If you’re worried about wedding day mistakes, mishaps, or things going sliiightly off track, you’re in the right place! As a wedding photographer who’s been to countless amazing weddings, let me tell you—something always goes a little wrong.
And that’s totally okay! No wedding ever goes 100% according to plan, but that’s part of the beauty of it. In fact, those little hiccups can bring even more fun and magic to your day if you roll with it.
Want to see how my couples handled their real-life wedding day surprises and turned them into unforgettable moments? Let’s dive in!
Here’s how to embrace the wedding day mistakes & mishaps
Feel free to get inspired by how my clients and I turned those slightly uncomfortable situations into truly special moments.
When the temperature is hot as hell
The truth is, you can never predict what the weather will do. You might luck out with the perfect cool, breezy, sunny day—but if you’re hosting a summer wedding, it might just be hot as hell.
That’s exactly what happened to one of my couples, and they turned it into a fun, cute experience! To keep the sun out of their faces during the ceremony, they took turns holding a parasol. It made for the sweetest touch in their photos.
So, if you’re planning a summer wedding and want to keep your guests cool while adding some extra charm, parasols are the way to go! Even if they end up not being necessary, they’ll still add a fun twist to your day.
You can go for white, rainbow colors, create your own palette, or even go with funky patterns. The choice is yours—just have fun with it!
When it rains all day
Speaking of weather—yep, it might also just rain all day. And if you’re planning an outdoor ceremony, that could sound like a total disaster. But don’t worry! This happened to one of my couples, and they turned the surprise into pure magic.
The rain gave them the chance to capture stunning, romantic rainy-day portraits that told an unforgettable story. It added a beautiful, dramatic (in the best way!) vibe to the whole day.
Plus, no one got soaked! Most venues have indoor options, and if you’re determined to stay outside, they can usually provide a tent.
If you’re worried about rain on your big day, chat with your venue about backup options and whether they allow any last-minute changes.
And then, just relax and enjoy! If it rains, roll with it—you’ll end up with extra-magical, story-driven photos that will make your day even more unforgettable.
Family not being ready for photos
Another thing that might go a little off track? Family photos. Sure, you can schedule them into your wedding day timeline, but that doesn’t always mean everyone’s going to be ready to jump in for the family portrait.
Some people might still be getting ready, others caught up in the hustle and bustle of the morning—and honestly, with a big family, it can be tricky to wrangle everyone at the right time.
But hey, that’s alright! It happens. With one of my couples, we simply bumped the family photos to another time in the day. This is the thing: there will always be little hiccups, but you just have to go with it and adjust.
And if you’ve got vendors who can think on their feet (like me!), they’ll make sure everything runs smoothly so you can relax and enjoy the day—even when things get a little messy.
When florals are late for flat lay photos
Things running late? Yes, that’s one of the most common wedding day mistakes and mishaps, but with a little creativity, your vendor team can handle it with no problem. For example, at one of the recent weddings I shot, the florals didn’t arrive on time!
At first, we all thought it was terrible news—the flowers were a key part of the decor, and we planned to have them for floral flat-lay shots.
But guess what? It actually turned out totally fine. The flowers showed up later, and I ended up getting creative with some nighttime photography. The result? Gorgeous night-time flat-lay shots that made the florals look even more magical!
Makeup getting smudged right before the shoot
Like I mentioned before, with photoshoots, it’s all about improvisation. So, if your makeup gets a little smudged, it’s no big deal!
Even if you invested in top-quality makeup…Sometimes, you scratch your face by accident, or maybe it’s super hot, and you start to get a little sweaty—your makeup might not stay perfect.
But don’t stress! It’s totally natural and nothing to worry about.
You can easily dash back for a quick touch-up with your makeup artist. And here’s the fun part—this is a great chance to capture some intimate, behind-the-scenes moments that make your wedding day even more personal!
Wedding outfit getting damaged
The same goes for wedding outfits. You might spill something on them, or (if you’re like a lot of my couples) you love dancing and being genuinely silly—which means you’re at risk of tearing your outfit!
And honestly, I love how playful my couples are, so I’d never tell them to be more careful or to dance less. Instead, my advice? Be prepared for little mishaps, and make sure you’ve got an emergency sewing kit on hand. Or, have a second outfit option ready to go so you can really let loose!
Now you’re prepared for wedding day surprises
And that’s it! No matter how perfectly you plan, it’s always good to expect a few things to go slightly sideways. Just know that you can handle any wedding day mistakes & mishaps—whether it’s miscounts, late arrivals, or the weather doing its own thing.
Some of these things always happen, and that’s totally fine! Be sure you’ve got your emergency sewing kit, makeup kit, and—most importantly—a team of vendors who are pros at improvisation and quick thinking.
Whenever something like this happens, I always encourage my clients to embrace it rather than see it as a big problem.
Looking at these little surprises in a positive light will turn what could’ve been uncomfortable moments into special, authentic, and unique parts of your day. It’ll add an extra story, an extra memory, and extra magic to your wedding—and to your photos.And if you’re looking for a wedding photographer who’s experienced many situations like these, can handle surprises without stress, and loves turning unexpected moments into great ones, then… I’d love to be there for you. Reach out to me here, and let’s chat!
Check out these posts next:
