Wedding Day Mishaps: Real-Life Wedding Blunders and How to Handle Them
- Scott
- Mar 3, 2024
- 3 min read
Wedding Day Mishaps
As a wedding musician, I've always believed in the magic of tailoring each performance to the couple's unique story. But sometimes, the most memorable moments come from the unexpected twists that no amount of preparation can foresee.
Let's dive into some real-life wedding day hiccups that could have easily derailed the whole wedding, and how to avoid this happening to you on your big day.
Relying on Venue Staff for Music Cues
I played a wedding ceremony where a couple had their hearts set on a very specific song for their grand exit.
The plan was simple: I would handle the live music while guests are being seated, music for the bride to walk in and music during the register signing, and a venue staff member would cue their special song to walk out.
Sounds easy, right?
Well, as the applause for the newlyweds began to fade after being announced "Husband and wife!", so did the music. A missed cue led to an awkward silence, punctuated only by the shuffling of lonely feet on the red carpet, until the song finally played... just steps before the couple exited the room. A perfect reminder that even the best-laid plans can go awry.
To avoid this: give a member of the wedding party an extra job of double checking that everyone understands the plan. Ideally, best man of usher as they have access to the ceremony room before the bridal party and before the guests are seated. It only takes a quick conversation to the event organiser. It's as easy as, "Have you got someone playing the right music for walking out?"
The Case of the Wrong Venue
My booking process is pretty straightforward - a deposit to secure the date and the balance due two weeks before the wedding. This two-week mark is also my deadline for finalizing details like venue, schedule, etc. Imagine my surprise when, after confirming everything was correct, I arrived at a Swansea venue only to be greeted with confusion.
"Aren't you a little bit early for a 14:00?" Asked the venue coordinator.
"Isn't it 11:30 start?" I replied.
"No... Actually, we don't have you down to play today, have you got the right day?"
"What's the name of the bride and groom?"
"Melvin and Rodrigo" (Names have been changed for privacy)
....
Turns out, the wedding was in Cardiff, not Swansea. A frantic rush and a bit of luck (the wedding party was delayed in traffic) got me there in the nick of time.
Lesson learned: Make sure all of your wedding suppliers are aware of any changes in schedule of venue.
Agency Mix-Ups
Working with an agency as part of a wedding band introduced me to a whole new set of challenges, like the time they double-booked the band.
Instead of splitting us into two bands with deputies, they sent me with two random musicians from Facebook. The issue? Miscommunication about the backing tracks. Our band played with tracks and a click to keep time, but the deputy hadn't downloaded the tracks as promised. We ended up playing without them, improvising as a three-piece band instead of our full setup (Which the bride paid for). Despite the stress, we managed to pull it off, and the bride and groom were none the wiser.
There were so many other problems related to the agency that I feel like this deserves it's own full blog to explain the risks of booking your wedding band through an agency.
Make sure this doesn't happen to you: Do not book through an agency. They are supposed to be there to make everyone's lives easier but all they do is overcharge you (the client) and undervalue the musicians.
Conclusion
These wedding day mishaps, while nerve-wracking at the moment, remind me of the unpredictability and joy of live performances. They underscore the importance of adaptability, clear communication, and the magic that a live musician can bring to a wedding, even when things don't go as planned.
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