Wedding 911: Emergency Response for Brides

You've probably heard Murphy's Law, which states that if something can go wrong, it most certainly will. That's sadly true for weddings especially, when so many details have to go right all at once. The months of planning have all led to one day, and it's a day that seems just too tempting a target for Murphy's Law not to strike.

But that doesn't mean you can't do anything about it, despite it, or to solve it, either. The truth is, a lot of common wedding day emergencies are easily avoidable. And many of the ones that aren't have quick, easy and cheap solutions.

Solutions for Stains and Blotches on The Wedding & Bridesmaids Dresses

There's probably nothing more likely to inspire panic in a bride than red wine on her wedding dress, either after but especially before the ceremony. Deal with it by dabbing the stained area with a white cloth, then pouring club soda over the stain, and dabbing some more. Don't try to rub the wine out, as this will only grind the liquid into the material.

For greasy food stains, soak up the oils by liberally sprinkling the area with talcum powder or baking soda.

Lipstick stains are intimidating, but they're not invincible. As with the food stain, soak up the oil with baking soda or talcum powder and brush away any excess once the powder has soaked up the grease. You can use a chalk or white acrylic paint to disguise any leftover discoloration.

Of course, the best cleaning is still done by a professional dry cleaner. If you've got time, it's better to hand the dress to professionals than attempt a triage.

Solutions for Makeup & Minor Emergencies On the Day of the Wedding

Forewarned is forearmed. Expect some problem with the makeup (it's an emotional time, after all, and any one of a number of things can go wrong.) and pack accordingly. In a special box designated for the purpose, gather the following items together: concealer, lip color, foundation, a powder compact, makeup remover, non acetone fingernail polish remover, an emory board, mascara, and makeup remover. You should also include, just in case, a tube of super glue, a needle and thread, and a bottle of aspirin or ipuprofen. Travel sized versions of all these items are available very cheaply at almost any drug store. With your "first aid kit" so established, you'll be ready for any number of corrections, fixes, or triage.

One common emergency is the bride finding her hair isn't styled as she'd wanted the day of the wedding, either from hairdresser nervousness or her own confusion about directions. To avoid this painful, awkward situation, schedule a rehearsal session with the stylist about a month before the wedding, and take photos of all sides of the hairstyle you want. Then, the morning of the wedding, bring the pictures back and have your hair done exactly so.

For the groom's hair, get them to a haircut the day before or the day of the wedding. They might choose to go with their groomsmen, making an excursion together.

Solutions for Food and Drink Problems At the Wedding

If your guests turn out to be a hard-partying crowd, you might need to send a groomsman or family member out on a liquor and beer run. Make sure you know the location of the nearest package goods store. It's a good idea to set aside an emergency fund for just this occasion: a hundred bucks should more than cover the necessary bar reinforcements.

Dealing with a hungry crowd when the food is already gone is a trickier matter. If your catering agreement allows, you might order some more appetizers, or serve dessert earlier. In general, though, if a guest complains about the food, you shouldn't let it get you down. You've entertained a huge crowd, and there's never any such thing as ever pleasing anyone. So do what you can, but don't worry about it.

Avoiding Honeymoon Disasters

The secret to a smooth honeymoon is anticipating problems and eliminating them before they have a chance to trouble you and your new spouse. Make copies of your identification (including passports) and credit cards, and store them separately in your luggage and with family members. This will let you more easily replace them if they're lost.

If you're traveling overseas, get familiar with the destination by studying its news and contacting the city's chamber of commerce. The United States State Department frequently issues advisories about areas of the world where Americans should take caution while traveling. It's best to reference them before making any concrete honeymoon plans.