The CDC Releases Wedding Survival Guide

You probably haven’t had a chance to use the Center for Disease Control’s tips for surviving a zombie apocalypse yet, but they have just released some advice for a more common summer epidemic: wedding season. The CDC blog has been posting tongue-in-cheek topics, there are two separate categories within the blog for “Zombies” and “Zombie Nation.” “The Wedding Day Survival Guide” is categorized under “Preparedness” and “Natural Disasters” (it’s funny because it’s true: some weddings are naturally disasters).

Whether or not the guide was written as a joke, it has some solid tips for surviving a wedding. Writer Caitlyn Shockey compares wedding planning to preparing for a disaster and suggests following the CDC’s mantra: “Get a Kit, Make a Plan, and Be Informed.” The suggestions for a wedding day survival kit aren’t uncommon to see on bridal websites. Items like a sewing kit to stitch ripped dresses, safety pins, water bottles for dehydrated bridesmaids, snacks to keep everyone’s blood sugars level (no one tells the bride and groom that they will barely get to take a bite of the food they put so much effort into choosing). A first aid kit, extra cash, and medications are all good ideas, too. I have one suggestion to add to the list that the CDC overlooked: faux eyelash glue. Those suckers can start coming up at the edges, making for some awkward photos halfway through the reception.

The “Make a Plan” part of the CDC’s advice is more than just listing the itinerary on a program or scheduling hair appointments. It makes handy suggestions like keeping an emergency contact list to warn all of the guests about weather-related emergencies. Brides everywhere who had enough trouble compiling addresses for the invitation mailing are probably screaming at this new suggestion, but it is a great one (wedding season is close to hurricane season). It also encourages giving guests an emergency contact if something comes up. This is especially important for out-of-town guests and could be included with maps and directions.

A wedding season survival guide from the Center for Disease Control may have seemed like a joke at first, but those helpful folks in Atlanta really just want you to get through what can be a terribly stressful few weekends. What should be a happy event can often turn sour with bad weather, unruly guests, unchecked emotions, and photo ops gone wrong (did you see the bridal party that fell into the water after the floating dock they posed on was submerged?). The least you can do is to prepare yourself for any possible problem, from mini-emergency to mega-disaster. You’ll be glad you did when all of the wardrobe malfunctions have been fixed and you have an ibuprofen ready for your headache.