Having a wedding can be very frightening, especially considering of the things that could go wrong – drunk uncles, toppled wedding cakes, runaway brides, etc. These are all concerns that every couple planning a wedding should have, but the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have different types of wedding emergencies in mind. Coming from the federal department known for using zombies as the face of disaster survival preparation campaign, the CDC has started bringing its own special brand of preparedness advice to the wedding industry.

According to NPR, the CDC says that every wedding needs two different kits – the first for wedding ‘emergencies’:

“So what should go in your wedding kit? Well, the CDC suggests some ‘extra safety pins, makeup for touchups, maybe a few sedatives.’ For real? To get through the wedding ceremony without being doped up, there’s some evidence a beta blocker might be a better choice, though, it must be said, the blood pressure drugs aren’t approved for matrimonial use.”

The second of the kits, the article says, is an emergency kit for primarily medical reasons and disaster scenarios that aren’t necessarily in romantic comedies. This kit should have a flashlight, first aid kit and perhaps some emergency food as well. Furthermore, the CDC says that you should have some extra umbrellas if your wedding is outdoors.

Here are some more tips for surviving your potentially dangerous and disastrous nuptials:

-          Make sure you have a box of chocolates and a bottle of water on hand to calm down any Bridezilla. Believe me – these things help.

-          Check the weather reports leading up to the big day. If your guests have disabilities or mobility issues, make sure to have proper coverage to keep everyone safe.

-          Think about hiring a planner – they can take care of many small issues the bride and groom do not want to deal with on the big day.