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Common wedding emergencies and how to handle them

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Every wedding includes hundreds of details. With so many big and small factors being part of this special day, there is a probability of at least one thing going against the plan. From vendors and bridesmaids to guests and family, there are so many people involved. Although you are in charge, these several others have to all co-operate to make your wedding happen.

This is one of the reasons why couples hire wedding planners. They come with a lot of experience in planning weddings. They have already seen their fair share of problems, and know the quickest fix to all of them. Unfortunately, if you do not have a wedding planner on board, it is all up to you to make sure everything progresses smoothly.

Definitely brace yourself for a wedding emergency or two on the day. Prepare yourself in advance for every likely situation and you can still enjoy your big day despite any drama that unfolds.

Here is a compilation of the different likely glitches that happen at weddings. Fear not, for we have the solutions too. Although we advise you to read through the possible situations and prepare yourself with plans, remember that this is not to stress you out further. Keep those wedding jitters at bay, because forewarned is forearmed!

Is that a pimple?

Call it wrong timing, but zits do appear when you least expect them. Lack of sleep, proper nutrition, and stress will all contribute to pimples that pop up close to the wedding day. If it is just a small pimple, it is best to conceal it with makeup. Before you apply makeup, put ice on the zit. This will reduce the size, redness and puffiness. Then cover it up with a smooth coat of concealer and then apply foundation. Don’t disturb the pimple too much and it will heal quickly.

The child attendants go on strike

Even the most well-behaved children may refuse to don the role of ring bearer or flower girl at the last moment. Some children dread the idea of walking down the aisle by themselves when there are onlookers. Or in the case of a younger child, he or she may feel tired, hungry, or sleepy. Prepare yourself for such a scenario when you decide to have children in your ceremony. If the child is frightened and refuses, you can ask one of her parents or a bridesmaid to escort her. If the child is too tired or fussy, think carefully about whether it is better to cancel the child’s role or proceed with it. It is better to prepare for such a situation in advance, so the child is comfortable and ready for the ceremony.

Wedding dress disasters

Your clear, white wedding dress, as beautiful as it is, is an invitation for disaster. So, take extra care once you are in it. Here are some of the likely issues you may face and the solutions to each of them.

Makeup stains: On a day when you have to wear makeup, there is every chance of it staining your gown. To avoid this, complete your makeup before you change into your dress, and then step into the gown without letting it brush against your face.

Should any makeup stain your dress, immediately blot the area with a towel? Don’t rub it at all. Use white chalk or talcum powder to cover up the stain as much as possible.

  • Oil stain: This could happen during the reception, when oil from your plate may drip onto your wedding dress. Don’t worry. Simply dab on some talcum powder onto the stain and let it set. It will soak up the moisture and the stain will disappear.
  • Wine stain: Soak up the wine from the dress with a blotting paper or cotton towel. Once you get it out, sprinkle talcum powder or chalk on the stain. Send the dress to the dry cleaners soon after the wedding, and they can prevent the stain from setting.
  • Ink: Tackle ink stains quickly with hairspray or rubbing alcohol. Spray it on the area and rub it off with a clean white cloth.
  • Ripped gown or veil: Use safety pins, super glue or double-sided tape and attack the problem, based on what is most effective in the situation. Safety pins can hold buttons in place as well as attach torn pieces of fabric. If you have enough time and someone in your bridal party can quickly cover the damage with a thread and needle, ask for their assistance in restoring your gown.

Since your white wedding dress is very prone to stains, make sure you carry an emergency kit with all these essentials. You can then address the problem without delay rather than wait for the supplies. Either set up your own wedding emergency kit with the help of this article or buy a complete emergency kit like the one here. 

Who is that arguing?

Tempers may soar and there is scope for heated arguments when different personalities come together at a wedding. Such a scenario isn’t pleasant for the couple, or the guests. So, don’t wait for an argument to settle on its own. Interrupt with a suitable distraction. Have a member of the wedding party split up the two people in the discussion with a good excuse. Make sure that they sit separately and don’t cross paths afterward, so decorum is restored.

