Ways to Make Sure Allergies Don’t Spoil Your Big Day

Weddings are the biggest day in many people’s lives, and everyone wants the day to be memorable — for the right reasons. The wrong reasons would include an allergic reaction that throws the ceremony into chaos. If you worry about the possibility of allergies ruining the celebration of your union, read on. We have assembled a list of easy steps to keep yourself safe from that issue.

Plan Around Your Problems

The good thing about allergies is that, unlike some other kinds of illness, they are a known quality. If you know that you or someone close to you suffer from them, you can plan around that. When picking venues, decorations, and even the time of year, you can make decisions around when and where allergens are least likely to rear their ugly heads. A solid allergy plan should be a part of any wedding where one of the people involved suffers.

Check Out the Venues

Environmental factors cause a large percentage of allergy issues. A building’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system will tend to accumulate dust and dirt and even mold and recirculate the harmful particles into the air, where they can be breathed in. Many of the locations a wedding will take place in are rentals where an agency will have the responsibility of dealing with cleaning issues; in that case, tour the facility and make note of the cleanliness before you reserve. Other locations may require the couple to arrange a cleaning; in that case, you’d want to book a professional for a cleaning before the event to address the potential of allergy flare-ups.

If you wedding takes place in an outdoor space, spend some time at the venue before making a commitment and make sure your symptoms don’t flare up the moment you step foot at the location. You don’t want to book a location outdoors and then spend the day of your wedding dealing with a runny nose or itchy eyes.

Check Flower and Food Allergies

Image via Flickr by nparekhcards

Two of the most common allergy culprits are greenery and foods. When assembling your floral arrangements and setting up the catering, it will be easy to make sure you avoid things that might trigger allergies among a close-knit bridal party. But the other guests and more casual acquaintances might have allergy issues the planners won’t know about, and a reaction in the audience will throw off your big day as much as if you yourself have an episode. To counteract this, stay away from common allergy triggers like peanuts, and try to aim for flowers known for being less harsh. You can also include a section on your RSVP cards where guests can include notes about their allergies. By doing so, you won’t have any surprises day of and can avoid any crisis in advance.

Avoid Powerful Fragrances

Strong scents or fragrances can cause your allergies to flair up and even result in a headache. No one wants to deal with these issues when they’re walking down the aisle. To avoid this, consider using faux or unscented candles as décor. You could also opt for silk or paper flowers for the bride’s bouquet. This is cost effective, allergy friendly, and won’t wilt after the ceremony ends. Make sure you highlight the importance of being fragrance-free when making plans with your florist and venue manager.

Do a Trial Run

Before you even get to the rehearsal, it may be a good idea to do a trial run on certain aspects of your big day. For example, having your makeup artist practice your look before hand will let you know if you’re going to have an allergic reaction to any of the makeup or products used. You can also pre-sample all of the food to make sure it’s safe to eat. Additionally, you can purchase small samples of any flowers or plants that will be around the day of and place to around your house. This way, you can spend a few days breathing around them to see if they will cause any flair ups.

Have Emergency Supplies On Hand

Of course, sometimes the best plans fall apart in practice. If you or someone in your wedding party has serious allergy issues, you’ll want to be sure you have the appropriate gear on hand. For somewhat threatening allergies, making sure everyone who suffers has an inhaler can forestall a serious issue. If someone has a life-threatening allergy to something, you might consider keeping an epipen on hand. A first-aid kit is probably a good idea as well, regardless of the respiratory status of the members of the wedding party.

Weddings are expensive and important, and no one wants them ruined by a medical issue. So make sure you plan around your own issues, and you can keep your fairy tale from turning into a horror story.