Listen, I’m all for creating a wedding experience that guests will remember. Something fun, unique, maybe even a little “wow factor” to make the day extra special. But sometimes, these requests leave me questioning everything.
Take this wedding, for example. It was beautiful, don’t get me wrong! A classic setup: flowers on the altar, cocktails at happy hour, elegant floral arrangements on the tables. A tasteful, timeless vibe. But then there was the request. Oversized balloons. Hanging everywhere.
Not just 10. Not just 20. Not even a reasonable 30. Nope, this bride wanted 200 of the most obnoxiously oversized balloons you’ve ever seen, bobbing throughout the venue like we were hosting a wedding inside a bouncy castle.
Now, before you say, “What’s the big deal? Just blow them up ahead of time and transport them,” let me stop you right there. These weren’t your average party store balloons. These were massive, uncooperative beasts of decor that couldn’t just be casually inflated and hauled over like a box of centerpieces. Oh no, these things had a mind of their own, and “easy to manage” was not in their vocabulary.
But the bride was so excited, so convinced this balloon dream of hers would transform the venue into something magical. An important detail I have not mentioned yet: Our bride had not mentioned balloons throughout the planning process OR even in the two-week final details meeting...oh, no! She waited until 48 hours before the wedding to drop this request! Being the new planner that I was and being taught to say YES and figure it out later, I of course said "We got it"
Did we "have it" uhmmm... absoutely not! I immediately called our team and said "Houston, we have a problem!"
The heat on the day of the wedding was merciless, a scorching 100 degrees. My team was already dripping with sweat setting up decor, coordinating vendors, and ensuring everything else actually essential to the wedding was in place and let's not forget we had TWO hours to set up everything (oh how we love some of our venues!!!) including the task to “inflate 200 balloons the size of small planets” was causing some expected stress.
So, we got creative.
During a quick huddle, we devised a plan. The balloons and helium tank had to “disappear.” With a stealth that would make secret agents jealous, we rolled the helium tank into a hidden storage room, tucked the boxes of balloons under some table linens, and wiped our hands clean of the madness.
When the bride inevitably asked about them during her room reveal, our team already had a plan (lie)! We gave her our best concerned but professional faces. “We’re so sorry, but we can’t find them anywhere! Because you told us about this only two days ago, we thought maybe you didn't move forward with all the balloons. We were sad because it would have been so cute!" (Lies, Lies, Lies)
Was this truthful? No. Was it necessary? Absolutely. Would we do it again the same exact way, YES!
And here’s the kicker: the balloons weren’t missed. As the evening unfolded, guests marveled at the stunning flowers, enjoyed delicious food, and danced under twinkling lights. No one looked around and said, “You know what this wedding really needed? Giant balloons.”
Lesson Learned: Sometimes, as a wedding planner, you’ve got to make tough calls. You prioritize what matters, let go of what doesn’t, and occasionally, hide a helium tank as if your life depended on it!
*story submitted by a wedding planning company that has asked we keep their name anonymous.