'Zillas

There is nothing worse than being a planner and having a bride turn into the dreading BRIDEZILLA. By now, unless you live under a rock, have heard of the term Bridezilla.  It's a term that is used to describe completely chaotic, crazy, irrational, rude bride.  Brides going ballistic with their wedding plans and  of course day of.  Now being in the business for some time now, we have been fortunate to not come across many Bridezillas.  Having said that, we never know what we will encounter the day of.  Sometimes the bride is calm as a cucumber other times she will break down into tears, having a complete melt-down or throw tantrums for no apparent reason.  This all comes down to nerves.  We wouldn't call that Bridezilla-ish.  That's just a bride being a bride.  We take that all in stride.

Now there are creatures that are more dreaded than the Bridezilla.  We have encountered quite of a few of this not so rare animal.  More Zilla-ish than a screwy bride.

MOMZILLA, this one is usually apparent right from the start.  They usually don't hide their true identity to easily.  They make sure we know they are around from the start.  Now this Zilla tries to influence all the vendors.  Whether it's trying to change the first dance song to a more appropriate song, trying to run the rehearsal, questioning every decision the bride has made, telling the decorator/florist where everything should go and completely just taking over the planning process.  In the end we have no contact with the bride. Momzilla has taken complete control. Crazy right?   One Momzilla even tried to change the flowers behind the bride's back.  She called the florist and insisted the change.  Just happy the florist called us before she changed anything.  Can you imagine?  Showing up to you wedding and getting totally different flowers then what you anticipated?  Talk about a potential melt down!  Mom's mean well, their hearts are in the right place.  They want the best for their little girls and they won't stop at anything to make that happen.  But, what happens is they end up stepping on toes and in the end upsetting the bride.  Usually by day of, and we do mean usually, they are a mess with emotion and really can't conjure up enough strength to dictate any more.  Advice, this is you daughter's day, let her have her day.  Don't live vicariously through her, enjoy the day with her.

The dreaded and once unrecognizable GROOMZILLA. Yes, there is such a thing.  When the groom, who is usually so laid back and calm morphs into this monster, it is not a pretty site.  We have had the unfortunate encounter with a few Groomzillas.  They arrive very discreet, very cunning and then when you least expect it they spring it on you.  Why isn't my hotel room ready? Why are still getting the room ready? Why is this here?  Why do I have a rose?  Why is she still getting ready? why, why,why...UGH!!  Really?  To top it off they usually will try to include their bride in their madness.  Calling them again and again. You really haven't been involved in any planning process now you want to question everything and everybody including the bride.  Action of attack...it depends on the groom.  First, make sure bride's phone is off!  Second, calm them down with a drink from the bar--if they drink. Food works too. Talk slowly and rationally to them, try to resolve the issue.  Even if there isn't one.  Appease them with some type of sporting event on TV or possibly a video game of some sort.   Lastly, get the best man to take him for a walk, shoot some pool or whatever just get him away. It's usually the case of the nerves and they just need to see things rationally. They will calm down after a few minutes.  But, they can reek havoc so quickly it'll make your head spin.

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For the worst perpetrator of all.  THE VENDORZILLA.  Yes, we dare say it out loud.  Now Vendorzillas are the most cunning of them all.  They can totally fool the wedding couple.  They sneak around and keep there true Zilla form hidden until one day....BOOM!  All heck brakes loose.  They don't return calls or emails, don't provide the service they are contracted to do and are always late. Somehow have the disillusion that this is their day.   Now I've encountered quite a few of these Zillas.  Some were almost as elusive to me as to the bride at first.  But, then they always show their true colors.  DJzilla, Caterzilla, Flowerzilla, Bakerzilla, just to name a few. They are all unique in their own way, but can totally ruin a wedding from the inside out.   Some think that they "make" the celebration.  They are the only reason we have all gathered.  Really?  How soon they forget the real reason we are here.  To celebrate the marriage of the bride and groom.  We all work for them.  Supposedly as a team.

When a bride asks for red roses, WHY do you show up with fuchsia? When they want you to play a certain song at a certain time, WHY do you completely ignore them?  When the food is supposed to be one way, because that's how they want it, WHY do you provide what YOU want because you think it's best?  Why when we say arrive at a certain time you arrive so late that the guests see you setting up?  They are unprofessional, not dressed properly, rude, unaccommodating, barking orders left and right to both guests and their workers, and did we mention half the time show actions of a person who is quite frankly a lunatic.

In Zilla world there are so many things that can go wrong.  We have to shield the bride and groom from all things Zilla. We have to battle for them behind the scenes either before or after the wedding. We have to take the Zilla aside and make them understand what the whole point of this day is.  And yes sometimes we do have to show our teeth and growl at them.  Sometimes that's all it takes.  We start off sweet as pie but we can tear into them, if need be.

Now we know that wedding planners can turn Zilla-ish.  We sometimes would like to pounce on someone every now and then.  But, we have to maintain composure, keep smiling while biting our tongue. We've come quite accustomed to that over the years.  Many times having to leave the room to scream or count to 10, over and over.  Vendors are supposed to be a united front.  We all work for the same person and should act like it.  We're just the directors of this wedding movie.  If one of us is off, we all suffer.  We should have the same voice, the same goal.  That is always to keep the bride and groom happy. The whole goal for this one day is to give them the best day possible.  A day to remember.

If that means going into the jungle that can be a wedding to hunt these Zillas, that's what we will do.  But, the Zillas should not be so calm in their madness.  So poised to do what they want at the cost of the happiness of our couple.  Beware Zillas, we come armed and ready.  We will do what it takes to make our couple happy.  After all, that's why we are their wedding planners.