guests of services available whether it is a taxi, train, bus or Uber. Do your best to make sure this information is laid out at the beginning of the night and easily accessible to guests at the end of the night.

Inappropriate behavior, I wish that I was referring solely to the possible combination of hungry, tired or over sugared children that might be at your wedding, unfortunately, there are few groups of families and friends without relationships that have the possibility of public drama. When it comes to kids, if there are going to be several, group them together and place somebody in charge. Have an activity for them to do; if the kids aren't bored they have little to complain about. As for adults behaving badly, either don't invite troublemakers or be pro-active and have a chat with them beforehand.

When vendors don't show up, you need to think on your feet. You can go without a chair cover, flowers can be picked up at most grocery stores, and caterers can be replaced by fast food. Sometimes the best wedding memories come from the things that weren't perfect.