Planning a wedding requires you to make a lot of decisions. You’re planning both a ceremony and a reception, and you must hire many vendors and recruit a few friends and family to make the magic happen. With so many details to track, there’s a good chance that something (or multiple somethings) will go wrong. How do you handle these problems? Having a few smart ideas ready to roll can do much to avert a complete disaster if things do go wrong.

One of Your Vendors Goes AWOL

You’ve paid good money to vendors and perhaps signed contracts with them in good faith. What happens when a vendor bails on you months, weeks, or even days before your big event? A Brides article advises being patient with non-responsive businesses at first and adopting a polite tone in all communications. Before you deliver any ultimatums, however, review your contract for specific cancellation and no-show policies.

Even if you think you’ve hired the perfect professionals, keep contact information for your second or third choices just in case. Should you be left hanging on your big day, you’ll need to devise a quick fix or reach out to one of your alternatives, then pursue remedies or litigation with the original vendor after the big day. Also, Brides writer Jaimie Mackey points out that wedding insurance may be a wise idea, especially since many plans reimburse for no-show businesses.

Should We Talk About the Weather?

Holding an outdoor wedding without a Plan B is asking for trouble. Even on a day where you’d normally experience pleasant temperatures and pacific skies, an unexpected pop-up shower can ruin your vows. The Knot provides tips for dealing with wacky weather, including having a backup site, keeping umbrellas at the ready, and requesting that mats be placed at entry points and near walkways to prevent mud tracking onto clean venue floors. 

You Haven’t Got a Stitch to Wear

Quelle horreur! You’re picking up your attire and you get the runaround, or perhaps the garment waiting for you at the vendor looks nothing like what you ordered. Or even worse, it’s ruined by the cleaners or botched up during alterations. If this happens, check your contract and receipts to confirm what you ordered, then deal calmly with the business itself. Its management will likely want to keep you happy, so try working with them first to resolve the problem. If you don’t get anywhere, the pros at Bridal Guide recommend finding an alternative as soon as possible. Your goal may be selecting apparel that closely matches your original, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box either.

Party Crashers and Drunken Antics

Nothing spells disaster quite like unwelcome extras or inebriated guests. For uninvited plus-ones, The Knot recommends double-checking your RSVPs in advance and working with your venue to provide an extra place or two just in case. Wedding crashers are another story, but you can discreetly ask your closest family or friends about any unfamiliar faces hovering near the bar or buffet line. Keep in mind that you can enlist your venue management’s assistance to see strangers to the door. For drunken guests, turn to your planner or venue staff for help. Ask bartenders to stop serving them and be sure to have the phone number of a reliable taxi service on hand. 

The Show Must Go On

Weddings are beautiful events, but there are also opportunities for things to go wrong. Knowing what could go wrong circumvents some disasters, as does keeping records of contracts and money paid to vendors. Furthermore, wedding insurance can help you recoup money lost when problems arise. Whatever comes up, it’s vital to find acceptable alternatives to ensure that the show goes on.