Wedding Day Disasters – And How to Avoid Them!

A recent UK survey, commissioned by Barclays, found that of the 2,000 married couples questioned, 30% said something went wrong on their wedding day, and almost 4 in 10 said they would like to repeat the whole day again – so they could do it better.
Some of the biggest wedding disasters included punch-ups, arriving at the wrong church, the cake toppling over and forgetting the rings.
One couple revealed that their big day was ruined when the bride’s father suffered a stroke and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance, and another bride was shocked when her ex arrived at the ceremony uninvited.
Perhaps the most unusual was the DJ who played “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” for the newly married couple’s first dance. Someone clearly forgot to give him the memo…

While there may be unavoidable circumstances that cause a little upheaval during the day, the survey found that 36% of couples blamed poor financial planning for their wedding woes.
Clare Francis, Savings and Investments Director at Barclays, said: “Although key events such as weddings, honeymoons, and special holidays abroad are often ruined by unforeseen occurrences, our research has shown that poor financial planning is also to blame.
We recommend that savers plan well in advance for key events, and that they’re realistic about how much they can afford. Consumers need to stay in control of their money to not only avoid compromising what should be a joyous event, but to also avoid leaving themselves in long-term financial debt.”

It’s not likely that your entire wedding day will go perfectly to plan, and minor mishaps are to be expected. However, there are steps you can take to ensure major disasters are averted as much as possible:
· The number one thing survey respondents would change about their big day if they could do it all over again? The venue. Some couples paid large sums for a lavish location and later wished they had have chosen somewhere more low-key, while others regretted not taking advantage of mid-week wedding deals. Check out our post on finding your dream venue, to make sure you get it right.
· Over a third of respondents wished they had budgeted more effectively for their wedding, with 27% admitting they hadn’t saved enough by the time the big day arrived. Wedding budgets have been decreasing in the past ten years, with many couples opting to spend less on their nuptials. Check out our top three tips for maximising your cash, as well as how to have a great wedding on a budget.
· Sadly for one happy couple, their photographer forgot to put film in the camera, leaving them with no photos of their special day. Avoid this amateur move by ensuring you book a quality photographer. Our post on things you need to know before booking a wedding photographer is a great starting point.
By Rachel Doherty, Excalibur Press

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