10 Scary Things That Can Happen During Wedding Planning

Photo: Glasser Images

Your dream venue has a capacity of 150, but your estimated guest list tops 300.
How to deal: Planning a wedding is all about compromise. You can either cut your guest list or find a new venue that you love (we promise, it’s out there!). Think about what’s more important to you – being surrounded by every single friend or family member, or getting married at that specific location. If your parents are pressuring you to invite more people than you and your future spouse would like, have an open and honest discussion with them about your wishes for your wedding (and if it’s your in-laws, have your future spouse lead the chat). Also, consider your budget. More guests equal more money, so cutting the guest list can help your bottom line in a big way.

An acquaintance asks you why he or she wasn’t invited
How to deal: Blame your venue or your budget. “We had such a hard time narrowing down our guest list, but our (budget/venue restrictions) wouldn’t allow us to invite everyone we wanted.”

A family member insists that you invite her kids, when you’re planning a kid-free event
How to deal: You made a rule (“no kids”), and you have to stick to it. If someone approaches you asking to make an exception, stay firm (but still polite) and let them know that your wedding will be an adults-only event. If you want to be extra nice, you can allow the little ones to attend your post-wedding brunch. If the guest gets upset, simply say: “I’m sorry you feel that way, but we really can’t make any exceptions. We’d still love for you to be a part of our special day” and leave it at that.

Your bridesmaids refuse to wear the dresses you love
How to deal: Find out what your ‘maids like and dislike about the dresses. Is it the color? The neckline? The fabric? See if you can pinpoint the concerns, and try to find a dress that maintains the same feel as the style you love, but that addresses your ‘maids’ issues. Another idea is to allow your bridesmaids to choose the neckline or shade of their dresses (within a certain palette), so that they have a say in what they wear. And if you can, try to go shopping as a group.

Your future spouse or family members are trying to dodge wedding-related tasks they previously agreed to
How to deal: Assign responsibilities using the (free!) WeddingWire checklist. By having something in writing (with a deadline!), it will be difficult for anyone to avoid these tasks for too long. If you need to provide a gentle reminder via phone or email, don’t be afraid to do so!

One of your bridesmaids waited too long to order her dress and now it’s not available
How to deal: Yeah, it’s unfortunate that all of your bridesmaids won’t be wearing the exact same dress, but with all of the options out there, you can likely find something fairly similar. Ask the retailer where you purchased your bridesmaid dresses for assistance – they’ve likely dealt with situations like this before. You can also keep your bridesmaids looking cohesive in other ways, like giving them the same bouquets and shawls, and asking that they wear their hair in similar styles.

Your invitations have a typo – and it’s too late/expensive to redo them
How to deal: It happens. As you mail out your invitations, also send an email to your guests correcting the error and direct them to your wedding website for up-to-date and accurate information.

A close friend or relative can’t make your wedding
How to deal: It’s unfortunate, but unavoidable conflicts do arise. Focus on the family members and friends who can attend your wedding, rather than the few that can’t. And, if it’s possible and both parties are tech-savvy, you can even have the missing guests video chat in to watch the ceremony proceedings!

Your future mother-in-law is a real…witch
How to deal: One of your future spouse’s main responsibilities is to serve as a buffer between you and your almost-in-laws. He/she should field all phone calls and questions and make sure the two of you are on the same page before responding. You may also want to give your future mother-in-law a small but important task, like making the welcome baskets, to help keep her busy and direct her energy elsewhere.

The weather forecast is predicting rain for your outdoor wedding
How to deal: Rain on your wedding day is good luck, remember? If the forecast isn’t looking ideal, talk to your venue coordinator and/or wedding planner a few days before the wedding to figure out a Plan B – also talk to your florist if you need to change the décor scheme to work indoors. Then, try your best to embrace it – a cute umbrella and fun pair of rain boots can be the key to great rainy day photos!