2. Best man gets blind drunk
If your guy's wingman is bang on the money when it comes to witticisms but has the potential to be a bit of a social hand grenade after a lager or two, ensure he doesn't hit the booze too early. He's meant to be helpful and charming, not slurring and silly, so if there's any doubt, have an understudy or deputy best man at the ready should your first choice backfire (see section 9).

3. Mother-in-law missing-in-action
If your mother-in-law is hanging around the Ladies gossiping to anyone who'll listen about the time you got blind drunk at the family Christmas dinner, or your previous failed engagement, don't panic. Send a maid in her direction as a chaperone and make her feel like a VIP by introducing her to all your friends. Ensure your maid has a few charming stories up her sleeve and we're pretty sure even the most rock hard MIL will melt once she's been shown off to your university mates and made to feel like the head honcho of the family. 

4. Caterers crash and burn
Cold chicken? Some guests on dessert while others are still awaiting their starters? Make sure there is a main contact to approach the caterers should things start to slow down. If things do start to take a sour turn on the catering front, send some of your more charming boys to talk to the guests on the tables still awaiting their food. It might also be wise to invest in some during-dinner entertainment in the form of a magician who can entertain the crowds just in case people start nibbling on their fourth bread roll of the evening. 

5. Florist faux up
The buttonholes haven't shown up; the centrepieces are ivory, not white; and the pew ends look limp. Nobody wants floral disappointment on their big day so make sure you and your florist are both on exactly the same page early doors with samples and examples you can actually see so you know exactly what you're getting. It's even worth having some of the flowers delivered the day before, to ensure everything is as it should be. Leave them in a cool shady place or even in the fridge over night and you can have peace of mind that your works of floral art are just as they should be on the day.

6. First dance fail
If your gentle swaying on the dance floor has left the gathered crowd a little bored and people are starting to move away, don't panic. Getting the party started can sometimes be tricky after a big meal and a subsequent stampede at the free bar, so ensure your DJ is ready to spin some seriously upbeat tunes if your first dance isn't hitting quite the right notes. Get-the-party-started anthems blaring out rarely fail to fill a dance floor, so keep the volume up and you and your new h2b can still dance together, just with a little more gusto!

7. Cake collapse
A four-tier tower slowly collapsing; an unintentional handprint on the side of a sugarcraft flower or the top of the delicate cupcakes crushed beyond repair. If well-meaning friends or family have generously suggested they take charge of delivering/presenting the cake, take a minute to think this one through. Delicate cake + tipsy friends = potential disaster. Always, always have your cake maker deliver and arrange your cake. Transporting these sugary towers may look easy but it isn't �- so leave it to the professionals, please. 

8. Dress disaster
A nail polish smudge on the back of the dress; a loose button; or a flower girl standing on your train as you attempt to move around the room... eek! Always have a calm, sensible relative on standby for any sartorial hiccups. Someone with a steady hand who is adept at fixing almost anything with a safety pin will be your best friend on the big day.

9. Speech not-so-easy
If the speeches are going from bad to worse it might be time to step in and save the day. It may be wise to try to have a pre-edit of the best man's speech in advance, although if he's keeping it under lock and key, make sure one of the other groomsmen is primed and on red alert to step in should any gags start to get too risque or he starts slurring at your mother. If things start to slow down or Dad is being a little too sentimental, some well placed comedy cue cards - we're thinking speech bubbles with 'laugh', 'cry', 'eek!' or 'sob' spelt out and held up by a few friends on each table - can work. Or for a more subtle approach, have a few big personalities prepped to laugh out loud if the audience is non-responsive. If things really start to suffer and the tumbleweeds roll in, nudge your groom and get him to wrap up any loose tongues with a swift "and moving on...." Last resort? Grab the mic yourself. Sometimes, if something needs doing....

10. Cash bar crisis
OK, Auntie Pat generously thought that the �500 she put behind the bar would last all night, but once the boys got stuck into the cognac and the tweens have had a year's-worth of fizzy drinks between them, things aren't looking so generous. If you get the signal from the bar tender that funds are running dry, don't panic. A prepared sign - a chalkboard perhaps - can discreetly be placed on the bar letting your guests know it's a cash bar from now on. After the welcome drinks, wine on the tables and the champagne toasts, most people hopefully won't notice anyway!

words Elizabeth Chester

Copyright Wed magazine 2016