How to Handle Weather Changes on Your Wedding Day!
A sudden cold snap. A strong wind advisory. A swarm of mosquitos. The downpour. All of these are things that you pray don’t happen on or during your wedding day. However, things happen. They just do. As much as we want to think we can control every single detail, Mother Nature will do her thing. Our job, as planner and couple, is to be prepared when Mother Nature strikes. Here are a few tips to help you learn how to handle weather changes on your wedding day.
Photo: Lindsay Campbell
Always Have a Plan B
First and foremost, if you are having an outdoor wedding, have a Plan B that includes an alternate location indoors, or at least somewhere with cover.
You will also want to coordinate with your photographer and arrange back-up locations if any of your pics are planned to be captured outdoors. Think of your wedding venue, reception venue, someone’s home or another special place where photos can be captured, if needed. Also, if you and your photographer are flexible with timing, you could possibly make outdoor pics work. If it’s supposed to rain at 5 p.m., and that’s when you are supposed to take photos, maybe you could push up your photo session to 3 p.m. if the weather looks better.
Photo: Alexis Dimmer
The Extras
Whether you are having an indoor or outdoor wedding, you need to think about your guests’ experience. Even indoor weddings typically have some outdoor component – pictures, the walk from the car to the venue, the reception, the send-off, or other special activities.
If it’s raining, have umbrellas available. If it’s cold, have heaters. If the roads are icy, have reliable transportation available for guests. If mosquitos are out in force, have cute little baskets of bug spray available. If it’s a heat wave, don’t be stingy with the water.
Having these “extras” available can actually enhance the wedding and make your guests feel extra special as you showing them that you truly appreciate them and are going the extra mile for their comfort.
Photo: Abigail Lewis
Communicate the Plan
If you do have to make alternate plans for your wedding, you have to communicate these new plans effectively with all your guests. This can easily be done on your wedding website. You will want to include the weather forecast, how to dress, and what to bring for their maximum comfort.
Also, remember when we talked about having a “Plan B?” This goes for your vendors as well. Communicate with your vendors to ensure they understand your expectations for the day and how plans may be changed.
With forethought, flexibility, and effective communication, you can still have the wedding of your dreams, even if the weather is not ideal. Your wedding planner can be a great resource to helping you figure out what an alternate plan looks like for your big day.
