Planning events is no small feat. There is so much that goes into it. And sometimes unexpected things get a chance to sneak up on you.
Whether you're coordinating a corporate conference, a wedding, or a backyard birthday party, a lot can happen. And if you’re lucky you might just get an unexpected giggle or two.
These hilarious event fails act as a reminder that not everything surrounding event planning is serious business.
There are moments where the unexpected happens. And if you’re fast enough you might capture the next viral sensation.
1. The "Wrong Date" Disaster
Imagine showing up at your wedding with dress and guests in tow only to find a dog show in progress.
That’s what happened to one unlucky couple who booked their venue for “Saturday.” The problem is that they forgot to specify which Saturday they wanted.
Because of a simple miscommunication error their big day was overshadowed by barking terriers and poodles in tutus.
Lesson To Be Learned: Make sure to double-check and confirm your dates.
2. The Great Balloon Escape
A company that was attempting to set the world record for a balloon release forgot to take the weather conditions into account. Because of that they missed the fact that there were going to be strong winds.
Instead of having balloon that floated into the sky majestically. They had thousands of balloons that became entangled in trees and caused environmental chaos.
Lessons To Be Learned: Always factor in the weather conditions.
3. Tech Trouble
A virtual conference kicked off with a keynote speaker… But there was a major problem. No one could hear what they were saying because... They forgot to unmute their mic.
Because no one was aware of what was happening they just sat there. For a whole 15 minutes of awkward silence and animated gestures.
Lessons To Be Learned: Always do a tech check.
4. The Food Fiasco
A company arranged a retreat for their staff. But unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned at all and it was all because the caterer misread the order.
So when they delivered 300 cheeseburgers to a fully vegan crowd, they had some serious explaining to do. But that wasn’t their only problem.
The awkward silence they encountered was quickly followed by them rushing to make a plan to find emergency salads.
Lessons To Be Learned: Double check and confirm catering details, especially when there are specific dietary requirements.
5. The Overbooked Conference
A company booked a seminar expected where they expected 100 attendees. The problem was that they failed to cap their registrations.
This led to a total of 300 people showing up at a venue that had seating for 80 people. Just imagine how crammed that space must’ve been.
Lessons To Be Learned: Know what your capacity is and book accordingly.
6. The Missing Performer
A company booked an outdoor festival where they billed for and advertised that there would be a "special guest." The problem was that the guest never showed up.
What was the problem? This happened because no one actually booked the special guest. And we can only imagine how angry the crowd must’ve been when they found out.
Well, they were angry, and they responded by booing until the organizers got a local garage band as a replacement.
Lessons To Be Learned: Confirm that your talent is booked and coming.
7. Sign Sabotage
Imagine showing up at a wedding and following the signs just to find out you were being led to the wrong place. That was exactly what happened on this special day.
Whether it was an accident or done on purpose still needs to be determined. But these guests were in for a surprise tour when they followed the signs to the reception.
You see the sigh that said “Reception” was actually pointing the guests toward the “Restrooms.”
Lessons To Be Learned: Check your signage! Make sure all your signs are pointing in the right direction, so you don’t end up accidentally misleading your guests.
8. Decorations Gone Wrong
Creating your own wedding decorations can be a fun and bonding experience. But when you do that there are certain factors that you need to keep in mind.
This couple decided to save money with their DIY centerpieces, but they underestimated the power of nature. Thanks to a little breeze their cute paper flowers blew off the tables and ended up in the pool.
Lessons To Be Learned: When creating your own decor take multiple factors, like the weather, into account.
9. Wi-Fi Woes
There is nothing worse than having a virtual or hybrid event where there are tech issues. Especially not when those tech issues involve Wi-Fi.
At this particular tech conference, the organizers forgot to make sure there was reliable Wi-Fi. This meant that the attendees were unable to access the presentation materials.
It’s pretty obvious that what followed was a bunch of frustrated attendees and a few grumpy hashtag trending on Twitter.
Lessons To Be Learned: Never underestimate the power of tech essentials.
10. The Caketastrophe
Cake is a fantastic thing. It can take any shape, be any height and convey any message. That’s why it’s a central part of so many celebrations.
But just like with everything else. Your cake designer could mess things up. You could get a design you didn’t ask for. Or you might receive the wrong cake altogether.
That is exactly what happened at a retirement party. The bakery delivered a cake that said, “Congrats on Your Promotion!”
We can understand why the honoree was mortified when they were handed a knife so they could cut into the “new chapter” of their life.
Lessons To Be Learned: Make sure you triple-check all personalized details.
Why Is Map D The Perfect Event Planning Sidekick?
While these hilarious fails make great stories, they also highlight how crucial it is to stay organized.
Map D offers comprehensive tools for event planning. These tools include vendor management, attendee tracking, and real-time updates, so you can make sure everything runs smoothly.
Whether you're hosting a small gathering or a large-scale conference, remember that Map D turns chaos into coordination.