Rain, rain, won’t it ever go away? 

When you plan an outdoor wedding in spring or summer, there is every chance for a sudden shower. You should always have a Plan B in case Mother Nature decides to pour over your wedding. An alternate venue as backup is a wise option. Either have a tent or an indoor hall that you can quickly shift to if needed. You should also arrange umbrellas at the venue for your guests to use in case of a light shower. You can always continue with plans as long as there isn’t heavy rainfall and provided nobody is becoming wet. Or if you are a good sport, you can even enjoy the rain and make it a part of your wedding scenery. Just like these couples did! 

Your makeup melts in the heat

A definite risk at outdoor weddings. So, if your nuptials are at an open-air venue, make sure you use waterproof makeup on the day. Instruct your makeup artist to use cosmetics that won’t smudge or run when you are outdoors. If you are doing your makeup yourself, invest in good quality waterproof makeup and stay away from oil-based foundations. Before you apply makeup, it is a good idea to drag ice over your skin. This will close off the pores and improve the chances of your makeup staying put.

Unexpected plus-ones

It is nothing short of a nightmare when your single friends turn up with the company, and you do not expect it. Inconsiderate that this may seem, it is still up to you to accommodate them in some way. Contact your caterer and the venue decorator, and ask them to get you extra chairs and plates of food. Unless the number is more than what you imagined, don’t worry too much about it. Don’t fret over how you would have to alter the entire seating arrangement for this purpose. Simply put them on a table where you can squeeze in an extra chair.

It looks like someone is about to faint at the altar

For some people, the pressure of walking down the aisle is more than you can imagine. Unless it is the bride or groom, it isn’t a big problem if someone at the wedding party is feeling faint. Remember the emergency kit we mentioned about earlier? Have some smelling salts in it for this reason. These will alleviate the dizzy and nauseating feeling and help the person bounce back to normal. In any case, ask the person to sit down and relax, and continue with your wedding on schedule unless there is a medical emergency.

What to do if someone is giving an inappropriate or unending speech at the reception

Not everyone hides from raising a toast at the wedding. In fact, there are few people who eagerly look forward to speaking more than just a few words. Unless it is an unending speech or an inappropriate one that sounds embarrassing, there is no issue. If you notice the speech progress in the wrong direction and your guests are bored or shocked, it is a good idea to get your Maid of Honor or Best Man to regain control of the situation. They can slowly interrupt to create a quick distraction, and ask for music. If you have a DJ, he ought to help you out in such a situation. With previous experience, he will have a good idea of how to break up the speech and get the party back on.

Your bridesmaid is late

When you pick bridesmaids, make sure they are reliable and responsible women. This way you needn’t stress over them on your wedding day. In case you have a friend who is a regular late-comer, prepare in advance. Ask your maid of honour to take charge, and make sure she has everything in place and on time. Or you can send reminders to her, so she doesn’t miss out on anything she should complete. On the day of the wedding, give her a call just in case she forgets or is likely to slog. When a bridesmaid is late, it is best to ask the rest of the girls to help her dress up on time.

The DJ plays songs you do not like

Always share your favourite song list as well as a list of the songs that shouldn’t be played at your reception. This will allow your DJ or band to prepare for the event. Nevertheless, it is possible that he still picks a song that you do not like, but have missed adding to the list. Avoid this from continuing by designating a wedding party that will tell the DJ when the couple does not appreciate this song. Inform the DJ in advance about who this person is. This will avoid any confusion when the person you designate for the job walks up to him and tells him to halt.

Last-minute vendor cancellation

Make sure you read your vendor contracts carefully and clarify any likely gray areas. Explicitly ask about cancellations and last-minute emergencies. This will help you prepare in advance for the worst-case scenario. In any case, situations may occur when a cancellation is inevitable but the wedding must go on. First of all, check whether the vendor can still make it to the event or arrange for a replacement. If that is the case, slightly adjust the schedule to accommodate this change.

