Weddings are often described as “the best day of your life” — and they very well can be. But behind every flawless wedding are moments of quiet chaos, last-minute adjustments, and someone keeping it all together while nobody notices a thing.
As a professional host, I’m often asked what I actually do during a wedding. Yes, I make the announcements, entertain the guests, keep things moving. But perhaps more importantly — I prepare for the things you don’t plan for.
Because here’s the truth: even the most meticulously organised weddings can wobble. The trick is knowing how to keep the show going without letting the wheels fall off.
A well-stocked emergency kit (and a calm pair of hands)
Let’s start with the tangible: my Box of Emergency Things. It’s not glamorous — but it has saved more days than I can count.
Inside you’ll find everything from sewing kits to paracetamol, blister plasters to cable ties, glasses repair kits to Gaffer tape. I even carry spare cufflinks, pens for the guestbook, stain remover, and enough safety pins to make a punk rocker blush.
It’s not that we expect things to go wrong — it’s that when they do, I’d rather be the one who’s ready.
You can see more of what I carry right here on my Box of Emergency Things page.
When the power went out
Picture this: the marquee is up, the guests are seated, the speeches are moments away… and everything goes dark. No lights. No sound system. No power to the caterers.
It wasn’t a disaster. It was just a challenge.
While the venue coordinator was fielding panicked calls, I quietly found the maintenance team, located a separate power source, and rerouted a few hundred metres of extension cable without anyone knowing. Within fifteen minutes, the room was glowing again and the guests none the wiser.
That’s the part no one puts on the brochure — but it’s exactly why experience matters.
A family fallout (and a quiet intervention)
Not all emergencies are technical. Sometimes, emotions run high.
At one wedding, just before the speeches, the bride and her brother had a very public falling out. Tears, tension, and the very real threat of someone leaving early.
Rather than let the moment derail the day, I gently intervened. I gave space where it was needed, smoothed over feelings, and quietly restructured the order of events to give everyone a little breathing room. The speeches went ahead. The mood lifted. And by the end of the evening, they were dancing side by side.
These moments never make the Instagram reel. But they are often the difference between a good day… and a graceful one.
Expect the unexpected — but don’t panic
The point isn’t to scare anyone into thinking their wedding will be a disaster. Most aren’t. But it is wise to have people around you who know how to act when something does wobble.
A great wedding feels seamless not because nothing went wrong — but because someone made sure the guests never saw it.