I just came back from a "surprise" wedding*, where the groom had no idea he was getting married. It doubled as his birthday bash and it could have all gone pear-shaped, but the bride did well springing it on him. She basically told him it was happening, passed him a piece of card with his vows on it, the celebrant appeared from nowhere and it was all over. Quite a cool day.

*(The couple had been engaged for more than 20 years and he always said: "You make the arrangements and I'll just turn up." She called his bluff well.)

Eeep you make me nervous! I'm getting married at the end of Feb, not long to go now! I had my dream wedding all booked and paid for without a hitch when my soon to be Mother in law throws a huge wobbly and decides that I'm not allowed to get married anywhere other than where she got married... in a Chapel that is now falling apart and we can only use the front half of the church because of the rotting floor boards... GAH! What made it worse is that she waited until 2 weeks ago to go nuts... We've only had everything planned for a year, sheeeesh! Anyhoo thats my 2 cents over with. Fingers crossed the day will go smoothly

My wife turned up over half an hour late.

Turns out she went to the hairdresser, had a elaborate and expensive hairdo and makeup done, then got home and decide she hated it. Off came the wedding dress, into the shower went the fiance. She washed out the new hairdo, dried, straightened and restyled her hair, got redressed, had make up reapplied, and then FINALLY left.

Only other disaster was me losing the walking out music just before the ceremony. My brother in law came to the rescue with his ipod just in time.

Maybe I'm evil but I almost think people who obsess too much (bridezilla types) deserve something to go wrong. I'm pretty sure I would laugh at myself if something went wrong for me.

My friend from high school got married in february a couple of years ago and they had a beach wedding, sunny for months up to the wedding, day of the wedding - galeforce winds and super heavy rain! Poor things, it was still nice though - in the local community hall.

Distractions - well 'saving the best for last', start hanging around with more unmarried people, 30% marriages end in divorce, and think of the money you're saving!

I can't think of any wedding disasters I've been involved in.

I've ended up on the 'drunken idiot' table a few times though at wedding receptions which is always amusing.

Naw Greer honey, you can't think like that. (Though I know exactly what you mean) There were 13 engagements in my office last year and one already this year. Even some good good punk rocker friends of mine have been tying the knot and wedding bells are not very Sid and Nancy if you know what I mean.

Marriage is an amazing idea... to think that someone could love you so much that infront of everyone they care about they want to promise to be yours forever. It's beautiful.

Greer you know you're a big fat spunk and it'll happen for you one day. Do things that make you happy and feel good and put yourself in the best position for attracting someone rad enough for you.

Mine was hell.

1. My limo turned up 45 mins late to pick me up - which worked out ok as there was a storm so I arrived at the same time as moist of my guests whod been stuck in traffic. 2. As there was a storm my outdoor wedding got moved inside - to a bar! 3. The reception room was set up differently than what I had asked for (even doing a set up I specifically asked them not to do) and no-one knew where to sit. 4. Then they "forgot" to cook half the main courses so noone had enough to eat. 5. Then there was a power cut. 6. Then a lot of roads got closed so I had to leave my reception early to go home and clean my house (in my wedding dress) so people who were stuck could stay at mine until the roads opened. 7. I also had a fight with my photographer who was a total jerk and made me cry. Another photographer had to step in to tell him to stop being an ass.

It sucked so much. I am all for a registry office wedding, or maybe a beach wedding in raro where someone else organises the whole thing and you just have to turn up!

Ok Greer, while it sucks to feel like that, believe me its completely worth waiting for. A good percentage of your married friends will just be going through the motions anyway and wishing they were single.

Got some advice too: I was at a party you were at once and you spent the entire night talking about the Dominion Post and journalists you knew, which was not in the least bit entertaining or even interesting. Try not to talk about work at parties - its the same as lawyers who turn up to parties and talk about law - yawn!

My best friend, who is female, was 'best man' at our male friend's wedding. Her boyfriend and I had been tasked with bringing her speech notes to the venue. We thought we brought them, but alas, they'd actually slipped down the back of the couch in the motel.

She was ropable, but luckily, because I helped her write the speech and listened to her practice it about 50 times, I could remember most of it and quickly scribbled it out for her.

When the time came to deliver the speech, she ended up saying "I'd like to welcome everyone to this terrible special occasion." She meant terribly special, oh how everyone laughed (except the bride)!

Mine's happening in May! It's going to be a tiny wedding so hopefully there will be less that can go wrong! Luckily I know my photographer well, and all my family are very helpful when it comes to organising things, so it should go off well.

I know it's coming up, and in five months I will be a "Mrs" but it's just so hard to imagine. I can't imagine being married! But I am looking forward to it! Sometimes, on the inside, I still feel like a kid and getting married seems to be a very 'grown up' thing to do!