Everything is supposed to be perfect. It’s your big day. The one you have been dreaming of your entire life. Then, suddenly, disaster strikes. But, let’s face it, disasters on a wedding day can be as little as a difficult bow-tie or as big as a wedding cake catastrophe. But, they all seem like a pretty big deal when your day is supposed to be perfect.
Don’t fret. Our 30a Wedding Co. Vendors can help. They’ve been there and done that and all of them have some tricks up their sleeves that can help you avert the “disasters” — big or small.
STAYING ON TRACK
“Photogs and DJ’s step in all the time to keep events of the day moving forward when a couple doesn’t hire a coordinator,” said Joanna Banks-Morgan, owner of Sixpence Productions. Joanna has been on the Emerald Coast for eight years and has 10+ years of experience in the wedding videography biz.
“I swear, in those cases without one or the other answering questions about ‘what do we do next’ the reception would come to a grinding halt.”
Shelby Peaden keeps things running smoothly as she preps the flower girls while carrying a bag handy with all the must-have’s on the big day. Photo: Rae Leytham Photography
“We (vendors) usually make the day move along and a bride has no idea we are making it a seamless transition or what that entails,” said Catherine Taylor, Owner of Woodlands Field Photography. “An inexperienced vendor might not be able to make things as seamless.”
After all, any disasters are supposed to be kept from the bride at all costs.
THE EXTRA STUFF
“I also keep track of the brides “stuff” on a regular basis,” said Stephanie Tate, Owner of Savoir Faire Wedding. Tate not only owns and operates the business she is one of two wedding planners for the company.
A make-up artist helps the bride put on her shoes before she walks down the aisle. Photo Credit: Rae Leytham Photography
“You would be surprised how many times her lipstick, reception shoes, and even garter end up in my wedding bag.”
HAVE YOUR CAKE….
“I take for granted couples know how to cut the cake,” said Tate. “But I always have to show them how they need to cut the cake for their picture.
Avis Glenister of Carillon Weddings helps a bride and groom prepare to cut the cake for their perfect photo. Photo: Rae Leytham Photography.
Everyone attending a wedding is looking forward to the festivities after the “I Do’s”. It always helps when you have professionals at your fingertips who can deal with any problem –especially to do with the food!
“I’ve fixed a few cakes when people decide to bring tiered cake from home,” said Jessica Smith Sirten, Owner and Cake Designer of Sweet for Siren. “It gets smashed up in an overpacked car or they pick up another cake and try to set it up themselves and it gets ruined. You’d be surprised the kinds of calls I get on the weekends!”
WARDROBE MALFUNCTION
“Many times I have done the corset on the back of dresses after a nervous mom or bridesmaid couldn’t do it properly,” said Rae Leytham, owner of Rae Leytham Photography.
Rae Leytham holds a bride’s dress as the mother of the bride ties the corset. Photo: Rae Leytham Photography.
“I pin on boutonnieres when no one can figure them out or I re-pin them when they’ve been pinned on the wrong side,”said Leytham. Her and her husband work as a two man team (or woman and man).
Wedding Planner from Savoire Faire weddings helps the groom with his boutonniere. Photo: Rae Leytham Photography.
“Bow-tie tying could be it’s own blog topic,” said Celia Hilton, Momentus Films’ owner. “(A particular wedding I worked) was the worst case of difficult bow tying, but I’ve experienced numerous weddings delayed just for this reason.”
Wesley Leytham of Rae Leytham Photography helps a groomsman with a difficult bow-tie. Photo: Rae Leytham Photography.
EVERYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG
“I’ve iced down a bar last minute when a DIY bride thought her folks could handle delivering it,” said Renee Armour of Ceremony Design Company. “I’ve also ran up to a condo right before a ceremony to pull chicken nuggets out of an oven that were about to burn because they forgot to pull them out and deliver to the reception.”
Usually disasters happen in threes. It’s inevitable. But, once the dominoes start to fall you’ve got to have experience on hand that can handle it.
A bride and her bridal party smile as they are driven around in a go cart in Carillon. Photo: Rae Leytham Photography.
Sometimes experience just means knowing how to stay calm, handle the messes, and still keep a smile!
FEATURED 30A-LISTER’S:
Wedding Photography: Rae Leytham Photography, Woodlands Field Photography | Videography: Monuments Films, Sixpence Productions | Event & Floral Design: Ceremony Design Company |Wedding Planners: Savoire Faire Weddings, Carillon Weddings |Wedding Cakes: Sweet for Sirten |
