Enlisting A Bossy Know-It-All will Keep Your Day On-Schedule


Your wedding date is approaching and you'll want to make sure your ceremony goes off without a hitch. A day-of “drill sergeant” can help instruct your guests on where to sit and what to do, communicate with the caterers and musicians, and deal with any unexpected problems. They won’t be winning any popularity contests; their job will be to make sure everybody does what they are supposed to, and when they are supposed to do it.  You’ll have enough to do, and you’ll be too emotional, so get someone else to play the bad guy.  This person will have a large impact on the success of your wedding, so choosing the right individual is very important. Here are some tips on who to ask (and which cadets would not make good sergeants!)
 
Ready recruits:
Your mother: She probably already knows all of the details about the wedding and is familiar with the caterer and florist. Just make sure she'd be comfortable instructing guests and wouldn't mind taking an active role on the day.

His mother: Forget the evil mother-in-law stories and ask your fiancée's mom to help out. She’ll be flattered that you're entrusting her with such an important role and eager to aid you with the ceremony and reception. If you're worried that asking her could leave your own mother feeling left out, you could ask the two women to work together to make the wedding a success. Or divide up the tasks and have one mom responsible for the ceremony and put the other in charge of helping with the reception.

Your dad: Fathers can often feel left out during all of the girly planning and preparation for the wedding. Asking your dad to help instruct the guests can be a way of letting him know you are interested in his input and value him for much more than his check writing abilities. Just remember to ask someone else to help during the ceremony if he's walking you down the aisle.

A good friend or relative who's not in the wedding: Is a college friend disappointed that you didn't ask her to be a bridesmaid? Do you have a favorite aunt who you would like to recognize on the big day? Making a close friend or family member the drill sergeant allows that person to feel included even if he or she is not part of the wedding party.

The pal who's always calm in a crisis: The Drill Sergeant needs to able to remain steady if the musicians are late or you run out of red wine. Ask the friend who runs her own business or the cousin who is raising three kids.
 
Unfit to Serve:
The friend who spent her last four lunch breaks dress shopping with you, or the relative who sat for three hours planning your seating chart: You don't want to ask a guest who has already devoted a great deal of time and energy planning the wedding. Pick someone who hasn't been as involved in the preparation and allow your faithful helpers to relax and enjoy your celebration.

Your 15 year old nephew who is desperate to help out: Your Drill Sergeant needs to be a responsible adult. Recruit someone mature to be in charge and allow younger guests to help with smaller tasks, like assisting guests to their seats during the reception or making sure the musicians get something to eat during breaks.

A wallflower: The Drill Sergeant needs to be comfortable instructing your guests and talking to your caterers, musicians, and other helpers. Don't choose someone who is shy or wouldn't want to talk to guests that he or she doesn’t already know.