What should the officiant do when someone faints at a wedding?
Wedding day surprises
When someone faints at a wedding or throws up during the ceremony, stay calm, pause, get them water and a cold towel, and act like it’s no big deal. Your calm is what everyone else borrows in that moment, and the ceremony can almost always continue once they’ve recovered.
Hear how it actually sounds
I’d been officiating for ten years before I experienced anyone throwing up or fainting during a ceremony, and then both happened within a single year. Here’s exactly how each one played out.
The bride who barfed
She came down the aisle with her mom and barfed out of nervousness before I’d really said anything. She handled it like an absolute champ, but she was certainly embarrassed. Listen to how it was handled in the moment.
The best man who fainted twice
He went down during the ring exchange, recovered, and went down again two minutes later as I started the pronouncement. Fortunately the bride’s aunt was a nurse and rushed out of her seat to help.
My 8 steps when someone faints or throws up
- Get food in them beforehand
At the rehearsal, tell the couple and the wedding party to eat a little before the ceremony. They don’t need to pig out, just a little something in their stomachs.
- Stay calm
Your energy is contagious. If you freak out, you’ll make it much worse for everyone standing up there with you.
- Have them squeeze their toes
Tell the person who’s struggling to squeeze their toes inside their shoes. It naturally grounds us and brings awareness back to the present moment.
- Remind them to breathe
Full, deep breaths. Nerves make people take tiny sips of air, and that’s half the problem.
- Send someone for water
Ask a guest or someone in the wedding party to grab water for whoever’s about to go down.
- Get a cold, damp towel
For their forehead, or to wipe their mouth and clean up. A handkerchief works too.
- Act like it’s no big deal
The person is undoubtedly embarrassed. If you stay relaxed and treat it like something you’ve seen a hundred times, their embarrassment shrinks and you look like a pro. Celebrate their recovery and ask the guests for applause. Having a crowd clap for you feels great even when you’re embarrassed, and it breaks the ice before the ceremony even starts.
- Give them a mint
I carry a small tin of Altoids to hand out to the couple and the wedding party before walking into a ceremony. The first time this happened I completely forgot the mints were in my pocket. Learn from me.
Weddings are live events and they don’t always go as planned. The best way to handle the unexpected is to act like you’ve seen it all before. Stay calm, then act.
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Want to sound that calm on the mic?
The words are half of it. The audio and video training shows you how every part of the ceremony should actually sound, so when something unexpected happens you’ve got the confidence to roll with it. Pair it with the complete ceremony material and its over 70 selections to choose from.
For more ways to keep a ceremony on the rails, read how to manage unexpected noise and distractions and a few tips while at the ceremony.
A few common questions
What should the officiant do if someone faints at a wedding?
Stay calm, pause the ceremony, and get them seated with water and a cold towel. Have them breathe deeply and squeeze their toes to reground themselves. When they’ve recovered, celebrate it, ask the guests for applause, and continue.
Why do people faint at weddings?
Usually some mix of nerves, an empty stomach, heat, and standing with locked knees. That’s why eating a little beforehand and keeping the knees soft prevents most of it.
How do you prevent fainting or nausea at a ceremony?
At the rehearsal, tell the couple and the wedding party to eat a little something before the ceremony, stay hydrated, keep their knees unlocked while standing, and take slow, full breaths.
Should you stop the ceremony if someone throws up?
Pause, don’t stop. Help them clean up and recover, treat it like no big deal, and pick the ceremony back up once they’re ready. The only reason to fully stop is a real medical concern, like someone hitting their head.
What should an officiant carry for moments like this?
A small tin of mints, a handkerchief, and knowledge of where the water is. Handing the couple and the wedding party mints before the ceremony is a nice touch even when nothing goes wrong.
Does this happen often?
No. I officiated for ten years before seeing either one, and then a barfing bride and a twice fainting best man happened within a single year. It’s rare, but you’ll be glad you knew what to do.
