We have had a week of wild weather and, whilst sitting here watching the rain pouring down, I thought this would be an opportune moment to write about contingency plans in case it rains on your wedding day.  Even if you are used to endless days of sunshine, start checking out the long-term forecasts a week before your wedding day so that you have a better idea of what the weather is up to. If there is the possibility of rain then this will give you time to put alternative plans in place such as ordering a marquee or changing the venue for your wedding nuptials.  Check what options your wedding reception venue has in place for rainy days. The ideal outdoor wedding venues usually have an indoor area available just in case. Many brides and grooms opt to have their ceremony outside and reception inside but, if the weather turns, then tables can be moved to the back of the room and the wedding ceremony held inside.  A marquee is another option, but only for light to moderate rain storms and needs to be erected on an area that is not going to collect water and get waterlogged. A heavy rain will soak the ground underneath, leaving guests with soggy and muddy shoes so you may have to consider putting a floor down in the marquee.

Make sure any tent you rent is sturdy and that it has thick and weighted sides in case you have gusty winds. Another option, if there are only light showers forecast, is to find cover somewhere near your outdoor wedding location such as a rotunda or sheltered picnic area. 

It is always a good idea to advise guests that you are having your celebrations outdoors so that they can dress appropriately. High heels on the beach are not going to work well. When you send out your invitations state the wet weather venue alternative and put in a contact number for your guests to call to check in case of uncertain weather. Make sure that this is not your phone number as you don’t want to be fielding calls whilst trying to get ready. Ensure the number has a recorded message about what is happening and, if the weather is holding, leave a message that everything is proceeding as planned. 

Have a large number of umbrellas on standby and use them as a feature in your photographs. Black umbrellas are usually the best but find ones that don’t have corporate logos all over them as you wouldn’t want those in your lifetime photos!

Professional wedding photographers are used to working in difficult conditions and, if they are local, should be able to suggest good places for wedding photographs in the event of rain. Be sure to discuss this with your photographer when you have your first meeting and take some time to look at the suggested locations to see if you like them. 

In many cultures, rain on your wedding day is seen as very lucky and you will be blessed with abundance. Ideally, nobody wants rain on their day and I would suggest that you stomp your heels, declare the unfairness of it all to the universe and then pull yourself together and get on with enjoying your day. After all, it doesn’t matter what the weather is like…..this is a celebration of the union between you and the love of your life. For that reason alone it should be one of the happiest days of your life.

Alan Hughes Photography