Your Essential Guide to Wet Weather Wedding Planning

A black-and-white photo of an outdoor wedding. A couple stands with their backs to the camera facing seated guests. It appears to be raining, as many guests hold umbrellas as their wet weather plan. The scene feels intimate and timeless, set among trees with a calm, emotional atmosphere. — Image Credit – Mirl & Co

A solid wet weather plan doesn’t mean you’re expecting rain—it just means you’re setting yourselves up for a calm, enjoyable day no matter the forecast.

I’m sure any of my couples reading this will be thinking “oh gosh here she goes again, nattering away about the weather” but it’s the one thing we as planners and suppliers can’t control on the day. However, it is something we can plan for!

So, here are four essential details to think about when preparing your wet-weather plan.

Four essential details to think about when preparing your wet weather plan

1. What is the back up plan if you’re having an outside ceremony?

Is there an indoor/sheltered space onsite which can accommodate your guest numbers if the weather turns wet?

If not, do you need to hire an additional structure such as a stretch tent or marquee to accommodate you. Or can you repurpose the space you’re using for your wedding breakfast if this is indoors?

Do you need to hire additional chairs/seating for this space or can the seating from your outside ceremony be used here?

Or are you, your guests and the person conducting your ceremony happy to be outside if it starts to rain? Do you have umbrellas ready to go? Have you advised guests to wear suitable shoes? Could you trim down the ceremony time if needed?

When will your suppliers make the final wet-weather call? This will massively depend on your team of suppliers, you as a couple and whether you have a suitable indoor plan ready to go. Some will make the call the week prior, others 24 hours prior and some 30 minutes prior (which I have done on a coupe of occasions this year)

A few elements which will impact how much notice your suppliers need;

1. The person(s) conducting your ceremony. If you’re having a civil ceremony then your registrars will dictate whether they will go outside on arrival. If it’s wet or has the potential to be wet they will most likely ask for this to take place inside. If you’re working with a celebrant or humanist you’re most likely to have more flexibility, and they are normally more happy to be outside in drizzly/rain/with umbrellas if you and your guests are!

2. How your venue operates and how many staff they have onsite to help set up your outdoor/indoor ceremony.

3. If your venue has space and furniture onsite which can be set up to act as your indoor ceremony in case the weather turns just before.

4. If it’s logistically feasible, with your numbers and timings, to move furniture across the different sites. Or turn around the indoor space if you’re using it for multiple elements across the day/evening.

5. The weather forecast. If it’s been wet for multiple days (or even weeks) on the lead up to your wedding this may make the ground or space for your outdoor ceremony unusable.

2. Where is your outside drinks reception taking place in wet weather?

Does your venue have an indoor bar area which you could use? If you’re having a marquee wedding then this could mean opening up your marquee prior to seating guests to provide space for everyone to mingle.

How much notice do your suppliers need to transition to your wet weather plan? Can this be a call made on the morning of your wedding? Or do your suppliers need more time to facilitate the set up and change of location?

3. What will happen if it rains and you’re planning live entertainment or lawn games?

When planning entertainment such as lawn games you will want to check with your supplier if these need moving inside or under shelter if it’s wet weather. If so, who will move them and place them back out when the weather brightens up?

If you’re having live entertainment such as a string quartet, acoustic duo or brass band make sure to check their wet weather requirements. As well as making sure you have enough space to accommodate them inside if it’s wet/too cold!

4. You could always bury a sausage the night prior too!

For some extra good luck, why not bury a sausage in your garden the night prior. Quite a few of my couples have done this and, so far, it’s got a pretty good success rate!

Having a wet-weather plan will not only save you so much stress in the lead-up to your wedding, it will also ensure you and your guests stay comfortable and enjoy an incredible day—rain or shine.