However, if it is an actual last-minute cancellation, it is best if you ask for assistance from the other vendors at your wedding. They will know many people in the wedding industry and may have the right contact who can handle the task at short notice. In any case, make sure that you have copies of the pictures and details of the plans you made so you can quickly help the new vendor understand your requirements. Also, be flexible with your demands. Go with what can be done at such short notice, then be unbending about what you want to have.

Besides these common problems, there are many other issues that can go wrong at a wedding. Nonetheless, the day must go on. Keep yourself cool and ready for any hassle, with the help of this article here. 

Visit Best for Bride to enjoy our interesting range of wedding services apart from every wedding-dress-related service for the bride. Check out our impressive inventory of designer wedding dresses and all that we have on offer by visiting our website here.

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A guide to help you get the best deal from your wedding vendors

The first big event that most brides have to plan is their own wedding. So, it is unlikely that they have worked with vendors to discuss such big plans, before.

More wedding plans?Image Credit: Dion Gillard, via Flickr, CC By 2.0

If this is the case with you, we know that you may be worried about making the right decisions and handling everything right. This guide will take you over the points that will help you work with your vendors well, so you can get the best deal possible for your wedding.

Decide what you want before you begin looking at vendors

Having a clear idea of what you want for your wedding, is the best way to start. You and your fiance should first decide what type of wedding you want, the theme you would like, anything specific that you would like to have at your wedding, the style of reception, the location, and all such relevant details, before you even start considering who will do it for you. This will help you start looking for the vendor who will be able to deliver to your expectations, while meeting all the other factors.

Do your research

Talk to other brides who were married recently, to get a fair estimate of what your wedding costs will come to. You can obtain recommendations for vendors this way, and it will also give you a fair idea of whether you have any overheads to consider. Some vendors offer discounts on referrals, and if you are lucky, you may find the vendor you seek at a much lesser price, this way.

Fix your budget

One of the biggest problems brides face is finding vendors within their budget. The way around this is to prepare your budget in advance, so you know the maximum limit you can afford to stretch to, should it be required. First plan your overall budget, and then divide it into the various components. Fix the upper limit for each, and make a firm decision that you will not exceed it, come what may.

Look for vendors within your range

There is only so much you can negotiate with a vendor, so be realistic with your expectations. If a vendor you love is way over your price range, be prepared to look for other options. This vendor may even be able to refer you to someone who can work within your budget. Shop around and you should be able to find the right person for the job. Just make sure you start early and have enough time to research.

Be open-minded about options, and everything will work out

If you have your mind set on working with a particular vendor, but your budget doesn’t allow it, try to work out a solution with the vendor. Some vendors will be open to working on a lower budget if you allow them full freedom to work their magic with what is available within this price. You will have to communicate what is important to you, and they will execute their plan, with that in mind.

At Best for Bride, we can help you with every wedding planning need. Get in touch with us, and we can help you find the right deal for your budget, and plan the dream wedding you always wanted. What are you waiting for, come visit us today!

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7 things you should know before you start planning your wedding

When you are just engaged and about to embark on the interesting, but challenging task of wedding planning, it’s funny how everyone seems to share wedding planning advice. Well, it is the first time you will be planning something of this magnitude, and so you deserve some well-intended help. You may obtain some very useful information, and then again there is the occasional chance of hearing something totally unexpected or even bizarre. Nevertheless, there are always some things that most brides wish they’d known while they were planning their wedding but had to tackle as an unexpected and usually challenge.

While it is impossible to foresee everything that will happen on your big day, it helps to prepare for whatever is possible. Plan for everything, collate all the information you can possibly obtain, and execute it with gusto—you can then enjoy every expected and unexpected challenge that wedding planning throws at you.

