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materantiqua
VIP December 2016

Weather contingency plans for outdoor wedding

materantiqua, on March 2, 2016 at 7:32 PM Posted in Do It Yourself 0 13

I have around 100 guests, and I wasn't worried until people started making me worry. We're in California, and for those of you who live under a cave, we're in a drought despite even being told we should prepare for an intense El Nino this year (we're all pretty pissed). So, to be proactive, what are some things I should look into for a possible rainy ceremony? I know I'm allowed to have a canopy (not sure what dimensions) in the space without changing my permit.

13 Comments

Latest activity by Original VC, on March 3, 2016 at 12:26 PM
  • materantiqua
    VIP December 2016
    materantiqua ·
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    Our reception is indoors at a separate location. I don't think it would be a total loss if we had to move it there, but the venue is my FH's work (a nightclub) and I don't know how stoked he'd be about getting married there lol

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  • Christina
    Master October 2015
    Christina ·
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    Even when we had rain, no one was prepared (mud slide on grapevine ring a bell? Lol how scary!) hopefully we have some rain soon because our farmers and residents need it!

    Okay, for your question, is it possible to change your permit under certain circumstances to prepare for rain?

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  • Celia Milton
    Celia Milton ·
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    You always have to have a plan b for rain....always.....

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  • materantiqua
    VIP December 2016
    materantiqua ·
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    I don't see anything in the paperwork about being able to change it. I asked FH and he said "I'd want to get married in the rain. Screw everyone else" lol. We wouldn't be losing out on that much money so honestly I don't think it's even worth it to try to amend the agreement.

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  • materantiqua
    VIP December 2016
    materantiqua ·
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    I'm thinking the best plan b would be to possibly have it at the reception venue, which is 100% doable.

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  • BlueHenBride
    Master March 2017
    BlueHenBride ·
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    My backup plan is what Mrs. CK suggested: move the ceremony to the reception location. Our ceremony and reception happen to be on the same property, which will make it easier. From what I understand from the venue, we would use the same ceremony decorations if we moved it inside...it just would be set up inside instead of going outside.

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  • Niki
    Master June 2016
    Niki ·
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    You could always do a clear canopy and chuppah at the altar if you're very set on keeping the outdoor space and its not a crazy, sideways blowing rain.

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  • Tim Harwood
    Tim Harwood ·
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    Always need a backup plan talk to your wedding coordinator - He or She should be the one making the plans not you - You are the bride you just need to worry about looking gorgeous on your day.

    Let the coordinator have the alternative plans and discuss with you.

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  • Kristy
    Master November 2015
    Kristy ·
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    Just a side note - I've seen photos of an outdoor wedding during light rain. The photos turned out SO beautiful! Everyone had umbrellas. Im not saying don't have a back-up plan, but you can totally embrace the rain (IF it happens)

    Give it a quick google, it was on some wedding website I think Smiley smile

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  • mandybeth
    Super August 2017
    mandybeth ·
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    Our *possible* DOC asked me my weather plan as well since were having ours in a backyard. We were already doing a tent and planned to get popups for things like bar area, memory table, card table, etc in case of rain. She agreed that would be fine, but recommend we get side walls on the main tent where guests will be just as backup. For ceremony, we really don't have a plan. I'm thinking we would have guests sit at their tables then and we would have a pop up tent next to it to get married under.. We're working with a pretty odd space in terms of being able to put tents up and wouldn't be able to fit an additional large tent for bar..

    The only serious issue with this is how we would make it so guests don't have to walk in the rain to the bar.. I really need to actually sit down and plan this out better. Even if its getting additional pop up tents to create a walkway.

    Also, my FH is thinking the way yours is- he seems to think it would be "cute" to get married in the rain. If I wasnt paying to get my hair done and we didn't have guests coming who we needed to host properly I would think its tots adorbs too.. Wish I could live in his fantasy wedding world for awhile to give my brain a break.

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  • Nancy Taussig
    Nancy Taussig ·
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    Speaking from the Tampa Bay area (lightning capital of North America) -- always have a back-up plan.

    I was officiating a wedding when it started to rain -- with no cover. Bride said, "Keep going." I'm the one standing there with a hand-held wired mic under a metal arch. The guests were getting wet. I called it -- "we'll finish this indoors!"

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  • materantiqua
    VIP December 2016
    materantiqua ·
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    I talked to FH about this again last night and he REALLY didn't want our backup plan to be having the ceremony at the reception venue. He asked if we can reserve another place as a backup plan *facepalm*

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  • Original VC
    Master July 2015
    Original VC ·
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    I was at a wedding where it rained during the ceremony and it still happened outside. If you'd like to get married in the rain, make sure to tell your guests on your wedding website or through word of mouth to bring umbrellas because this might be a possibility. And be prepared for some of them to skip the ceremony altogether if they don't want to be rained on. Make arrangements for elderly/ill guests to have a BIG umbrella above them, preferably one of those that stand on their own. If the canopy will cover both of you and the officiant then you don't need anything for yourself, but do plan for the BP's umbrellas too. And be careful with the wedding license!

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