Today, I thought I would share some funny wedding disasters with you for a good laugh. Here is something to think about before you start to plan any event…
Like every January for the last 22 years I attended the National Special Event Conference, this is when thousands of event professionals from all over the world come together to share their passion, ideas, success stories as well as lessons learned from their own mistakes. It is a very exciting time when I know I will have the opportunity to share my passion with so many that feel the exact same way as I do. It is sort of like a secret club for event professionals. We all look at each other knowing we are all crazy when it comes to our passion for this industry. It feels like home, even when you may have just met everyone that day.
There is an industry bond that we all share from the floral and event designers to the caterers, bakers, coordinators, and planners to rental companies and even the invitation gurus. The common thread we share is the love for what we do.
I have always believed that we work in one of the most difficult and demanding occupations there are. Well okay, my client who is a heart surgeon may have a step on me. Although I do not think he thought so when minutes before he walked his daughter down the aisle, the zipper on her dress began to split. I immediately used fishing line to sew her back up! It is a stressful because you hold in your hands a memorable moment of their lives. Think about it… even the most nonchalant grooms who at a time could not have cared less about all the silly details of the day, while 50 years later their cutting a piece of anniversary cake, he can tell you all of the things that went wrong that day. It is also one of the most stressful times for a couple – the simplest slip up can turn into the end of the world. My personal advice to this problem is to hire the right vendors to execute your day.
One of the biggest problems that people make while planning any type of event is they hire a particular vendor because they gave them the best price or their Aunt Betty has used them for years. My most favorite excuse, “I liked their logo.” Remember that above all the reasoning, the most important thing is they get what it is you are looking for. They fully understand your vision. They may not agree with some of your ideas, and that is okay. If they really listen and understand your vision, they could give an explanation as to why your idea may not work as well as you may think. They could suggest a series of obstacles that may arise you never thought of before.
Experience is a must when hiring any vendor for your special day. Now that does not mean that you should not use a new company in town; where would anyone be if no one helped us get our start? The difference is if someone opens a door to their business that they have no experience working because they thought it would be fun or that the money is good; my advice to you is RUN! To me, this is recipe for disaster and this is why… an event professional make their mark in the industry, not from their successes but their disasters. We all learn a harsh lesson when we are in the middle of crisis. The centerpiece on the bridal table has just fallen over because the florist did not measure the weight restraints on the certain vase. The homemade potato chips that the bride so eagerly wanted for the cocktail hour are now becoming soggy because the caterer forgot the event was being held outside in August. The quartet arrives at the wrong church because the planner assumed they knew where it was, not the one in the next town which happens to have the same name.
There are many disasters that could happen when planning a special event. Do not let them happen to you next time you decide to throw together an anniversary or a graduation party. Hire the right team to achieve your goals!
