Well, our last wedding was a wet one…but we were prepared for it, and you can be too - with just a little bit of advanced preparations.

Transportation: Be sure to have a rag or towel to wipe down the bottom of the door frame of your car or limo. With muddy roads, this little crevice can quickly attract water and dirt that will transfer onto outfits as you get in and out of the vehicle. Wipe this area down before anyone gets in or gets out of the vehicle.

Ceremony: If your ceremony is outdoors, ensure there is a covered area for your guests to sit, and that their seats have been dried off. Have umbrellas for each set of bridesmaid/groomsmen (and have them walk the aisle together) and then be sure to have a larger golf umbrella for the Bride and her father (as the dress will inevitably take up more room) and have dad hold the umbrella in the opposite hand from the one he is escorting the bride with.

Photos: Photos in a light rain are gorgeous - the colours of everything outdoors is really vibrant! Again, use your umbrellas, and even purchase a disposable plastic tablecloth that can be placed on the ground for the bride to sit on, and take photos with (just tuck the tablecloth under the dress so it can’t be seen!)

Music or PA System: If you are using recorded music or a PA system outdoors - be very cautious about the location of the electrical source and cords. It is really important for everything to remain completely dry. Live musicians may have difficulty playing in really humid conditions, since it may damage their delicate instruments. So be sure their is adequate cover for the musicians, and have them contact you in advance if they cannot play due to weather conditions. Have a recorded back up for use in case.

Put on your best smile: If it is raining, there isn’t much you can do about the weather. The best thing for you and your guests, is to put on your best smile and just make the best of the circumstances! Your guests will be sure to follow your lead and everyone will have a great time - even despite the weather.

This is Alberta afterall, and as much as I wish I could control the weather…I, nor anyone else, can control it. Should you happen to have rain on your wedding day - be prepared as best you can, and enjoy your day - regardless of the weather.

When a bustle breaks or zipper snaps on a wedding dress - a regular safety pin just won’t hold. Diaper pins are larger (and can hold more fabric in it) and much stronger. With the security lid of the diaper pins, you can rest assured that the pin holding your zipper together at the back will not pop and end up stabbing you.

Always carry 2-4 diaper pins - so that when your bustle loop breaks, you can create a bustle from underneath your dress, using the diaper pins - so that you can enjoy dancing the night away without stepping on your dress every other step!

Well, we all know that having a little kit of emergency items is essential to the enjoyment of any wedding - as it’s the little things that can cause a big hiccup. One of the best things to be sure have in your kit, is PHONE NUMBERS! I know it sounds simple, but trust me, a lot of anxiety can be relieved with this simple list.

Some important numbers to include:

• Cell phone number of EVERY vendor, because chances are they’ll be on the road when you absolutely need to speak with them
• Phone number for church, ceremony site, reception sites and any sites you are going to take photos at (and bring their addresses for family members not sure where to go!)
• Phone number and address of closest liquor store - in case you forget a permit, or are running low on supplies - phone ahead and have someone go pick it up
• Phone number and address of nearest grocery store - for incidental supplies you may need last minute - call to make sure they have what you need first!
• AMA help line if you are driving your own vehicals, or the rental company hotline for any rental vehicals
• Phone number for your hotel or venue you are staying for the night - incase you are delayed, you can ensure your room will be held for you
• Numbers to local taxi companies to ensure you can help get friends and family home safely at the end of the night
• Help numbers to local utilities - power, water, sewer, gas, etc - in case there are any unexpected situations at any of your venues - don’t expect the venue to have this information on hand, as many of them don’t!
• Phone number and address of local hardware store and equipment rental - in case of power outages, you can make arrangments quickly to rent a generator - I’ve had one power outage in my 6 years of coordinating weddings, and by having this number handy, we were able to get the DJ a sufficient generator to keep the party going, without missing much of a beat…Hopefully you’ll never have to use this one, but I have before…

Write all the numbers on a large index card and place it in your emergency kit bucket, box or bag - that way anyone can reach in, grab it, and make the necessary calls. And you might as well through in some change in case you need to access a pay phone!

Hopefully you’ll never need any of these phone numbers…but if you do, you’ll have them handy!! Continued best wishes with your wedding plans!!

Now every knowledgeable bride knows to pack a needle and thread in her emergency bag - but I bet you never thought of this one…before your wedding day, when you are packing your emergency items, thread some very strong weight ‘fishing line’ (yes, from the hardware department) onto a needle.

The beauty of fishing line, is it is very strong and also practically invisible. So why would you need fishing line? For stitching your bustle up the one teeny tiny hook breaks, for stitching yourself into a dress when the zipper breaks, and for stitching your corset to your dress to stop it from showing over the top edge of your dress.

As a wedding coordinator, this is just one of many favorite items in my emergency kit, and it gets plenty of use. Your standard thread sometimes just isn’t strong enough to hold up your 15lb train - so pack your fishing line, already threaded on a needle, so it can quickly be utilized should you or your dress need it!!

When packing your wedding day emergency kit, remember to grab a stick of white chalk…why? you may ask???

Chalk is the perfect accessory to quickly cover deep dark stains. Use it to cover grass stains on the dress or train after your photo session, use it to cover red wine splashes, or any other stain that needs a quick ‘cover up’.

It won’t eliminate the stain, and you’ll still be able to see the stain when close up or looking for it, but for the guests and those taking pictures, it will cover it enough…

This is one item that is always in my emergency kit for any weddings I coordinate…