How to Handle Some of the Touchiest Wedding Situations

Fingers crossed that all goes according to plan on your big day... But, in the off-chance that something does go awry, you'll need to be ready to handle the problem quickly and diplomatically! Here are our tips for handling six of touchy wedding situations.

Keep your cool! If an uninvited plus one appears, assess the situation with a level head. Would it be a bigger deal to ask them to leave than to have them stay? Do you have enough food and seating to accommodate them? Will asking the person to leave seriously ruin other relationships? Once you decide how important it is for that person to be there or not, you can make the decision of whether to confront it or let it ride. If you do choose to ask them to leave, be sure pull them aside to speak privately so as not cause too much of a scene. 

If your bridesmaids just can't seem to get along, kindly speak to them about the situation. They're all a part of this wedding because of you, and hopefully, they can put their drama aside for one day. Pull each of the girls aside, kindly bring their poor behavior to their attention, and ask that they do their best to get along. Do not confront them in a group, yell at them, or accuse them of ruining your wedding. It will only make the situation worse! 

If one of your nearest and dearest doesn't turn up on the big day, it can put quite a damper on your evening. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do in this situation. Try to put your disappointment out of your mind and enjoy your wedding. Once the wedding is over, if that person hasn't been in contact with you, you may want to give them a call to check that they're okay. Do not, however, ask them why they weren't there, charge them for the meal they didn't eat, or make them feel guilty. 

If something hasn't been done properly or completely by one of your vendors, don't panic. If the vendor is still there, ask them (nicely!) about the service in question. If the vendor has left there, give them a call to see if they can quickly remedy the situation. If you don't hear back, snap a picture or document somehow that their commissioned service was unfulfilled. After the big day, check the contract to ensure that you did actually commission them for that service, and then follow up. If you have proof that they didn't fulfill the contract, you can seek financial retribution or a reduced bill. 

There's often that one guest who drinks a little bit too much. If you see one of your friends getting too intoxicated, ask another friend or family member to keep an eye on them. You shouldn't have to play babysitter all night, but someone should look after that person, to stop them from drinking more or to stop them from doing something foolish. Worse case scenario, you can ask the bartender to no longer serve that person, but it may cause a scene! 

In this situation, it's best to be upfront with friends, family, and guests, and accept any help that they're willing to give. First off, you should alert your venue and vendors about the cancellation. Hopefully, you won't be obligated to pay for the full value of their services, but you'll need to consult your contract to determine what their policy is (you likely won't be refunded for any deposits that have been put down).

Next, either you, your former fiancé, or your family and friends will need to spread the word that the wedding will no longer be taking place. If invitations have already been sent, a phone call to each guest is the most polite way to go, as opposed to an email blast or digital message. Finally, you'll need to return all unused gifts you've received. It's best if you can include a note thanking the person for the gift, but acknowledging that you can no longer accept it. That way, they understand why you returned the gift and don't think that it was somehow undeliverable.