How to Handle the Most Awkward Wedding Planning Situations

Wedding planning can be fraught with awkward situations from dealing with vendor communications to etiquette issues with the bridal party. You just want to get married and have everyone be happy in the process, which is why we have enlisted wedding planner extraordinaire, Katie Frost of Katie Frost Weddings. Keep scrolling to read her answers on how to handle the most awkward wedding planning situations! (Get ready to feel less stressed and enjoy the planning process more too!) 

Photo // Wild Garden Photography

What do I do if I’m having trouble hearing back from my vendors?

Love this question! Always try to have the mindset of giving grace. A lot of vendors spend a lot of time working outside of their emails so responding can take a few days. If you are consistently not hearing back from them, politely explain that you would like more communication with your vendor and give them the opportunity to explain their work style. This right here is crucial, especially when you’re meeting your vendor for the first time.

Always, always, always have the discussion of expectations and how that vendor communicates and the timelines of their responses. I work with a lot of bakers that I personally won’t hear from for weeks because they don’t have the time to sit at a computer constantly, I’ll always take the repercussions from the bride to make sure it doesn’t reflect poorly on the vendor. I know we all work hard and sometimes this industry is a beast. Having grace with everyone you work with will go so far!

How do I politely request children not to attend? Is that okay?

Absolutely! Your wedding is your day! You can do whatever you want. As far as requesting this goes, politely put it on your invitation that this is an adult reception only. You can also reiterate it on your wedding website with more detail: This is an adult wedding only, while we love your kiddos we want you to enjoy the night without any worries!

How do I handle that awkward, “Can I bring a date?” question?

Just be honest! Honesty goes so far. Tell them that you can only invite so many guests to your wedding, and unfortunately you don’t have room for every guest to have a plus one.

Tips for selecting friends to be in the bridal party?

Be honest with yourself on this one. Who do you want by your side on your wedding day. Leave out the politics of who has had you in theirs, your new hubby’s sister-in-law, etc. Those spots next to you should be cherished and should be reflected that way. You’ll spend so many hours with these women – make sure they are the best of the best. The ones that will lift you up, be a constant encouragement, a shoulder to cry on, judgment free friends! Oh, I can’t tell you the stories of the brides that have had to kick out bridal party members because they made it about themselves or wanted to put the bride down. Don’t let that be you, even if that means you only have two solid girls standing next to you, if they are the right girls, it’ll be the best decision you’ve made! More isn’t always better.

What should the bridal party expect to pay for?

This is a tough one, but again be honest. If you can’t afford to pay for their hair and make up, plus their jewelry, plus the dress, plus the shoes, then let them know upfront. Some girls may not be able to afford to be a part of your wedding and that’s okay, but they need to know what they are responsible for before committing to be apart of your crew. Otherwise, be prepared to help cover those costs if it’s a deal breaker. What they need to pay for is completely up to you and your budget. If you want to pay for everything, amazing! If you can only pay for their jewelry, perfectly okay! Don’t ever let what you can cover make you feel bad. It’s an honor to be by your side, and odds are they are just excited to be a part of your big day!

My friend is planning a bachelor/bachelorette party I will hate – what do I do?

Tell her! If you think it’s going to be a huge flop and something not up your alley, let her know! The only way they can make it better and more you is by having that hard conversation. Sure it may not feel good at the moment, but if you want to have a good time, you have to be honest. Otherwise, you may end up resenting that friend that poured their heart into making something they thought would be a blast for you.

A very special thank you to Katie Frost of Katie Frost Weddings for sharing expert tips on how to handle all those awkward wedding planning issues. For Katie’s help successfully navigating the planning process — and having the wedding of your dreams – you can contact her directly through her Brides of North Texas vendor profile.