We’ve all heard stories of last-minute wedding disasters, but have you ever considered what it would take to avoid them? Over our years of experience in wedding planning, we’ve gathered enough stories from industry colleagues and weddings of our own to write a book of lessons and reminders for any couple planning their big day. If you’re on the fence about whether or not you’d like to hire a team to plan your wedding, these cautionary tales might just remind you why professionals exist to make your wedding day as seamless as possible.
Wedding 1: A DJ Disaster
In this tale, Couple 1 was willing to consider a list of recommended vendors, but decided to save some cash by hiring a friend of a friend who used to DJ in college to handle their music. Despite a few choppy transitions and one or two delayed MC cues, the DJ was handling most things pretty well. After dinner and speeches from loved ones, Couple 1’s guests were ready to take over the dance floor with about 1.5 hours left to celebrate, when all of a sudden the DJ’s music stopped. Guests were left in silence for 5…10…20 minutes before it was determined that the DJ’s speaker completely blew out, and he didn’t have the experience to find a solution to provide music for the remainder of the night.
Our team stepped in and handled a plan to resolve things: play music for Couple 1 and their guests on a portable bluetooth speaker we had in case of emergencies. While it wasn’t the loudest reception Couple 1 expected, their guests still had fun with some dancing and a beautiful sparkler exit at the end of the night!
The Lesson: Always hire a vetted professional – they come with the experience and reliable back-up equipment! And if you’re working with a team of planners, take their recommended list of vendors to heart. Wedding planners will only recommend a vendor if they’ve successfully worked with them in the past, to ensure the best experience for our couples.
Wedding 2: The Anonymous Dinner Plates
This recount of a snafu comes from Couple 2, who thought they had everything prepared on their own. After sending their invitations, Couple 2 began receiving RSVPs. What Couple 2 failed to remember in creating their invitations, was requesting the details of their guests’ preferred meals. When it came to preparing the seating arrangements, Couple 2 was able to assign tables and let the catering team know how many of each meal would be served at each table. However, without assigned seats or meal indicators, the catering staff took a longer time than normal to pass out dinners in order to ask each person which meal they had ordered. If a guest mistakenly recounted a different meal, their table also had to play musical chairs to determine who was eating what!
The Lesson: Always request that guests specify who prefers which meal, so you can use place cards or meal indicators at each table. This helps your catering team serve a seamless dinner, and keeps your guests happy and full before they hit the dance floor!
Wedding 3: Double Check That Checklist
At this wedding, Couple 3 prepared their party for the perfect morning-of… or so they thought. A groomsman for Couple 3 showed up to get ready thinking he came with everything in hand. But without a last-minute check of the necessary items, this groomsman only realized that he was missing his cufflinks and bowtie when it was time to begin the formal wedding party pictures. While our photographer handled the photos that didn’t require this groomsman to be dressed just yet, one of our DCE team members made an emergency run to a nearby tuxedo shop to replace the missing items. Having at least 3 team members onsite at the venue allowed for one person to leave setup, to quickly and quietly resolve problems like this before our couples notice or stress out.
The Lesson: It’s never too much to remind your wedding party to double check their must-haves before traveling. More importantly, whether you assign a dedicated friend or hire a team of wedding professionals, ALWAYS be prepared to have someone there the day of to resolve any emergencies.
Conclusion
These wedding day mishaps serve as important reminders of why professional wedding planning services are invaluable. At Dantus & Co. Events, we’ve seen it all and are prepared for anything. Our experienced team offers:
- Carefully vetted vendor recommendations to ensure quality and reliability
- Meticulous attention to detail in planning and execution
- On-site management with multiple team members to handle any unexpected issues
- Emergency preparedness to swiftly resolve problems without stressing the couple
Don’t let preventable disasters overshadow your special day. Let Dantus & Co. Events bring our expertise and peace of mind to your wedding planning process.
Ready to ensure your big day goes off without a hitch? Contact Dantus & Co. Events today to discuss how we can create a flawless, unforgettable wedding experience for you and your guests. Your perfect day awaits – let’s start planning!
