What to do during a power outage at your wedding
June 28, 2008 by Christine Gooding
Filed under Wedding Planning, Wedding Reception
I recently emcee’d the reception of my aunt and uncle’s 50th wedding ‘renewal of vows’ on Sunday, 22 June at the height of a tropical storm here in the Philippines. The storm was so strong that the reception venue had a power cut and was (thankfully) working on a gas-powered generator.
Since it was only a generator, the supply of electricity was limited. While the guests were streaming in, we had to shift a lot of the equipment to one side where the power cord was to plug in the cables for the mic, for the band. It was hellish.
From this experience, I have learnt a few things/tips that I want to share with anyone who are in the throes of planning their weddings:
1) Make sure that your venue has a generator so that you still have power/electricity in case of power outages/failures
2) If you have a wedding coordinator, ask them re their contingency plans in case of power outages. Remember, you are paying your coordinators to make your life easier. If you are undecided on which agency to go with, the answer to this question may be a deciding factor for you.
3) If you have a family friend acting as your wedding planner, make sure you sit down with her/him to plan what you’re going to do in case of a power outage
4) If you are the host or emcee of the wedding programme, you should learn to be flexible and re-arrange the order of the programme if and when required.
5) if you are the host and having technical difficulties due to the power failure, be ready to distract your guests with jokes, anecdotes about the couple while waiting for the music and/or equipment to be ready. We had this problem at the wedding reception I hosted on Sunday and good thing I was able to think quickly on my feet! Ask the audience questions like ‘how the couple met’, ‘how they got engaged’, be prepared with small prizes to whomever gives the correct answer! It’s one sure way to entertain the guests while you are getting ready for the next part of your programme or if you encounter any technical difficulties!
Any other tips you can share with me? Please feel free to leave comments here!
Make sure where ever you have your Wedding that there is back-up power. We lost power during a event at our house and decided to gat our own back-up generator. My husband searched and found one at mainpowerconnect.com Next time we have a formal event at our house we’ll have the power needed if an unexpected outage hits.
These are great tips for that moment if the power should go out.
What a great reason for having candles in centerpieces!
Although, it can seem like the worst thing that can happen, remember that the people attending your wedding are your closest and dearest (or they should be) family and friends. They should always stick with you and help you out to make the best out of any situation which should arise!