Possible Day of Wedding Scenarios
(a.k.a. what to do if you're officiating and all hell breaks loose!)
It's not possible to come up with every possible problem that can happen to you on the day of the ceremony, but here are some potentialities. Be prepared for them!
The couple forgets to bring the marriage license to the ceremony (or didn't get one in the first place).
Go ahead and perform the ceremony as written. The couple can send you the license after the wedding, with their signatures on it and you can sign it and return to the County Clerk. If they didn't get the license, perform the ceremony, explaining that it will not be legal until they obtain a license and it is signed by all. Also, let them know that the date on the marriage license will not be the exact date that the ceremony was performed as they will have obtained it after the ceremony and you cannot backdate the license.
Someone in the wedding party faints.
Try to avoid this situation by advising everyone to bend their knees slightly as they stand (as in don't lock them). Also, tell them if they feel
even the least bit faint that they should quietly leave the front and get themselves to a chair or a cool spot. Better to be a little embarrassed by subtly walking away than
a lot embarrassed by hitting the ground!
If someone does faint, stop the wedding immediately and attend to the person. Help them up and escort them to a seat or a cool spot. Assign someone to tend to the fainter, encourage everyone else to return to their seats and then resume the wedding ceremony quickly.
Unity Candle torch doesn't work or candles keep blowing out.
Test the torch beforehand and have the candle-lighters practice with it as well. If it doesn't work when the individual tapers are lit, then simply ask someone in the audience for a lighter or matches. Keep your demeanor light and no one will be embarrassed. If the candles are blowing out (in spite of your advice to have them have hurricane globes) then have the Moms or the best man and maid of honor cup their hands around the tapers as the couple lights the Unity Candle. If the Unity Candle doesn't stay lit, that's okay--they got it aflame and that's what counts.
If you arrive at the ceremony site and it is simply too windy to consider doing the Unity Candle ceremony outdoors, then suggest that the couple delete it from the ceremony and save it for the reception. Make sure you give the ceremony reading including the Unity Candle prayer to someone who can read it at the reception. Don't leave and take it with you!
Couple writes their own vows, doesn't give them to you beforehand and then forgets them on the day of the wedding.
Unless you can quote a vow from memory or ad lib something on the spot, it is a good idea to keep an extra few vows from the ceremony-writing kit in the cover of your ceremony binder just in case.
Couple forgets the following:
Roses for Rose Ceremony: Grab flowers wherever you can find them (bouquets, centerpieces, etc.) Or send someone to the local grocery store to pick up two roses, if there is time and they can get back before that part of the ceremony.
Corkscrew for Wine Ceremony Wine: Check with the venue or ask around. Many guys carry Swiss Army knives.
Rings: Perform the ceremony without them and omit the exchange of rings
Unity Candles or holder: Not much you can do if they forget the candles--maybe check with the venue. If it's simply the holder, get creative--someone can usually come up with something--a vase, rocks or even a simple coaster.
Glass for wine-glass breaking: Get one from the bar or unscrew a light bulb and wrap it in a napkin
Bowl or rocks for the Bowl of Blessings: Find any container. If it's feasible, have the guests pick up rocks by the site. If it's not, then omit the B of B and simply add a blessing at the end.
Sand or Salt: If you're on the beach, grab some sand; if you're at a wedding ceremony venue, see if the kitchen will spare some salt. If there's time, send someone to the grocery store to buy salt.