No matter what time of year you choose to get married, bad weather can always thwart your plans. Summer thunderstorms can rain out a meadow wedding. Winter snowstorms might prevent guests from getting to your holiday nuptials. Springtime flash flooding could create treacherous conditions for your wedding party bus. But as long as you’re prepared for any potential weather snafus, you’ll have no reason to panic on the big day.
If you’re in the midst of planning your wedding, it’s essential that you think about all the what-ifs — including a sudden storm — if you want to avoid undue stress on the big day. To help you do so, here are seven steps to take to ensure you’re ready for any and all possible weather scenarios.
1. Plan for the Worst (Weather)
Maybe you’re getting married in the middle of May on what you assume will be a warm, but not too warm, and perfectly sunny day. Don’t assume anything. Instead, think of all the possible inclement weather that could descend and talk with your venue. If you’re planning on getting married outside, make sure they have a backup plan in case you have to take things indoors.
2. Chat With Your Vendors or Planner
It’s not just the venue that could pose a problem if the weather gets bad. When you’re working with an off-site caterer or a photographer who’s flying in, any type of storm could cause major issues. Again, communication is key. Chat with your vendors (or wedding planner, if they’re your liaison) about a plan B if someone can’t make it to the venue the day of the wedding. It is suggested that you visit the venues one month before the wedding, alongside any backup locations in case of potential weather changes. This way, you won’t be left scrambling.
3. Think About the Guests
Once you figure out the basics, it’s time to consider an equally important part of your bad-weather plan: how you’ll keep your guests warm, dry and comfortable. If you’re getting married outside and there’s a chance it’ll be chilly, make sure you have heat lamps to break out for the ceremony. Planning to say “I do” in a field, rain or shine? Provide umbrellas or ponchos for your guests.
4. Have Umbrellas and Tents on Hand
It’s important to have umbrellas on hand for your guests, but make sure you have them for the entire bridal party, too — even if you’re getting married and holding the reception indoors. A few second from church to the limo in the rain is all it takes to destroy a wedding-day updo. And don’t forget to rent a few tents, too, if you’re determined to have your nuptials in the fresh air, regardless of the weather.
5. Communicate With Friends and Family
If you’re stressing about the possibility of a snowstorm or thunderstorm, then chances are your wedding guests are, too. So make sure you have a way to communicate with guests about the backup plan, should it become necessary. Include a link to your wedding website in the invitations and update it the week of the wedding with any details about inclement weather. Or you can just send out an email, a text or a social media post if bad weather unfolds last minute.
6. Keep an Eye on the Weather
This might seem obvious, but in the whirlwind that is the week before your wedding, it’s easy to let non-essential tasks fall through the cracks. So make sure you prioritize checking the wedding-day weather at the top of your list, especially if you’re getting married at a time of year when thunderstorms, rain or snow is likely. If you’re afraid you might lose track of the forecast, task a parent or a member of the wedding party with checking it daily and updating you as needed.
7. View Weather Challenges as Opportunities
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, don’t panic if the worst happens. When snow begins to fall hours before you walk down the aisle or when lightning lights up the sky minutes before the cocktail hour, embrace the “bad” weather as an opportunity. Think about the stunning photos you’ll get in the snow or the fun memories you’ll have of darting through the rain to the chapel with your bridesmaids in tow. And don’t forget that the moment you say “I do” is all that really matters.
When you’re working to plan a perfect wedding day, bad weather is probably the last thing you want to think about. But if you take the time to plan ahead for every possible scenario (or, at the very least, the most likely ones), you won’t have to really worry about the weather at all. You’ll already have plans in place to ensure that your big day goes off without a hitch, even if the sky opens up and showers thunder down!
Contributed by Kacey Bradley, the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Ruffled, and more!
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