When the perfect day goes wrong

Lou Reed had a song that was titled perfect day. The song has interesting lyrics: description of the day meant drinking in the park, feed the animals, watch a movie then go home, problems are left alone that day. The day is gladly spend with someone special who makes them feel that he's someone good as he forgets about himself that day.Such is his description of a perfect day. It kind of reminds me about weddings-they are viewed as a perfect day in an individuals life everything from the start to the end should be perfect without a problem and when most people hire planners this is their biggest expectation.

So when the things take a twist for the worse it can be a disaster to this day which wouldn't have been for another day. I would like to consider some five disasters that have been in Nairobi last year at some weddings that I knew about:

Brides love cakes in most weddings around the world and Nairobi isn't any different, so when a bride whose 5 tier cake was turned to 4! The problem the baker comes really late by 2 hours to set up his cakes he is so drunk and doesn't carry cutlery with him neither does he supply cake stands but opts to improvise stands which makes one of the cakes collapse on the ground and the planner has to rush to the hotel as the reception is in their grounds to get cutlery and save the day. The wedding started its church service two hours late and most guests have left for the day, the cakes left are more than enough to feed the guests and the bride doesn't get to worry much so what went wrong....the bride selects her own baker and doesn't introduce him to the planner

Most people in Nairobi look forward to receptions because of the food besides the cake that they eat. Most couples during the planning stages are given a list of vendors with their friends in the wedding committee and so they settle for the cheapest vendor in terms of price. Scenario 2. Everything about the wedding is planned and the caterer has been selected the only problem is she is paid her money too late after she has waited in vain for it and her balance? well, she has to bring food first before she can get it. She decides to do a no show for the event- what then happens the committee representatives have to rush to coca-cola depot that stores sodas to buy sodas and a shop to buy loaves of bread to feed guests who are about 700 talk about a day gone wrong and this time no planner is available to rescue the situation.

Karen area in Nairobi is a lovely place to have a reception a bit pricey than town venues but definitely a breath taking view. Picture this when you fly from abroad and have a good job and come home to marry you really want the perfect day to ring out loud. But what happens if your vendor for tents and chairs has already charged and supplied you with the required items, you're fully paid and they have delivered early. The perfect day is going on well but the imperfect thing comes in where she gets a good corporate deal on the same day and decides that may the best person win and definitely by Nairobi standards weddings hardly competes firms that are launching big events as far budget goes so the bride and her high profile guest are left in the lurch and a friend to the mother of the bride comes to the rescue to supply a few tents and chairs to the guests as the reception progresses they are pitching tents and arranging seats the theme lost and most guests seat on kindergarten seats the good thing the vendor refunds the money. Mother of the bride cries and its not because her daughter just said I DO

Does the Nairobi Bride still need a planner? Well, its still her decision. Next time we will look at the two other scenarios and a way out of the maze that might prove useful but to end with Lou Reed's song "You are going to reap just what you saw". The beats might not impress you but the words ring true as far as weddings go.




Lyrics | Lou Reed - Perfect Day lyrics

Does she need a planner?

Wow! I still can't believe its taken me 3 and a half months since I wrote my first blog its not a good rate and excusing the fact that I'm not a journalist neither a good writer doesn't work but I'll try to enjoy my writing just like I do my work. Its been busy time analyzing what works or doesn't and the changes to be made for my company. Now that its in the past, I will get back to my question does she need a planner?

I especially admire the work done by Samantha Bridal Exhibition and The Wedding show on Citizen Television in Nairobi-why? I have seen brides I've mentioned to try certain colors or trends in their wedding but its been a firm NO so I had to deal with what they know its tried and tested from other brides but the more the brides have seen how creative other brides are getting they are willing to try out new things too. One show that really touched me was the last show that featured a couple whose reception was at the railways station in Nairobi that was amazing to see a reception done in a place I associate with the so many problems its had in the past I was glad to see it as a reception ground.

Back to my article. A majority of the Kenyan brides prefer committee planned weddings where a group of friends gather to help the future couple (bride and groom) raise money for their wedding. Most don't earn enough to finance their weddings and even for those who do prefer to still work with a committee its easier to work with trusted friends than complete strangers (read planner), the case being they're considered expensive and out to extort the bride and groom. But is this true? Well... I will leave it to an individual to decide whether they can trust a planner or not besides many articles have been published on the importance of a planner.

I do however want to look at a planners work from the angle of blunders that occur during a wedding and why a planner comes in handy. The next article will address the issue.