Coordinators slash Crisis Managers

Let’s admit it, there aren’t any PERFECT weddings. It will always have a glitch, small, big or just freakingly ginormous! But don't sweat it. Other than not having your bride or groom showing up at the altar, every other planning hiccup will not kill you. Just look at it on the bright side. At least you got a swell story to tell to your grandchildren or you can earn a few bucks by telling it on national television just like me. Hehehe.

Last night I went to tape an episode (again) on QTV 11’s The Sweet Life. The topic was about Dream Weddings that turned into nightmares. The Bride without the Bouquet – that was my story. On the panel were two other guests – a lawyer whose Cebu wedding was in more disarray than mine and Celia Cunanan of the Social Connection, Founding Member and Chairperson of the Philippine Association of Wedding Planners.

I had a lovely chat with the seasoned wedding planner backstage and learned a lot about the business. I liked what she told me – A good wedding coordinator is not just organized, she’s a Crisis Manager. That’s absolutely true. I realized that the only reason why I broke in hives during my wedding was because my OTD wedding coordinator told me about my missing bouquet. Looking back, if I had just been clueless about it then I would not have been stressed out. A good wedding coordinator would always protect the bride, ESPECIALLY on the wedding day itself. Good crisis management is to look for solutions with the least commotion possible. To be fair to my OTD coordinator, she was just a friend who offered to help and reacted probably on panic. In times like these, you need someone totally unattached to the whole situation.

So to all brides-to-be when shopping for a wedding coordinator or when you’re ditching this professional service and rely instead on your families and friends, make sure to tell them that on your wedding day, the rule is: Spare me the Stress!