Planning Tips

Planning Tips | Surviving a rainy wedding day

As a Wedding Planner, working with the typical British weather is an important aspect of my job. Many of my clients are hoping for an outdoor wedding, particularly for their Ceremony. I absolutely adore outdoor Ceremonies, and am all for them… but you do need to be mindful of the fact that rain may make an appearance. As much as we can plan every detail, unfortunately the one element we have no control over is the weather, so it’s vital to have a plan in place. Here are my top 5 tips for surviving a rainy wedding day:

1. HAVE A BACK UP PLAN THAT YOU WOULD ACTUALLY FEEL HAPPY USING

I always discuss a wet weather plan with my couples before their big day, as it’s important to decide upon a Plan B that they would be absolutely be happy using in case of bad weather. If your Ceremony is due to be outside, consider if there is an indoor area where this could place instead, or perhaps you could have a marquee canopy on stand by to cover your outdoor Ceremony. Always think about how your flowers and decor would work, as well as your entrance and music with your Plan B, so that it’s not a panic decision on the day.

Image via Style Me Pretty

2. UMBRELLAS!

Make sure you buy a supply of umbrellas. If the forecast is showing signs of rain, some of your guests will bring their own, but it’s always a good idea to have some just in case. Your Planner can have them ready outside the Church or Ceremony venue for when your Ceremony ends, so that guests can walk to your Reception under cover without getting too wet! Umbrellas also make for some super fun pictures with your photographer. Embrace the weather: dig out your wellies, and schedule some time with your photographer for some Bride & Groom couples shots! And if the sun does come out, the umbrellas can double as parasols.

Image via Style Me Pretty

Image via Brides.com

3. DON’T RELY ON EVERYTHING BEING OUTSIDE

If you’re having garden games, or outdoor entertainment for your guests during the drinks reception or evening party, consider what you would do with these if the weather wasn’t suitable for being outside. Could you still have the same games inside, or will it not work? Choose games which could still be played indoors, or have some back up games which could replace them if necessary. There’s nothing worse than pinning all your hopes on being able to have everything outside, and then not having any entertainment at all, and guests are left standing around with nothing to do.

4. FOOL PROOF BEAUTY!

Discuss your options with your hair & make up artist, who will be able to give advice on the best products to use for a rainy day. Obviously, waterproof mascara is a must for any Bride, but some last minute hair products may also come in handy for that little bit of frizz after a rain shower! If your hair reacts badly to rain, re-consider your style so that rain won’t affect it. A messy bun is a popular Bridal style right now, so don’t be afraid to experiment with your hair stylist!

Image via Wedding Sparrow

5. IT’S ALL IN THE SCHEDULING…

And finally, allow some time in your schedule for adjustments. If it looks like it’s set to downpour during your Ceremony, can you go straight through to your Wedding Breakfast, and have extra drinks afterwards? Your Planner will allow time in your schedule for such situations, and a little adjustment goes a long way!

I hope you’ve found these tips helpful, and I’d love to hear any more that you have, or if you had a rainy wedding day, please feel free to share your tips for others!

Jeni x