What do you do when a storm destroys your reception site before the wedding or your florist goes out of business? Use our calamity-proofing guide.
By: Sherri EisenbergDisaster Scenario #2: Nature Unleashes Her Fury
Think a drizzly wedding day would be a bummer? Luis Rosero and Lisa Moreno, of New York City, should have been so lucky. Their Miami event was interrupted by Hurricane Jeanne last September—and worse still, they only received word that their church and reception site planned to close at their rehearsal dinner—the night before the big day.
The couple had to decide then and there whether to cancel the wedding outright or postpone it for a few days. In the end, they did neither, choosing to get married that very evening instead, since most of their guests were already in town and were actually at the rehearsal dinner. Lisa and Luis rushed into action. "We found an officiant who could perform the ceremony and told everyone that we'd be getting married later that night, at the house we had rented for the week," says Lisa. "Our wedding planner was a big help, too. She picked up the cake herself and arranged to have the florist bring over the flowers."
As Lisa and Luis learned, it's possible the wedding you worked so hard to arrange won't happen as planned. But the good news is that you don't have to lose all your money along with your dream day. That's because the same safeguards that protect you against a breach of contract, bankruptcy or fraud also will protect you in the case of a flood, fire or storm. So, make sure you have contracts, pay with a credit card and consider taking out wedding insurance (Lisa had purchased a policy, which reimbursed them for their lost expenses). Crossing your fingers can't hurt, either!