Here is a list of ten things that every soon-to-be bride should know before she starts wedding planning. Check it out.

Checklists are your friend

Wedding planning is a complex task, and you are probably doing it for the first time ever. There are hundreds of details to plan, tasks to handle and arrangements to make. It is only human to make errors and miss out on certain things when planning everything.

The easiest way to stay on track is to turn to checklists for help. Divide up every wedding aspect into an individual project and create checklists of tasks to be completed for each of them. This will help you organize your time better, sort out tasks based on their priority and most importantly, make sure that you do not miss anything when planning your wedding.

You can always take the trusted pen-and-paper route for planning your checklists, or if you are a tech-savvy bride, use a tool that will help you manage it efficiently. Evernote is a handy option to keep track and manage your lists with precision on your digital devices.

Now, for the checklists that you will require, you can find a comprehensive checklist on Real Simple. This is divided based on the time by which you should accomplish each task. You may also like to take a look at this interactive checklist on Brides.com. This can be customized to meet your individual needs.

When choosing vendors, only go with those you are most comfortable with

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If there is one task that you have to research well, it is choosing your vendors. From your photographer to your florist, you will have several options. The important thing is to remember that none of them will be the same. In fact, they’ll each be as distinct as you can possibly expect. Every vendor is different in the way they approach their work, how they interact with customers and how experienced they are in handling specific tasks.

You will be interacting with your vendors a LOT! So, don’t make the mistake of settling for someone who you aren’t comfortable with, right from the start. The personality of the person you have to work with will affect the way you feel about that aspect of your wedding. So, dig a little deeper than just trying to get the cheapest deal. Don’t just go with what others have to say about the vendor you have shortlisted. Don’t hesitate to ask for portfolios, samples or explanations, as is necessary in each case. It is also wise if you do not make assumptions, but clarify your doubts outright, so you can be certain that you and your vendor are on the same page. If you feel that the vendor you speak to doesn’t understand your vision, or cuts you off by saying that what you want is impractical, don’t let it be and comply with what they have in mind instead. Keep looking. After all, it is your wedding and there will be someone who can get you what you want, or at least the closest to what you have in mind.

Don’t forego this part even if you are working with a friend or family as your wedding vendor. However close they may be to you, you do not want anything ruining your wedding. So, make sure that you are one hundred percent comfortable with the decision you make, and you will not regret it later.

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Disagreements are a given evil

You will be touching on several details during your wedding planning, and it is only natural to hit a roadblock once in a while. You may disagree with your parents, partner, vendor or even bridesmaids on some factor or the other. Everyone will have expectations and opinions. Your maid-of-honour may condemn the colour you choose for the bridesmaid’s dresses or your friends may try to convince you that a DJ is a better choice than a live band. If your parents or to-be in-laws are paying for part of your wedding, it is only natural that they will expect to have a say in it. You may also have friends or relatives who may pressurize you into handing over a wedding task to them when you prefer hiring a professional for the same. There is no easy way out, and you should realize where to draw the line. Accept that there will be disagreements along the way, and you may have to reject suggestions that you simply cannot take.

It is impossible to please everyone, or you wouldn’t have the wedding YOU want! Be prepared to say No when necessary, and it will be a lot easier to handle. As a bride, one of the most difficult tasks is to recognize when it is more important to go with your choice and when it is another opinion that would be a better choice in that situation. Our article on “How to Handle it when others try to take over your wedding” should give you some advice on how to tackle tricky situations in the best possible way. Don’t worry about what others may think of your wedding decisions. Finally, you will regret it if everyone had their way, but you didn’t get to do anything you wanted to.

Plan to spend on the most important things

There is no rule book that specifies how should get married. Like we said earlier, you will hear suggestions and receive advice. Nevertheless, it is your wedding, and you should get to pick what is important, so this day is special for you. Split your budget accordingly, and splurge on the things that are most important to you. Don’t worry about the rest.

