If a vendor is missing the day of the wedding
If you can't get in touch with a vendor the day of the wedding, appoint a wedding party member to try to track them down. Hopefully, you will have all of their contact information with you at the wedding and reception site. Should your appointed person be unsuccessful in finding them, she should then start hunting down alternatives. Many wedding vendors will be happy to suggest last minute fixes for such a problem, and may in fact specialize in solving last minute wedding emergencies.If you can't find a substitute, here are some other suggestions:
Missing Florist: Have a wedding party member run to a grocery store or florist and buy as many flowers as you can afford. If flowers are not readily available, tell them to look for tall pillar candles. The members of your wedding party will look simple and elegant carrying a candle each. Candles can also make simple centerpieces. Another alternative would be to build centerpieces out of fresh fruit and votive candles. Your guests will never know that the florist didn't come!
Missing Photographer:Call as many guests as you can and ask them to bring cameras. If you hadn't already planned to have cameras on the table, get a wedding party member to run to the grocery store and purchase some. After the wedding, set up a place where people can exchange photos (such as flickr or Kodak. You may end up with far more creative shots than you would have with that good-for-nothing photographer anyway!
Missing Minister or Officiant In a pinch, download a copy of a wedding service from the internet, then ask a well-spoken good friend to lead the wedding. While you won't be legally married at the end of the day, you will still have had a memorable and spiritual wedding. Later, you can go to city hall and make things legal, or get married by a religious leader in a more intimate way.
Missing Printer with Wedding Programs In the end, no one will notice that you didn't have programs. If you have enough time, you can try to print out a new original, and run copies off on a Xerox machine, but it will be just as lovely without.
In the end, the important thing is to breathe. While you may believe that your wedding day is ruined, remember the important thing is to celebrate your love together in front of your loved ones. As long as that happens, what could go wrong?
