How to Prepare for Bad Weather on Your Wedding Day

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Expect the unexpected

Rain on your wedding day is good luck

Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think - it's like rain on your wedding day

Alysha Rose Photography - alysharosephotography.com

Whatever comes to your mind when you think of rain sprinkling down on your big day, you should be prepared. Have a plan A and B, and maybe even C if you want! We want your day to be sunny, comfortable and just right for you. But sometimes the weather, especially here in Minnesota, doesn’t always want to cooperate. Communicate with your vendors and venue about what-ifs and make sure everyone has all they need to be prepared and ready.

Let’s address some planning details for a more inclement weather situation first, and then move onto smaller details.

Emotions are already running high on your wedding day. You are excited, nervous, giddy - you name it - and weather altering your plans may bring on some difficult emotions. You may not get your outdoor ceremony. The golden hour pictures may not happen with overcast skies. Dancing on the patio may need to move to a new area. Take a deep breath. You cannot change the weather, but you can make sure your day continues on with as few hiccups as possible. Your day will still be amazing with a positive outlook!

LilY AND LIME PHOTOGRAPHY - lilyandlime.com

You check the weather the day before. And then check it again the day-of. Is there rain predicted? Storms? Are high winds expected? Will the UV index be high?

If inclement weather is highly expected and you are at a venue with the option to move inside, your venue probably has a decision time of about 3 hours prior to the ceremony to ensure time for all vendors to be set and ready in the best location.

BELLAGALA PHOTOGRAPHY - bellagala.com

However, deciding to take the Plan B route might be something you want to settle with the day before the event rather than just a few hours before the ceremony. You want you, your guests, and your vendors to be ready and comfortable with plenty of time to adjust accordingly.

Here at the Charleston Event Center, we have a beautiful outdoor veranda and lawn that we typically host ceremonies on during the Spring, Summer and Fall, as well as social hour, first dances, and post-dinner reception activities. We always make sure we have a plan B if we need to move any part of the day inside due to inclement weather. We also have a generator in case the power goes out and flashlights around the building that are plugged into bases and can easily be removed and used as handheld lights.

Whichever venue you choose, ask them about these details! If they don’t have a generator or flashlights, that’s ok! Work with the venue or your coordinator to formulate a Plan B in case anything needs to be moved to a covered location. Worst case, make sure you know where to go for safety and assign a few people in your wedding party to be able to direct guests in that situation.

SPICY MEATBALL PHOTOGRAPHY - www.spicy-meatball.com

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You have everything planned out. The ceremony is set to be held outside. Then, you check the weather. Rain just before the ceremony looks like it’s going to pass through - here are a few things to consider:

  • Wait out the rain and delay your ceremony up to 30 minutes. Your social hour can be split - a little before and a little after the ceremony. Just communicate with your caterer and other vendors about the change.

  • Make sure you have towels. If you want to delay the ceremony to wait out the rain you’ll want to dry off the chairs outside to make sure your guests aren’t sitting in a puddle when they join.

  • Are your vendors ready? Talk to your DJ or musicians - if you have a DJ, live music or just a speaker set outside for your ceremony (or at any part of the day), make sure they understand where to go if the day gets moved inside. Or perhaps they can stay outside if they have proper coverage like a small tent. Also, give them notice and time to move and reconnect equipment/instruments

Also consider your photographer. They are probably ready and have all the equipment. But did you know they make little rain jackets for cameras? Ask your photographer if they have one if you are set on taking pictures outside so they are fully prepared and don’t have to worry about their camera getting rained on!

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER JANE - photosbyjenniferjane.com

Items to consider providing - there are plenty of options to get any of these items as personalized wedding gifts to hand out to guests:

  • Umbrellas

  • Towels to dry off chairs or for guests if they get caught in the rain

  • Shoe covers to protect guests’ shoes from rain or mud (or inexpensive sandals for guests to swap into in case their shoes do get muddy and they don’t want to track the mud into the venue or even into their vehicles after)

  • Sunblock - there are options online to purchase personalized sunblock as small gifts for your guests with your names and wedding date printed on them. You can also pick up a few options of spray and lotions to have ready for any guests that would like to use wherever they enter for your ceremony. 

  • Heel stoppers (To protect slim heels from sinking into the earth)

Mads Lizotte Photography - madslizotte.com

Happy planning!