Will Cold Weather Ruin My Wedding?

I think the body heat and the heaters of the partially enclosed barn will be fine except I don't know how late your party is going til because I don't wanna be outside when it's 30 degrees. That's snow weather! 48 is kinda cold as well to sit outside for the ceremony without really moving. If every person had a coat and blanket it might be doable. It doesn't sound like you have other options though really.

Personally, I hate the cold so I wouldn't want to sit outside in a nice dress for 15 minutes if it is 48 degrees outside. I would want to be in a jacket or blanket. As for the reception, I don't think I would want to stay if I was freezing cold so I would definitely look into providing some type of heating. Not sure why you planned for a wedding to be partially outside when there was a chance it could be this cold.

View Quoted Comment I know Trisha is asking for a honest opinion here but i don’t know you need to make her feel worse than she already does. If her wedding date on her profile is correct it is obviously too late to change anything. That’s kind of saying to a bride who is concerned about a chance of rain during her outdoor photos “well I don’t know why you planned outdoor photos when it could possibly rain outside”. We are all brides or have been a bride here, no one needs that on the week of their wedding.

I hate the cold. But if it's 15 minutes I'd endure it for that.

I’m having this same dilemma. My wedding is Sunday, and they’re calling for highs in the upper 40s/low 50s, and lows that night down into the 30s. My coordinator emailed me yesterday suggested we move our cocktail hour inside (apparently there were 3 weddings at our venue last weekend with similar weather conditions and they all chose to move cocktail hour inside). I am insistent on keeping the ceremony outside though. We have a beautiful view that I don’t want to miss out on. The reception is inside luckily so moving the cocktail hour in there will make people a lot more comfortable I think.

Trisha, I’m so sorry the weather isn’t looking so hot (non intentional pun but how funny) for your wedding day. I think the fact that you are providing space heaters and blankets is awesome and your guests will appreciate that. Try your best to trust that your guests will pay attention to the weather and plan their outfits accordingly! People may leave early and that’s okay, just try to me talk prepare yourself for that. But don’t let it consume your thoughts! Trust me it is NOT worth it.

View Quoted Comment Like you said she asked for an honest opinion. Depending on where the wedding is taking place, it can be very cold. I am from Pennsylvania so I would know well in advance that November is generally cold so I would have planned for my wedding accordingly. With rain you often have a back up plan. If the wedding is taking place somewhere were the weather is generally on the colder side for November then plans should have been made for a cold wedding. I see that she doesn't have much time, but she asked an opinion so I gave her one.

Yes, they will hate you and leave early. You need an actual heated building in weather like that.

Since you say the barn will have heaters, I would look into solutions for enclosing the space. I’d reach out to tent companies and see if any can rent out *just* side wall panels, and figure out a way to hang them to close in the barn— if you want it to stay warm, it is essential to keep the heat *in* , otherwise it will be warm by the heaters but not the rest of the space so people will be gathered around them. In the 30s, I need to be wearing a coat, and a coat gets in the way of things like eating and dancing. So yes, if a guest can’t get warm and stay warm, it would be realistic to expect them to leave early. I’d say the solution is to figure out how to keep heat in the barn.

I think 15 minutes should be okay, but you definitely want to keep your guests' comfort in mind. If you know for sure they won't mind the cold for the ceremony, if you provide blankets and heaters it should be fine!

View Quoted Comment But it’s not too late to do *something* — maybe it’s too late to change venues (though I’ve seen that done— an environmental/air quality condition made my brother move his wedding at the last minute. Some scrambling and they were able to find an available community center and were able to relocate. We literally got an email blast the night before with an “updated location!!! Pass it along!!!” — wasnt their dream wedding, I’m sure, but the guests were all thrilled to be in more pleasant conditions so it was absolutely worth the sacrifice). So sure, if all she was going to be doing was stressing , that’s not useful. But it’s also hopefully not the case. I think that it’s impractical just to hope guests will dress warm. There’s a general expectation of climate control, so for example, ladies in sleeveless knee length dresses with no hose can be found at weddings all year round. I’d wear a coat, but worth noting I only have one coat nice enough to pair with a dress, and it’s not exactly the warmest. I might not think to bring gloves if I didn’t realize I wasn’t going from car to inside to car to home. I also wouldn’t expect to or want to eat dinner in the one coat nice enough to wear to weddings because I want to keep it that way— and don’t want to risk spilling food on it. If it’s 35° and I’m sitting in my wedding-guest-appropriate coat with a blanket over my bare legs— yes, I’m going to want to leave early! I hope that this information is helpful to the OP and that she’s not just sitting there stressing it, but that she’s inspired to look into solutions. If she can’t find a last minute indoor spot, hopefully she can find a way to keep her barn warm. Maybe it’s renting more heaters, maybe it’s figuring out a way to enclose the space, maybe it’s both. It probably costs money but from my perspective, this post is a helpful way to determine that that potential cost IS worthwhile. If there was something I could do to keep my guests more comfortable, I’d like to. I’m not sure how open partially enclosed is, but If the air temp inside is going to be less than 50 degrees, it’s definitely something I’d recommend working to change.

I would definitely recommend the heaters like you mentioned! For the ceremony, 15 minutes isn't terribly long! I would let the guests know to bring coats, and also provide blankets or scarves if at all possible. Just being up front about it is important. I hope the barn stays heated for you! With heaters, lots of people, and warm food, I would think you should be good! Good Luck!

I would see if there is a way to enclose the space, purchase extra blankets, and see if renting a few more heaters for inside is an option! Best of luck to you!

In the past year, I've gone to two weddings with outdoor ceremonies in pretty cold weather. The difference was the first one didn't tell anyone. I had no idea I'd be outdoors, so I showed up in a lightweight jacket, figuring I wouldn't be outside for long. I don't remember anything about their ceremony because I was too busy freezing. The second one warned people that the ceremony would be outside. I was prepared and came in the right clothing. My advice is to let people know the ceremony will be outdoors.

Don't worry. Positive thoughts only. Tell guest to dress accordingly.

Well I definitely don't think they'll hate you but honestly some may leave. I personally wouldn't leave a wedding but some might especially if they're elderly or will have kids with them. I think providing the blankets is a really nice gesture! Once people start drinking and dancing they should be ok. The heaters are a bonus, could you look into getting additional ones to be on the safe side? Hopefully people will know what the weather will be and come prepared. You may get a few guest in some real non wedding style boots lol but I think it'll make for some great pictures. Oh maybe you can also supply them with those little hand and feet warmers from amazon if it's room in the budget. I hope things work out for you.

View Quoted Comment Or her guests could be sensible adults who plan ahead by bringing a jacket or sweater. That’s what I would do.

View Quoted Comment Agree with this. I know at some of the partially enclosed venues I viewed, they showed pics of tents right up to the opening. Have you considered renting enclosed tents that will just go right up to the side of the venue?

View Quoted Comment

For 30-45 degree weather you only need a jacket or sweater? That's ridiculous. I just think when you invite people, you need to think about their comfort because the whole day is NOT about you as soon as other people are invited. IMO, it's far too cold to have an event outdoors.

LOL, that's the exact question she asked!

It's far too cold to have an event outdoors in 30-45 degree weather - especially when people are likely dressed up. I'm not being cruel or rude at all, and i'm also not going to be a cheerleader for a bad idea when someone is asking for honest feedback. When you invite people to attend an event, you need to think of their comfort over your vision, or have a backup plan for inclement weather (which this is).