When Life (or your special event) Get’s Derailed…

I rode the LIRR out to visit my ailing Aunt V (my namesake) yesterday when the first train I was on graciously waited (a.k.a. was held up) at Jamaica Station for another train coming in from Brooklyn for its connection. My connecting train at Huntington Station however, was not as kind. Instead, my fellow passengers and I heading to further points East were offered a yellow school bus - sans air condition or bathroom.

Needless to say, yours truly was not a happy camper.

As I sat on the bus annoyed and disgruntled, I reminded myself not to “sweat the small stuff” (literally and figuratively). It reminded me that even the simplest plan can go awry due to circumstances beyond our control. The same is true for any special event.

Following are some quick tips for those of you planning a wedding or special event.

* Anticipate Challenges: Part of successful party/event planning is thinking of solutions to problems before they happen. Write everything down that could possibly go wrong, from the likely to the outlandish. Brainstorm solutions for each problem.

* Manage Your Expectations: Be mindful of what can you control vs. what you can’t. You may be the VP of Operations responsible for planning a corporate picnic, but sorry, Mother Nature doesn’t give a hoot. It just may rain. If it does, do you have a back-up plan which includes a tent? Are you ready with ponchos or umbrellas?

* Trust Your Vendors and Be Flexible: You’ve done your research and hired a team of experts to create the wedding of your dreams. So trust their experience! If what you want are fluffy peonies in your bouquet but you can’t have them for one reason or another, trust your florist to come up with other possibilities. A good vendor will work with you to come up with an alternative you’re happy with.

* Hire a Professional: Lost keys, late deliveries, or wrong rentals might happen. If you hire an event planner, chances are you’ll never know about such issues because he/she has taken care of it.

The Bottom Line?

Don’t sweat the small stuff the day of your event or in life! It has been my experience that events I’ve managed down to the smallest detail, still take on a life of their own and you know what? It’s totally ok!

So, if a minor mishap still happens let’s say on your wedding day, just remember to breathe or laugh! Don’t lose your cool or your sense of humor (that’s why your beloved was attracted to you in the first place right?!).