Cold Feet

VIOLA

Cold feet.

No, I don’t mean cold feet as in the kind you get from being out in the cold or swimming in water that’s too cold or simply not dressing warm enough.

I mean the other kind of cold feet.

The worst kind.

The kind that some women, and to a lesser extent, some men get just before their wedding. Yes, that kind.

My biggest pet hate. Why? Because in my line of work, they can ruin everything.

What is my line of work?

I’m a wedding planner. Any wedding planner hates and fears cold feet. They can derail everything. The whole day. Ruin you financially and possibly your reputation too.

I’ve been in this game a long time though and I’ve learned the hard way. When you’ve had enough cancellations because of cold feet you become hard. It becomes a matter of survival as well as doing what you love.

I now insist on non-refundable deposits from clients. They sign a contract when they hire me and they accept that they will lose their hard-earned money if they dare cancel. The deposit covers the location rental, decorations, cakes, caterers, furniture and marquee, photographer, band, and absolutely everything I need to cover.

I’ve gone a step further with my service. I include a counselor who provides last-minute counseling if the bride or the groom gets cold feet. They don’t know the person they’re speaking to is a counselor if I send them in. The counselor works the magic they need to, to keep the show on the road.

I’m the best. Not just as far as clients are concerned but also as far as my suppliers are concerned. They know they’ll get paid even if the show doesn’t go on.

I’m inundated with clients and they even delay their weddings just so I can be the wedding planner. I’m not boasting, just saying how it is.

For me, it’s not about the business aspect. There’s something about seeing a couple walk down the aisle to that moment in time when they will commit to each other before God and everyone present. Seeing the love and caring in their eyes and their kiss and the celebrations that follow. I love it. I love to see a couple in love and happy. That’s why I do it. I help couples make a dream come true with their wedding day.

But right now, I’m waiting with bated breath. It’s early Saturday afternoon.

even left her home yet. The counselor

lose the first wedding I’ve lost in ages. I am seeing my record run of talking

breath for

phone pings. The bride is on her

sigh of relief. I key the walkie-talkie and speak to my

is on the way. I lie and tell him that there was a traffic jam because of an accident. That’s usually the story I give them. The bride, or groom, whichever one of them had cold feet is always told what to say beforehand. As far as possible, no-one wants to admit they had cold feet on their wedding day. It’s not the way to start a marriage. They can sort it out later if

out and the organ

none of her fear away. My counselor climbed out

still at this stage back out but thankfully she doesn’t. I say another prayer of thanks when she says ‘I do” and kisses her

church. Guests and well-wishers sprinkle confetti and

it’s on to the reception which I expect will go off without a hitch. The couple will do their photos just before the reception so there is time for me to

for the first time. I pause as I take him

spends time in the gym. His hair is jet black and short but not military style. His

my eyes on him

his partner is. Surely, he can’t be at this wedding alone? Not

the couple is heading down the road in the wedding carriage and then I key my walkie-talkie and call the team together for

I have a lot of contacts. One of them is a caterer I use regularly for food for the team. They’re not expensive and the food is always good. They also know what food is needed for every team member so I don’t have to worry that

a restaurant with no distractions. We can focus on what needs to be

are ready for the role they will play in the reception. The photographer is the only one who is absent since he has a full

with their equipment and will head to the reception location after lunch to begin setting up and testing their

items one by one as the team members confirm that

Check. The list goes on and each item is a

checklist and everyone

expect her to stay around after the wedding. Her

We have worked together for a

I smile when we end our embrace

and then back at me. “Can we