It's an undeniable feeling. You're hearing "It's not you, it's me" but want you're really hearing is blah blah blah you're wedding is ruined. Suddenly, your stomach falls into your butt and you need to sit down. Preferably with a big glass of wine.
If it hasn't happened to you, then it's happened to one of your friends. You have your wedding pros all lined up, contracts and all, in your bursting-at-the-seams binder. You then get the fateful phone call- suddenly, your reception venue has changed personnel (Disclaimer! This could happen with many wedding categories but based on my own experience, I'm sticking to what I know).
Suddenly you are in crisis mode. You find yourself shaking your fist in anger and kicking things. After all, didn't they see how much you had already bonded with Suzie Reception Planner? Didn't your forty-five minute chat about bengaline linens mean anything to her?
Now unless you're a particularly good crier or briber, there isn't much you can do to prevent this. The good news, however, is that there is quite a bit you can do to prepare yourself so if this challenge does come your way, you can face it head on. Take a few tid bits from this wedding pro who has, unfortunately, had to have broken up with a few brides in her hey day.
1) Fall in love with the location, not the person. Yes, it's imperative to get along with the on site coordinator BUT you must be honest with yourself and ask this question- Am I okay with losing this person and still being booked at this fabulous location? If the answer is no, then it's time to move on.
2) Discuss the scenario early on and be up front. Personally, I always called each and every wedding contact personally to tell them that I was leaving and how we were moving forward from a staffing standpoint. Unfortunately, this wasn't always the case with other venues. Have the discussion and have it early. Don't be afraid to ask for a guarantee that states that should the contact change, you will be informed in a timely manner.
3) Surround yourself with good people. The venue itself is a rather large piece to the reception puzzle. If you lose your venue contact and are left with your friend who takes photographs on the side, your cousin who is going to play an Ipod and be the DJ and your aunt who bakes cakes, then frankly, you're in trouble. If you experience a staff change but have taken the time to book true wedding professionals, then you are going to be far better off than the gal with the Ipod and homemade cake.
Life happens and you're going to learn that at one point or another during the planning process. The true test is how you react to it once the challenge has been thrown your way.
It also does hurt to have an emergency bottle of red wine in the cupboard.
Cheers,
Meghan
Meghan Ely is one part of the Wedology 101 team, and owner of OFD Consulting, a niche Marketing/PR firm servicing the wedding industry and the Managing Director of the Richmond Bridal Association. She is a contributing writer with Virginia Bride magazine, and has been published in Premier Bride Richmond. She and Jennifer write a Wedology 101 column for the Richmond Times Dispatch's Celebration section. She loves late harvest sauvignon blancs, letterpress anything and cakes shaped like Death Stars.
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