Worse Case Scenario. It’s the last thing you want to think about on your wedding day, right? Of course not! So, instead of worrying about this on your wedding day, set a game plan in advance to help minimize potential wedding day crises. For your use, I have listed below 5 steps you can take to minimize potential wedding day crises. I can’t promise you that nothing will occur, but you will feel so much better if you can minimize these crises in advance. ** For more instructions regarding wedding planning crises, check out my wedding planning guidebook titled, “Saving the Day: Your Wedding Planning Crisis Management Guidebook.”

1. Be Proactive. Here are some tips to help you be proactive with your crisis management plan —

• Avoid heavy traffic and road closures. Check your local convention and visitors bureau to be sure there are no festivals, parades, marches or races taking place on your wedding day. These types of events tend to cause road closures, so you want to communicate this detail to your wedding party, vendors and guests beforehand via your web site and/or word of mouth.
• Know your wedding vendors’ game plan in writing. Make sure that your vendor contracts include a cancellation clause, a Force Majeure clause, and a clause stating the vendor’s plan of action if they are no longer available for your wedding.
• Address dietary restrictions in advance. Consider using your RSVP card to ask your wedding guests about their dietary restrictions. Once you collect this information from your guests, share it with your caterer in advance.
• Create an emergency kit. Pack an emergency kit for your wedding day, and make sure it includes items like stain remover, scissors, tape, safety pins, antihistamines, over-the-counter allergy medication, band-aids, eye drops, nausea medication, “lady supplies.”

2. Have a “Game Plan” in Place. Are you planning to have an outdoor wedding? Know and share (in advance) your plan B for a second location in case of inclement weather. Do you expect to receive a lot of cash and gift cards on-site? Assign a trusted family member to collect and hold onto the money throughout the night. Will you have some family heirlooms (such as jewelry or a vintage cake topper) on display at your wedding? Again, assign a trusted family member to collect and hold onto these items when you are finished with them at the wedding.

3. Get Some Wedding Insurance. Weddings have a lot of players involved — Family, wedding party, hired vendors, wedding guests . . . As a result, the craziest things occur. You may not be able to prevent these crazy occurrences from happening, but you will not go to the poor house trying to rectify a situation if you have wedding planning or event insurance. The $1 to $2 million policies typically cost between $450 and $600. Every policy is different, but many policies typically cover accidents, theft, vendor no-shows, and cancellations as a result of Acts of God or Acts of Government. SIDE NOTE: Cancellations/postponements because of a change of heart is NOT covered. And, theft of your jewelry isn’t covered, so make sure you get your engagement and wedding rings insured separately.

4. Hire Professional Wedding Vendors. Your wedding day is not the time for you to be a guinea pig! Do your research and check references of all wedding vendors BEFORE you hire them. Hire professional vendors who are properly licensed and insured. And, during your consultation with your vendors, ask them about back-up equipment and their back-up plan if an emergency or crises should occur on your wedding day. And, make sure that your bartenders are professional and experienced.

5. Save the Contact Information of Your Key Players. If something should occur on your wedding day, you want to be able to contact the key players as quickly as you can. So, make sure you have their contact information saved on your cell phone. The key players should include your immediate family members, your new in-laws, your wedding party, and wedding vendors. And, while you are at it, save the address and telephone number of the closest hospital, drug store and police department. Prayerfully, you won’t ever have to use this information, but having it available could be the difference between life and death.

Plan well!

Love and Soul Always, Kay