I went in search of some wedding day disasters to see what wisdom and insight as a planner I could share.
In other words, how would I help my clients to avoid the same mistakes that led to these wedding mishaps? When Googled, the first thing that came up was a bride that was arrested at her own wedding.
Now, I'm sure many a bride and groom have gotten wasted at their reception, but just because it didn't end in an arrest doesn't mean that it still wasn't a disaster that could have been avoided.
So, for the first in what I will make a weekly series, Avoiding Wedding Day Disasters, I present: Disaster #1 the Bride got arrested! The details aren't important except for one, the Bride drank way too much and, as a result, she went a little bonkers.
She got upset when the bartender cut off liquor as the end of the reception approached (last call is a real law in most states including Pennsylvania) and threw stuff at her new husband (the kind that could leave a scar), to name a few infractions that landed her in the pokey on her wedding night.
We all know how crazy it can get when we drink a little too much (some certainly more than others).
I have personally witnessed Brides and Grooms get into a little alcohol induced tiff by the end of the night simply because over indulgence tends to make some of us irrational and angry at, well nothing.
I know you wanted to cut loose and have a great time at your reception but, think of this way; you've spent so much time, effort and, of course, money to create the perfect day and atmosphere most likely filled with sophistication and elegance.
Getting yourself completely intoxicated could quickly negate all that hard work.
So, how do you have fun, let loose but without it getting too out of control? Here's my advice:

• Don't over indulge! Have fun and relax (maybe take any edge off with a drink or two) but do not over indulge.
  Do drink (you deserve it) but pace yourself.
  You don't want to start off your first morning of marriage with a hangover from hell!
• Eat Carbs! Heck, eat in general.
  Many couples are so busy being the Bride and Groom, they forget to enjoy the food at their own wedding.
  One or two or three glasses of wine can quickly inebriate you when you drink on an empty stomach.
  While it won't prevent intoxication, it does slow the rate of absorption into your blood stream.
  As long as you have food in your stomach and pace yourself you'll be able to maintain a nice buzz without going overboard.
  
• Let your wedding planner run some interference.
  If you know of a guest that does not handle their liquor well or gets a little too rowdy, you might want to make your wedding planner aware so that she can alert the bartender and staff to those particular guests (discretely, of course) The staff could somewhat manage the liquor intake of the guests without them even knowing it (like making their drinks just a little weaker) And,should a guest get out of hand, the wedding planner could defuse anything that might become an unfortunate incident.
  
• Make it safe to drink! If you know that your guests will be the type that may over indulge, then make arrangements for discounts (or have your planner do so) for guests at a nearby hotel.
  Many offer weddings and their parties bulk rates.
  Pass this information on to guests in your invitations and encourage them to stay overnight.
  Some hotels even offer shuttle services (at additional costs) that will pick overnight guests up and bring them back safely to the hotel.
  Some areas of the country even offer services that will take people home in their own cars if they are drunk.
  No, seriously! Here is a link to the National Directory of Designated Driver Services.
  (and there is one available in Carbon County, PA!) Call or have your planner call to find out if such a service is available or how you can make one available for your guests.
  
• Stick to Red & White Wine and Champagne Guests are less likely to drink those in quantities that would leave them inebriated and it will also help your wedding budget by cutting out hard liquor costs.