Northern Hills Xmas 2014 December Xmas Issue 2014 | Page 8

IMAGE: www.depositphotos.com ARTICLE / WEDDING Your wedding can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be This can’t be happening.” A  nger – “I am so upset that this happened on my wedding day!” B  argaining – “If only I had done things differently.” D  epression – “Everything is ruined and I am so disappointed.” A  cceptance – “I can’t change what is out of my control. The wedding must go on” It’s how you choose to react that could save the day or ruin it completely. Prepare mentally for the possibility that something could go wrong, and try not to get wrapped up in all of the details. If possible, delegate wedding day decisions to a bridesmaid, groomsman, or other support personnel so that you can focus on getting married. If you have to make decisions on the wedding day, you’re putting yourself in a stressful situation. Give Guests the Right Information One of the challenges of hosting a wedding is that you have so many people arriving from all over the place. Many of your guests will not know the area, and may have questions about where they need to go, and how to get there. Set up a website with an itinerary for the wedding weekend. Make sure guests know where to find the right information. Also, designate someone as the primary contact for any guests with questions. It’s a good idea to have a list of emergency contacts in case something goes wrong or plans need to be changed. True Wedding Disaster Story I attended a wedding where the couple had specified two different times for the wedding ceremony. The paper invitation that went out to guests said the wedding was at 4:00pm. But the couple’s wedding website listed the start time as 4:30pm (4pm was the PAGE 06 / NORTHERN HILLS / CHRISTMAS ISSUE 2014 actual ceremony time). As a result, many guests missed the ceremony completely. It was embarrassing for the guests and for the couple who realized their mistake after it was too late. KEEP It Simple Your wedding can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. But more moving parts means more possibility that something could go wrong. There are lots of little details that can make a wedding seem special, but don’t let these details get in the way of the important stuff. Nail down the basics first, and make sure those are in place before you start thinking about the finishing touches. In weddings—as in life—things don’t always go according to plan. It’s how we deal with adversity that defines who we are. Having things go wrong on your wedding day can be devastating, but if you are prepared emotionally, and you have a plan to fall back on, you can handle the situation with grace and stil