Sometimes you need a plan for when nothing goes as planned. However, there are some tips and tricks to allow you to handle a snafu with grace. Guess what? It’s going to happen. Just keep in mind that the most important part about the gathering is the group of people gathered. Enjoy the group, laugh at the misfortune, and if there is a catastrophe, you might as well make it memorable!
First, picking a date or location can go terribly wrong. I often pick a date based on the schedules of the most necessary guests who happen to have difficult schedules and try to coordinate around them. This method inevitably goes awry. Either, the guest of the hour cannot attend or no one else can.
And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Next, the venue (if outside) can get rained out, or the location could have double-booked. The venue could have a flood. You could have to locate a new block of 100 hotel rooms a week before your wedding. The venue could lose power, have a pipe burst, or the driveway could sink. Worst case scenario, YOU COULD RUN OUT OF FOOD!
The Show Must Go On
Rain happens. Order a pizza if you run out of food. Bring out the markers and crayons. Children are easy to redirect and figure out a simple activity or game they can play. Adults can also be easy to redirect and distract while attempting to remedy the situation. Often, unless you mention it, guests will not notice that something is not part of the plan. Guests were not privy to your plan; in fact, their expectations are usually pretty basic. Of course, re-booking a 100-room block for a wedding is daunting, but guests will not remember the sinking driveway or the flooded basement unless you are forcing them to wade in the water. In sum, if the train is moving, do not derail it by sweating the unplanned. It’ll be great!
