“It’s like rain on your wedding day”.
Whether it’s Alanis Morissette preaching the irony of bad wedding weather or just mainstream media in general, we’ve been taught to treat the idea of a rainy wedding day as nothing less than an absolute disaster.
Did you know that rain on your wedding day is believed by many cultures to bring you good luck, a good marriage, good fortune, or health?
Even so, you should understand that rain isn’t an evil monster that has come to ruin your wedding day. In the UK especially, every couple has this sense of worry that it might just rain on their big day, thus spoiling all their plans.
UK summers are notoriously unpredictable so it’s smart to plan ahead for the idea of rain on your wedding day.
After all, a rainy morning wedding can be even more magical than its sunny counterpart. Often wet weather weddings bring with it the potential to produce more magic compared to sunny ones!
Here are our top tips for handling rain on your wedding day.
1. Embrace It
The most important step you can take on your actual wedding day is to try and remain worry-free and enjoy the day for what it is.
The guests follow your lead. If you are truly enjoying your day and the company around you, a rainy wedding day is pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of things!
It takes some perspective but you have to believe and trust that rain is not going to damage your nuptials. It can actually make your day more memorable as everyone comes together.
You also have to understand that it is highly probable that rain may occur. This is why it’s important to embrace it and not a rainy wedding day put you down!
Annual rain days in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1990 to 2020.
2. Rainy Wedding Photography
Some of the most gorgeous wedding pictures we have ever seen were shot in the rain.
The first thing you should do is trust your photographer and their judgment for rain wedding photos. They can advise whether it’s worth shooting inside, or if they can accommodate some special photos out in the elements with moody clouds and stunning rain with light pouring through!
Ask your wedding photographer for suggestions for setting up, such as umbrella images or sheltered spaces in the grounds of your venue.
Your photographer might also want to switch the timings in order to take pictures after the sky clears. You could even grab an epic rainbow shot if you’re lucky!
3. Talk To Your Wedding Venue Or Planner
Most wedding venues will have contingencies in place for all types of weather.
You will find that most of your rainy wedding day fears will be alleviated after a simple chat with your wedding venue or wedding planner.
Ask them about what plans they have in place, where the areas of cover are, if they have backup power in case bad weather gets in the way, and in general what their plans are come rain or shine.
If you are planning an outdoor wedding, this is even more important as your venue will have to ensure they are prepared for a rainy day. See here for more questions you should ask your wedding venue.
4. Prepare Umbrellas, Towels & Blankets
Don’t let your guests fend for themselves.
They will massively appreciate your foresight into ensuring that the venue has been equipped with enough umbrellas, blankets, and even towels in case of rain on your wedding day.
Going back to photos, if you are pretty sure that you are in for a rainy wedding, it could be worth investing in a clear umbrella.
These are unobtrusive for wedding photos but can still keep you dry in wet conditions!
5. Rain-Proof Your Make-Up & Hair
If your hair is naturally frizzy at the slightest hint of rain, make sure you prepare ahead of time with some TLC.
Alternately you can get a pre-wedding Keratin treatment for your hair to soften frizz and add some brightness. If you were planning on wearing your hair down, it might be worth moving to a ponytail for a stylish look, as they tend to suit wetter weather conditions and even wind.
Again, it helps to speak to the experts. Just like you would trust your wedding photographer, trust your hair and make-up artist and seek advice on how best to prepare for rain on your wedding day.
6. Weather-Proof Your Footwear
There’s a couple of ways to go about this but you could absolutely own the look and go for wellies or rain boots on your wedding day.
If you’re planning a festival style wedding outdoors with Mumford style wedding bands, many guests may also join you with colourful wellies for that Glastonbury feel!
Even if the forecast is for a rainy wedding, it’s worth keeping your shoes clean and not slipping. Look for sticky protector pads at the sole of the feet and heel preventers. This can stop you from sinking into any damp grass you may walk across!
You can also try spraying your wedding shoes with a protective spray weeks ahead of the ceremony for extra security.
7. Check The Walkways
It’s worth making sure that walkways around your venue should be safe for visitors when wet.
Make sure there is plenty of mats near the openings for visitors to rinse off the dirty shoes.
You also could consider finding non-slip rugs for your marquee reception, which means guests aren’t required to walk directly on wet grass.
Think about the entrance areas and where people will be walking the most. If you’re in a marquee or tent in a field, where are people likely to congregate and walk?
Ensure these paths are suitably covered for walking on in case it rains on your wedding day.
8. Let Guests Know About The Possibility Of Rain On Your Wedding Day
If you’ve been frantically checking the forecast in the build-up to your big day, you are going to be more informed than most about the likelihood of it raining at your wedding.
If you do have a wedding website, you can quickly leave a note to let guests know to expect rain.
This means they can arrive more prepared for rain with their own dress code, umbrellas, wellies, boots, towels and more.
It can also impact travel if we are talking about a real downpour. This allows your guests, live wedding band and other suppliers to plan their journey more meticulously for bad weather and means everyone can arrive safe and sound.
You may also have a Facebook group where guests are being updated. However you can get the message across, guests will appreciate the heads up about a potentially rainy day, even if it is last minute.
For more wedding entertainment ideas and help in booking the perfect acts for your event, visit Warble Entertainment.
Published by Warble Entertainment, where entertainment lives.
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