One Day Before…
It’s hard to believe. No, it’s impossible to believe. The day you have been thinking about since you were a little girl – your wedding day – is only one day away! Your mother and father arrive later today, your sister and her husband come in tonight and the friends you’ve known since second grade, who have accepted the challenge of being bridesmaids, are still asleep at the hotel.
The flowers, church, catering, and entertainment are booked. Your dress is beautiful, and your future husband is handsome as can be! It all seems like a cool Gershwin song. What could possibly go wrong?
Unfortunately, everything.
Veteran wedding planners have proof of the pitfalls of weddings, and some of them are more painful than others. But have no fear! The mishaps and mayhem of those who have made this trip down the aisle before you have been meticulously chronicled below, and they can serve as your “Avoid These!” list.
What to Watch Out for before the Big Day
You know that part of the wedding vows that goes…”in sickness and in health?” Sometimes the sickness-and-health issues come up before or BECAUSE of the wedding.
Dr. Mark Lessner, an orthopedic surgeon in North Texas and a member of the Texas Health Spine & Orthopedic Center referral line, has four tips to help keep you and your wedding party out of the emergency room!
“There are several potential health landmines that can cause a bride, groom or members of the wedding party to either miss or feel miserable during the wedding,” he said. “Here are some ways to avoid them.”
Tip #1
“Avoid improper, heavy lifting,” Dr. Lessner said. “This can involve mom’s suitcase, which is packed with more clothes than she would wear in a month, as well as those of seemingly small wedding decorations that need to be moved several times in order to be just right.
“If you MUST pick up an object, use your legs to lift; don’t bend. Then carry the item as close to your body as you can. This will help you avoid a back strain and help ensure that you are not suffering from back pain on the big day.”
Tip #2
“Watch your step on the dance floor,” he said. “Nothing ruins a post-wedding reception quicker than a trip to the ER for a sprained ankle, or worse.”
Tip #3
“Try and chill,” he said. “The mental stress of dealing with the wedding ceremony, friends, family and even the cute little ring-carrier, who doesn’t understand how to use his inside voice, can cause headaches, stomachaches and neck and back stress. Take a deep breath and then take a walk.”
Tip #4
“Many weddings have a rehearsal dinner on the night before the ceremony,” Dr. Lessner said. “These parties are great for families and friends but can be dangerous for the bride and groom. Falls or other minor accidents can put a big damper on the evening.”
Tips for the Big Day
Once the big day finally arrives, every bride and groom feel a combination of excitement and anxiety. The ceremony and reception are planned to the last detail (including the obligatory group sing-along of: “CEL-E-BRATE-GOOD-TIMES-COME-ON!”) but there are still hazards lurking behind the champagne fountain!
Wedding planners offer these tips for avoiding or dealing with wedding day injuries:
- For ceremonies that are scheduled for outdoors, have a “Plan B” for inclement weather. Otherwise, expect guests to be soaked and develop nasty colds!
- Have a first-aid kit on site at the reception. There’s a good possibility that either your crazy Uncle Jimmy or your girlfriend from college – will bump his head, cut her finger on a crystal glass that she has just broken or twist an ankle from dancing while being over-served. It happens. Be ready for it.
- After standing all day while wearing those gorgeous but extremely uncomfortable new shoes, the bride’s tootsies are most likely screaming in pain. It’s a good idea to have some more comfortable shoes available for her at the reception. That way she can “CEL-E-BRATE-GOOD-TIMES-COME-ON!!!”
- Finally, watch the alcoholic intake of the bride, groom, their parents and the wedding party. When the ceremony is finally completed, there is a tendency on the part of participants to breathe a sigh of relief and toss back a few more drinks than they would normally consume. When this mild or serious inebriation is combined with dancing, accidents can happen that can result in sprained ankles, twisted knees and trips to the E.R.
Some people wonder how the tradition of the honeymoon came about. Why, they muse, does the new husband and wife take off on a long vacation that is someplace far away from their families, friends, and co-workers. After reading the above cautionary tale, isn’t it obvious?
They’re exhausted.
Don’t let injuries put a damper on your wedding plans. Contact us at Texas Health Spine & Orthopedic Center for an appointment.
Physicians who are members of the referral program practice independently and are not employees or agents of THSOC.