What To Do If The Unexpected Occurs

You’ve done your extensive research, you’ve made your assiduous plans and you’ve ensured you’ve covered all your bases for the biggest day in your life. Then suddenly, on the day itself, the unexpected happens and something pops up that you are unprepared for. What do you do?

In fact, with so many elements that are included in a modern wedding, it’s a surprise that snags and complications don’t occur all the time. Here, in conjunction with our expert panel member and wedding planner Clare Ebbs, Managing Director of Aghareed and Founder of The Perfect Moment Dubai, we look at 10 common issues that can arise during a wedding. We hope to show that, with a little bit of foresight, each one is easily surmountable and none are likely to cause anything more than a temporary glitch in the proceedings. 

Above: Clare Ebbs, Managing Director of Aghareed and Founder of The Perfect Moment Dubai

It starts to rain:

Yes… it’s just your luck. You picked one of the few days in the year when it rains in Dubai. But while the weather cannot be helped, you can certainly help yourself by ensuring that your outdoor venue has a covered back-up. When making the initial booking, enquire about possible sheltered areas or last minute indoor options, such as a ballroom. You can’t change the weather, but you can make the most out of photo ops. If you have time prior to the big day and after monitering weather forecasts, pop over to Dragon Mart (near international city) and pick up some parasols; pictures in the rain can look beautiful.

If, conversely, it’s looking to be hotter than you thought for your wedding, order in fans, parasols and outdoor A/C units to keep your guests cool.

Your make-up is starting to be affected by the weather:

Get inside out of the heat and humidity! Also, start out by using airbrush make-up if possible, as this is less prone to the effects of the climate. Ask your make-up artist to be available during the wedding day for touch ups – or at least to be around just before the photos are going to be taken.

An extra guest has turned up:

There is always a chance that some guests will not RSVP and simply turn up on the day.  A way to avoid any confusion is to have ‘named seats’ so tables don’t fill up with the wrong guests. If you think that there’s a chance that people might turn up unannounced, reserve two tables set at the back of the room that can be ‘free seating.’ Then, if their names are not on the guest list, the wedding planner will be able to sit them down and save blushes all around.

 Your transport hasn’t arrived:

If the wedding car doesn’t arrive to pick you up from the ceremony venue to take you to the reception, then ask the ceremony venue to provide a courtesy car or book a taxi. To safeguard against your original vehicle not turning up, phone the company four hours prior to your pick-up to make sure they will arrive on time. Ask for the driver’s mobile number so that you can follow up if needed to.

The DJ is stuck in traffic:

Have an I-pod ready with your favourite music as well as some great party tunes. Give this to the venue team – they can play that through the venue PA system until the DJ arrives. Your guests will probably be none the wiser!

Your guests are late:

It is likely in Dubai that your guests will run late. Bear this in mind when you plan for your entrance. It is worth considering having an on-the-day wedding planner to inform you when more guests have arrived and to organise the entrance logistics accordingly.

You can’t zip up your wedding dress, or the zip breaks:

Ask the venue or your wedding planner for safety pins. If it happens early on in the day, then you may be able to call on a seamstress at the venue who can fix the problem.  On many occasions, the dress provider will offer to come to the venue to help you into the gown. They can assist with any last minute problems.

The photographer is running late:

If your photographer is running late then ask a guest with a good camera to start taking the photos you need. You can always catch up on ‘couple shots’ after the blessing if needed.

You feel sick on your wedding day:

In the majority of cases this is caused by nerves and stress. Keep calm and try to relax, have an early night before the big day! Stay in an A/C controlled room and make sure that you EAT! Most brides either forget to eat or are too tired or nervous to think about food on their wedding day. This lack of sustenance can drop blood sugar levels and cause fainting. Drink plenty of water.

You’re having an outdoor wedding and your dress gets dirty:

If you are walking along the beach or by water for photos, make sure your husband or bridesmaids hold up your dress to prevent it from getting dirty or wet. If you do get dirt on the dress, brush it off when it has dried. Avoid the urge to scrub the area as you’ll only make it worse. Most wedding dresses end up slightly dirty anyway and no one actually notices… apart from you.

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