When you are planning your wedding day, you likely have a vision in mind of your ideal ceremony and reception. You may know exactly which rituals are most meaningful to your partner, and which band is most likely to get everyone on the dance floor. Chances are that something will go awry at some point, regardless of how well you plan. This is why good wedding preparation involves making contingency plans to keep things running smoothly.

Wardrobe Mishaps

No matter how beautifully tailored the clothing selected for your big day is, sometimes mishaps occur. Seams rip, and celebratory champagne gets spilled. Prepare a repair kit with the things you need to get ready when you arrive at the venue. The kit should include a few essential items:

• A needle and thread to match the colors that the whole wedding party is wearing
• Scissors
• Fabric tape and safety pins
• A stain remover stick, baking soda, and club soda
• A lint roller

Additionally, you must make sure you have someone who knows how to use these tools efficiently. Twenty minutes before the ceremony begins is not the time to discover that no one in your wedding party knows how to secure a loose button. Designate one of your attendants ahead of time to perform this task. If none of them feels confident they can do so, peruse the guest list for those who you know can save the day if needed.

Public Speaking Jitters

Your wedding day is going to be filled with a lot of best wishes and declarations. From the vows you and your partner make to the toasts given at the party later, several people will have all the eyes in the room on them at some point. It's normal to feel nervous about speaking in front of a crowd, and someone might forget what he or she is supposed to say.

Most professional wedding planners would advise having anyone who is giving any kind of speech write out what they plan to say ahead of time. Keep the hard copies in a binder that you entrust to either your planner or someone in your wedding party. While needing to refer to the notes may feel a little awkward, the speaker will likely be grateful that you planned this particular safety net.

Venue and Personnel Issues

An outdoor wedding can be breathtaking. When the weather doesn't cooperate, though, it can turn into a headache in a hurry. If any part of your big day is held outside, you need to have a backup plan. Whether this means moving the ceremony to an onsite ballroom or renting tents that can be raised in a hurry to shelter your guests, knowing what you are going to do ahead of time can save you a lot of stress.

One of the best reasons for hiring a wedding planner is to manage the vendors who provide catering, entertainment, and other services. Even if your friends are helping out with these tasks, you need someone in charge of the timeline to make sure everything happens when it's supposed to. The person who manages your wedding day also needs to know whom he or she can call if someone doesn't show up or gets sick at the last minute.

Planning a wedding can be stressful. Having contingency plans for all the moving parts may help ease some of your anxiety. It eases the pressure to understand that everything doesn't have to go perfectly to end up well. Knowing that you have alternative plans just in case the unexpected happens is a great way to set the tone for the happy life you and your partner have ahead of you.