Leah Tindale asked her Triple M co-host to MC her big day but now she’s concerned it might end in disaster

A person’s wedding day can present plenty nerve-wracking moments for the bride and groom.

The kind that can tie knots in the stomach of even the strongest of people.

Among the concerns: Is everyone going to get along? What will come up in the speeches? And will the MC facilitate a smooth evening, or cause it to all end in disaster?

Most people would have experienced a wedding where one of these elements gets out of hand.

Unhinged jokes are made. Tension is felt on tables. And the what should be a happy day all around suddenly feels less than so. It can leave you scratching your head as to what is going on.

I am now only two weeks away from the big day, and this concern has been front of mind as I worry I may be the maker of my own disaster.

Early in my engagement I thought it would be a great idea to get down on one knee and ask my Triple M WA breakfast co-host Michael Ross to be our MC.

At the time I thought it would be great for the show, and as he is one of my best friends.

It appeared an easy fit to include him in a special way on the day.

However, this responsibility may have gone to his head. He has now evoked the title of “man of honour”.

Adding to my nerves, he has decided to throw me a second hens party, declaring my official one, organised by my sister, won’t cut it.

We are now doing a “bird themed” hens for the radio show because I am the “hen”.

And, yes, you read correctly.

Needless to say I have my concerns of what he might end up saying as MC, let alone what anyone else who has been asked to speak might bring up.

As this is my second marriage, I acknowledge there is a lot of fodder ripe for the taking. I expect a joke or two to be included because who doesn’t like to poke fun at their good friends. But who knows what I am actually in for.

To mitigate some of this risk, mt partner Cornelius and I have chosen limited speeches.

No one wants to get stuck listening to multiple speeches that can last a full hour, so Corne and I are going with just four in total, including a final thank you from us.

While one of the reasons for the decision is efficiency, we also needed to weigh-up the family dynamics at play.

As with many families these days, there are divorced parents, step parents, and all manner of wonderful people who make up a family. This absolutely brings a richness, but it is also fraught with sensitivities.

Questions that may not be necessary all of a sudden are front of mind.

For example, if your Mum does a speech, then surely your Dad has too? Or if they do one together, can they manage to share the time?

With this in mind, we have decided to not have any parents do a speech.

Instead, we will have one close friend each and one friend who knows us both as a couple speak.

These three people have been given very strict instructions. No longer than five minutes, and we have told them this knowing that they will then be seven to ten minutes.

Another concern is that we have guests from a real variety of backgrounds — some quite conservative, others more liberal. While I trust those chosen to speak, I would be lying if I didn’t admit some anxiety on how certain jokes or anecdotes will be received.

Something I have been trying to remind myself through these decisions is that there is only so much I can control.

I can easily spend time and energy worrying about what may or may not be said, whether people will get along or not, or whether underlying family dynamics might bubble out and infect the wedding.

Or I can simply let whatever will be, be.

It is such a cliche, but it is the best place to be in the final weeks before I undertake a major life change and say I do.

I like to think because as we have a small invite list and everyone attending will have our best interests at heart, our guests will behave in a way that reflects their love and respect for us.

But regardless, at this point, whatever will happen, and I can simply choose to enjoy myself.

And if things happen, at least it will make for an interesting story, which will be great for radio.