Backup Plan B (& Maybe C)
When something is important, like getting married! for instance, it’s always wise to have a backup plan in place. This allows all those involved peace of mind in the lead up to and on your wedding day.
My most recent wedding, at Crams Farm (near Uki, northern NSW) was originally planned to be held outside on the lush grass. After almost a week of rain, it was decided at the rehearsal (the day before the wedding) to re-locate to the adjacent Doon Doon Hall. This seemed like the perfect Plan B … and then it rained more overnight! On checking an online road traffic app, it appeared that there was water over the road into Crams Farm and so we wouldn’t be able to make it in.
This then got us thinking about a Plan C … potentially relocating the wedding to the reception venue in Kyogle. Fortunately, the groom was able to get out to the venue safely and passed the word along that all was well to hold the ceremony in the hall.
The bottom line is that it was great to have options available and this definitely made it less stressful for the wedding party and their guests on what turned out to be a very wet weekend.
Weather
The main contributing factor to relocating a wedding would have to be the weather. Things like rain, high winds and very high or low temperatures all play a part in your decision making. If you don’t have an undercover option such as a marquee readily available, my recommendation is to make a call early enough about your changing in plans. In this way, your celebrant and your family and friends have enough notice and can still arrive on time. Where there is no undercover option on site, your reception venue is a great option for a change in location like this.
Natural Disasters
Unexpected things like fire, land slips, swollen river crossings etc. can also prevent a wedding going ahead in the planned location. It simply is not always possible to find a way around these issues.
Illness
If your celebrant becomes ill or has been involved in an accident, they should (if they are physically able to) engage the services of another celebrant to take over their role on the day. They will need to transfer the Notice of Intended Marriage (this can be done electronically) and the ceremony script to the replacement celebrant who will, in turn, have to sight the couple’s evidence of date and place of birth and identity. I have a wide network of other celebrants I can call on should something unexpected like this happen, although I’m happy to say that I’ve never needed to ask another celebrant to take over for me in 11+ years of being a celebrant.
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Being organised is key. As long as you have a backup plan (or two) in place, you’ll be able to pivot on the day and still make all those lasting memories for all the right reasons!
121 ~ 31/03/2025
© Lindy Cooke Celebrant