Think of what you will find most memorable about your wedding day. If it is where it will be held, set aside the greater part of your budget for the venue and décor. If it is how you look, it should be your wedding outfits and accessories. If both of you favourite food, make sure the wedding menu is given due importance. If you have a penchant for the finer details, it could be the smaller things like your tableware, party favours and statement pieces that you should focus on. Some couples prefer to spend a major part of their budget on the photographer. If fashion photography or elaborate scenic settings are what you want, so be it.

Your wedding planning is hard work, irrespective of the style you choose

Whether you plan to host a casual or a formal wedding, it will be hard work either way. Remember that even though you needn’t choose the classic centrepiece flower design if you are having a casual affair, you will still have to decide what you want instead. Every decision has to be yours, and every single aspect is arranged under your supervision. This simply means that you will need time, organization skills and effort to plan everything. We think wedding planning is a difficult task, as almost every married woman will agree. When you handle every aspect of it yourself, it becomes even more tedious. A wedding planner can relieve your stress to a considerable extent, and so every bride should at least consider a day-of planner to get some breathing space.

Wedding planners can direct you to the right vendors who can meet your requirements, and they can also follow up and ensure everything moves as per plan. This in itself, is a huge stress-buster. Nevertheless, there is always a point in time when a bride suddenly feels overwhelmed and tends to buckle under wedding planning stress. The best way out is to realize the extent of effort that goes in and be prepared for it. Time is a valuable entity, so make sure you have plenty of time and divide your tasks so you have sufficient bandwidth to complete them all on time. Also, don’t forget to catch much-wanted breaks, when you spend time away from everything that is wedding-related.

Everyone has their own interpretation of terms

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Almost every term in wedding lingo is highly subjective. When you say romantic, you may have a colour palette with peach, gold and gray in mind. You may envision your wedding to be at a casual, romantic outdoor setting such as a resort or garden. At the same time, the same term may give your mother an entirely different idea. She may consider your getting married to your prince charming in fairy tale style romantic. She may expect it to be held in an elaborate ballroom setting, with a four-course plated meal to complete it in classic style. The same goes for your dress selection, choice of wedding cake, entertainment and almost every other aspect of your wedding.

In the world of weddings, a word that is thrown around a lot is “classic.” Take a look at this page on the Knot, with some Real classic wedding examples.  You will soon see how one couple’s idea of classic, is entirely different from another. So, the term classic can mean anything by itself.

So, make sure that you elaborate on what you mean, wherever necessary. Specify what you mean, especially to your vendors, instead of using vague terms or those that are prone to varying interpretations. If you have pictures to convey your ideas, that is the best option of all. When the concerned person can see what you mean, there is no scope for confusion. You can thus be certain that you will get exactly what you envisioned.

You will have to spend a lot of time reading terms and conditions

Once you shortlist your vendors, it is necessary to sign contracts with all of them, so the terms and conditions of service are documented. This will ensure that both of you know what is expected and that it is done properly. Unfortunately, many couples simply sign the vendor contracts that are drawn up by the vendors themselves, without really going through them in detail. This can cause many unexpected hassles on the day of the wedding.

For example, you may not have noticed the part where your photographer’s contract mentions that you will have to pay extra for every extra hour he spends at your wedding, or that he will be available only for so many hours. Imagine running up a bill that goes beyond what you anticipated, or worse, not having a photographer for the crucial exit moment of your wedding!

Make sure that you read every single sentence on your vendor contract, and have it modified to meet your needs, so you actually get what you expected. If you are unclear about any of the terms, make sure to ask and clarify before approving it. You can always negotiate and discuss the terms and modify the contract before you sign it. This will save misunderstanding later, and also allow you to make alternate arrangements when required.

At Best for Bride, we can help you realize your vision of the perfect wedding and help you plan every single detail to perfection. Visit our store online and check out the various wedding services we offer. Trust us to make your wedding dreams come true