Though here on the Central Coast of California we are known for beautiful, sunny days those of us who live here also know we can just as easily have rain! I've officiated at many spring and summer weddings where "out of the blue" we have a rainstorm. To make sure your wedding day goes without a hitch here is a great article from loveandlobster.com by Christina Wnek. Though this article is directed toward weddings on the New England Coast where rain is much more common, it seems a good idea to take tips from experts on the subject! Remember "Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata!”
There’s an old superstition that rain on your wedding day is a lucky omen. The Italians even have a saying for it, “Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata,” or “A wet bride is a lucky bride.”
Still, most brides would trade a little good fortune for the outdoor ceremony of their dreams. But if you’re tying the knot in coastal New England, you just can’t count on endless sunny skies. So remember another time-tested adage: A flexible bride is a happy bride. Make a backup plan.
Tip number one: Rent a tent. So says Kate Parker, one of our favorite wedding planners and a woman who knows how to prepare for New England’s unpredictable weather. Yes, a tent costs more, but this is not the West Coast, where the sun always shines. If you’re already planning on using a tent, consider ordering just one size larger so it can accommodate guests not only for the reception, but also the ceremony and cocktail hour, Kate suggests. The extra $200 will be well worth your peace of mind. The same goes for shelling out a bit more for a tent floor, so you’re not stuck dancing with dad in a muddy puddle.
Check out the lay of the land, as well. That verdant valley might look like the perfect ceremony site, but not if a downpour fills it with an inch of rain. Shoot for a level surface, and consider keeping your cocktail and reception tents within a short walk of each other, Kate says.
A couple of final notes on logistics, then we’ll get to all of the fun rainy day touches you might never have considered. Write up a communication plan in advance, so you can notify guests and vendors of a location change or other wet-weather contingencies. Be prepared to provide transportation as well. And try to treat your Plan B with the same appreciation for aesthetics as you do the dream vision for your day. If the contingency site for your ceremony is a cramped, drab hotel dining room, you might end up disappointed. “Your rain plan has to be as cool as your non-rain plan,” Kate says.
Now for the fun part. You may think of umbrellas as inclement weather necessities, but when they match your wedding colors, suddenly you’ve got themed accessories. And their counterparts, brightly colored galoshes and wellies, brighten up any drab day. If tracking down matching colors proves difficult, you can always go with classic white (including the ivory Weddington wellie with customizable ribbon and vintage lace-style umbrellas!) Imagine a portrait of you and your intended snuggled under an umbrella in your rain gear. Not bad, right?
And speaking of photography, the soft and balanced light on overcast days makes for flattering portraits free of harsh shadows. If you’d planned to have your portraits taken after the ceremony but a real downpour is looming, stay flexible and shoot them before you exchange vows. A good photographer will be prepared with alternate rainy-day portrait environments, but you can always schedule a backup session for after the big day.
Even more crucial than careful planning, however, is an up-for-anything attitude. Kate has seen brides both rise to the drab weather occasion and completely fall apart at the prospect of a few raindrops. “It’ll break you or make you,” she says. So remember, it’s a nice day for a wet wedding.
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