Wedding Day Problems: Rain

Filed in archive Real Weddings on May 8, 2008

You've been planning your outdoor wedding for months. You have the perfect garden locale, the decor fits into the scene perfectly, you've rehearsed and all that awaits is the day. You wake up on your wedding day morning and it's storming. What to do?

Of course, rain is only a major problem if you get married outdoors. While getting from the car/limo to the church and back again can be problematic during a downpour, if your wedding is indoors, at least you can say your vows and hold the ceremony inside, where everyone stays nice and dry.

What's important to not spoil an outdoor wedding is advance planning. When you set your date months in advance, you have no idea what the weather will bring when your big day finally rolls around. To avoid a wedding day catastrophe if you plan to get married in any outdoor venue, consider these tips:

* Have a tent waiting. You can rent one or borrow one from a friend or family member, but have it on hand just in case.
* Move it indoors. Everyone won't have this option, but if your wedding takes place in a backyard or anyplace where there's a nearby, accommodating indoor location, hopefully you can squeeze all your guests inside.
* Wait it out. I've been to plenty of weddings that didn't start on time. If the rain looks as if it might let up, see if you can't hold off for a while. This will depend on your officiant as well; he or she may have another appointment, so you need to keep that in mind.

I think the majority of outdoor weddings come off without a hitch, so don't worry in advance. More than likely, you'll wake up to lots of sunshine on your big day.