A florist gets stuck in traffic. The best man battles a debilitating case of nerves moments before his speech. Your no-longer-married parents pick today to have a heated argument.

Even on the most carefully planned wedding days, the unexpected happens.

The key, as with unwelcome surprises in life, is not what happens but how you respond.

Let's tackle some common scenarios with practical solutions.

WHEN VENDORS RUN LATE

Have your wedding coordinator or a designated friend be the point person for vendors. They can handle the logistics while you stay focused on enjoying your day. For that delayed florist? Your coordinator might quickly grab flowers from a local shop for key photos, then incorporate the professional arrangements as they arrive.

FOR THOSE PRE-SPEECH JITTERS

Keep a wedding day emergency kit that includes rescue remedy drops and chamomile tea. Have someone from the wedding party sit with the nervous speaker, remind them to breathe, and assure them that authenticity matters more than perfection. Often, the most touching speeches come from those who were the most nervous.

As a backup plan, quietly ask another confident groomsman to be on standby, someone who knows you and your partner well and can share heartfelt thoughts without extensive preparation. This isn't about replacing your best man but about having a safety net that allows him to feel less pressure.

Sometimes, just knowing there's a Plan B helps calm those nerves enough that Plan A works beautifully. And if needed, there's nothing wrong with having both speak, after all, double the well-wishes just means double the love.

WHEN FAMILY TENSIONS FLARE

Assign specific family members or friends as "peace ambassadors" —  people who can gracefully redirect difficult relatives to separate areas of the venue.

You don't have to fix decades-old family dynamics today. Focus on the love that brought everyone together, and let your designated helpers manage the rest.

WHEN THE WEATHER DOESN'T COOPERATE

That perfect outdoor ceremony you planned? Mother Nature might have other ideas. Keep your sense of humor and remember, rain on your wedding day is considered good luck in many cultures!

Have your coordinator prepare ahead with elegant clear umbrellas (they look amazing in photos), and scope out indoor backup locations at your venue. Sometimes those rain-soaked pictures become the most romantic ones in your album.

WHEN THE DJ'S EQUIPMENT ACTS UP

Technical difficulties don't have to mean musical silence. Ask a musically inclined guest to grab their guitar for an impromptu acoustic set, or create a backup playlist on your phone that can be connected to venue speakers. Better yet, use this moment to start an impromptu sing-along. You'd be amazed how wedding guests love to join in on "Sweet Caroline" or "Don't Stop Believin'."

WHEN THE CAKE HAS A MISHAP

Whether it leans, melts, or takes a tumble, cake disasters aren't the catastrophe they might seem.

Have your caterer keep some backup desserts on hand, a tower of cupcakes or a dessert bar can be just as festive. And remember, if you can laugh about it, your guests will, too. Some couples even end up loving their "repaired" cake photos more than a perfect one. There's something endearing about a cake that tells a story.

WHEN A KEY GUEST IS RUNNING LATE

Whether it's your elderly grandmother stuck in traffic or your college roommate's flight delay, having important guests running late can be stressful.

One possible solution is to have someone livestream key moments for those who might miss them and be flexible with your timeline if possible. Sometimes rearranging the schedule slightly (like doing some group photos first or extending the cocktail hour) can make all the difference in including everyone in your celebration.

REMEMBER YOUR SECRET WEAPON

Your wedding party and coordinator are there to handle these hiccups. Let them be your buffer, your problem-solvers, and your peacekeepers.

Your job is to focus on the bigger picture: You're marrying the love of your life, surrounded by people who care about you. Everything else is just details in what will become a great story to tell at your anniversary celebrations.

The Bell Tower on 34th, one of Houston’s leading wedding venues with a chapel, is committed to helping recently engaged couples realize their wedding vision.

Our venue, a short drive from downtown Houston, is designed to provide seamless transitions from ceremony to cocktail hour to wedding reception.

Contact us to schedule a visit.

The Bell Tower on 34th

901 W 34th St, Houston, TX 77018

(713) 868-2355