Surviving a Wedding Day Disaster

Monday January 30, 2012 12:00am

Bride Experts say “wedding day jitters” do exist for brides and their families when planning for a ceremony. “Their nervousness comes from that they only do this once in their lives,” says Kevin DeHimer, catering sales manager for Rocky Top Catering. “Everything becomes a big deal that day,” says Janice Cutler, president and owner of North Raleigh Florist. Cutler and DeHimer instruct clients about what may go wrong and how to avoid it upfront. “I err on the side of over-communication,” says Cutler. “They’ve got enough going on.” Here are tips they offer to those getting ready for marriage. When it comes to food, DeHimer says, “Generally, you get what you pay for. If a vendor is half the price than other ones, there’s a reason why.” Ask for references for a caterer, and check its relationship with your wedding planner. DeHimer says hiring an excellent wedding planner will result in great savings by preventing mistakes that might happen without one.

Regarding the reception, DeHimer says venues lacking resources such as a kitchen can cost extra to rent equipment to handle food. As for running out of supplies, he says a solid caterer like his operation will not let that occur. “We plan for a little bit extra,” he says. “We don’t have food shortages.” Cutler initially shows prospective brides what substitute flowers for arrangements will resemble if replacements are needed for hard-to-get flowers. For those, Cutler checks the guaranteed delivery for the bride in advance to determine any extra costs for shipping fragile flowers or possible snags in obtaining them altogether. Brides generally make adjustments instead of pay extra for their flowers, says Cutler.

For bouquets, Cutler checks if the flowers clash with the bridesmaids’ outfits and if they are appropriate for the bride’s shape and size. “A petite bride should not be carrying a big Princess Diana bouquet,” Cutler says. Flowers for a wedding have to live for hours following one and a half to two hours of setup. Blossoms on an arch need a water source to keep them fresh, and Cutler says if a ceremony is on a tight schedule for setting up, the bride may have to expect that her guests may see florists decorating the arch if they arrive early.

Cutler says you should know if anyone in the bridal party has allergies to certain flowers, as well as family members sitting near centerpieces at the reception. She adds that centerpieces on tables in outdoor weddings not covered by umbrellas or a tent can bake, turn brown and die in the sun’s heat and humidity within an hour of being outdoors. While Cutler and DeHimer keep backup plans in mind, some want additional assurance with wedding insurance. Bill Mills, vice president of SIA Group, a full-service insurance agency with seven offices throughout North Carolina, says most of his clients want coverage for liability for the wedding dinner and the reception, particularly regarding guests drinking alcohol. Regular policies often do not cover such events. Also popular is wedding insurance covering any possible cancellation and loss of a deposit, such as bad weather during an outdoor ceremony.

What can be covered for a wedding is virtually unlimited. “It can go as far as gifts, jewelry, photographer and videographer,” Mills says. It all depends on how much a person wants to spend. The most expensive policy he offers is a bargain, costing less than 10 percent of what weddings nowadays typically cost (more than $10,000 on average). Still, Mills says, “Even when we recommend it, few people take it.”