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Just Said Yes May 2018

Worried about rain, umbrellas or tent???

X, on January 23, 2018 at 2:56 AM Posted in Planning 0 17

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Hello! I'm having a super difficult time deciding how to handle the possibility of rain at my outdoor wedding. We are getting married on May 27th in Tacoma, Washington. Both the ceremony and reception will be outdoors. Based on data from previous years, there's about a 20% chance of rain on that day. It's been a super warm and fairly dry winter so far, so I'm hoping that will carry over to the spring, but this is Washington state so there is absolutely no guarantee we won't experience rain at some point that day. I'm struggling to decide how to handle this because I'm working with a very modest budget. The cost I was quoted to rent the size tent I would need was almost $1200, completely out of my price range. So my options are to buy the guests umbrellas, buy a tent, or ask guests to bring umbrellas or raincoats. If I buy umbrellas and people have to use them during the ceremony I feel like they will block the view of the people sitting behind them. Also we are planning to have yard games and I feel it will be awkward for people to try and play plus hold umbrellas in case of rain. I can buy a tent for less than $300, and inexpensive tulle online to make drapery with. But the tent would have to be set up in the reception area and wouldn't provide coverage for the ceremony... and I absolutely cannot afford both options. So maybe I ask guests to bring rain gear for the ceremony and set up the tent for the reception? But then I worry that it will be a beautiful day and the tent won't be necessary at all and it will detract from people being out in the sunshine! Ahhhh it's all so frustrating to contemplate over and over. Any opinions would really help!

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17 Comments

Latest activity by Catti Labelle, on January 23, 2018 at 3:47 PM

VIP April 2018
Mrs.hays · on January 23, 2018 at 3:09 AM
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I would get a tent, as a guest I wouldn’t want to be out in the rain even with a coat and umbrella.
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VIP July 2018
AQuixoticBride · on January 23, 2018 at 3:37 AM
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You should at least plan on the tent; nobody wants to stand or sit around in the rain, even with an umbrella. That's the risk with completely outdoor events. I knew I didn't have renting in the budget, so I knew I had to find a space with an indoor option. Is it possible to reserve a tent, then if you don't need it forfeit the deposit?
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Master June 2016
Sarah · on January 23, 2018 at 4:17 AM
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You need to get a tent no matter what. People shouldn’t be out in direct sunlight for the whole day anymore than they should be out in the rain. Also, expect that if it rains with any kind of wind, and the tent has no sides, people will leave.
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Dedicated July 2018
Maireny · on January 23, 2018 at 5:32 AM
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I would buy the rent. While you can never be 100% of the weather you do know that nobody wants to get wet. And even if it doesn't rain sometimes people just need a little break from the sun.
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VIP September 2018
EngineerInLove · on January 23, 2018 at 8:08 AM
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I am very fair and would burn if out in the sun all day, no matter how much sunscreen I put on before I arrived. And if you have any elderly or sick guests they will need the shade at some point as well. Absolutely get the tent no matter what, otherwise guests will not stick around.
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Champion November 2016
LB · on January 23, 2018 at 8:20 AM
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I had an outdoor wedding and in my opinion if you can't afford backup plans, you can't afford an outdoor wedding. Umbrellas and raincoats aren't going to cut it for the ceremony. I would never sit out in the rain with just an umbrella for an elongated period of time. That's ridiculous. In my opinion you need to make the tent work for both the ceremony and the reception if you have rain. Oh, and make sure it has sides, tulle isn't gonna keep the rain out.
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Super January 2018
D&G114 · on January 23, 2018 at 8:29 AM
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I would leave a wedding if they expected me to sit outside in the rain. Umbrella or no umbrella.
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Super August 2018
Melinda · on January 23, 2018 at 8:33 AM
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Agree completely with PP. There is no way I’m sitting through a ceremony or reception with just an umbrella if it is more than drizzling for all of two minutes. Also, asking your guests to bring rain gear to a wedding is just too much. I honestly wouldn’t attend if I was being instructed to bring rain gear.

Does your venue offer any recommendations for rain plans? I’d suggest talking to tent vendors who allow you to place the tents on hold and make a decision 24-48 hours in advance based on the weather. You definitely need a tent for both the ceremony and reception if it is going to rain. There’s just no way around this without making your guests miserable.
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Super September 2019
An · on January 23, 2018 at 8:49 AM
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You need a tent rain or shine for an outdoor wedding in May. I would absolutely skip a wedding where I was instructed to bring rain gear. Sorry but you did not budget correctly for an outdoor wedding if you did not take rain into consideration when booking your venue.
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Master August 2018
Nemo · on January 23, 2018 at 11:02 AM
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I would not attend a wedding where I was told to bring an umbrella. You didn't think you needed to have a plan for rain?
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Dedicated September 2018
H&MForever · on January 23, 2018 at 12:49 PM
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I would go with a tent. As a guest I wouldn’t want to hold an umbrella during the ceremony plus what if it’s windy as well I wouldn’t want to hold tight to an umbrella. Ask your venue for suggestions on how they deal with rain. My friend had an outside wedding and it rained but I believe the venue provided the tent.
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Master March 2017
BlueHenBride · on January 23, 2018 at 12:54 PM
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Umbrellas and rain gear aren't an appropriate inclement weather plan. You're going to need to find a way to get the tent or find a backup plan that's indoors.
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Master June 2016
Sarah · on January 23, 2018 at 1:25 PM
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You can’t call people names. It’s against the CGs. No one was rude- just honest and realistic.
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Devoted October 2017
bluevelvet · on January 23, 2018 at 1:35 PM
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Christie - you asked for opinions, you got them. Mine? Get a tent. Get a tent for a thousand dollars for one day - it is part of the cost of hosting your guests. It might rain or it could be unseasonably warm, you need shade. Or buy one for $300. You can't ask guests to come to your wedding and bring umbrellas and rain gear. You can, but few people will come. None if the above posters sound rude, just honest and blunt. Do you really want to drop money on your dress, decorations, everything to get rained on? Or wilt in the heat? Or have wind blow everything around?
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Master July 2018
Mcskipper · on January 23, 2018 at 2:42 PM
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You need a tent. You need a tent for if it rains. You need a tent for if it’s hot, for if it’s cold, for if it’s sunny, for if it’s windy.

You need only one tent, large enough to cover everyone for dinner and the reception. If it does rain, you can figure out a way to do your ceremony in that same space or some alternate plan (giving guests umbrellas for a 10 min ceremony is one thing, suggesting they hold one for a four hour party and meal is a completely different story), but the party definitely requires adequate shelter
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Champion December 2017
earias · on January 23, 2018 at 3:31 PM
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You need a backup plan in case it rains, and not just a tent. Another bride posted on here how she went to a wedding where it rained, and there was a tent. But the rain came in through the sides and everything was muddy and wet and cold. You really need an indoor option.
Also, if it is sunny, you need shade for people. This is where a tent will come in handy. Some people can't tolerate being out in the sun for too long so you need to consider the needs of your guests.
Unfortunately, this is where your vision and reality collide and you must put your guests' comfort ahead of your vision.
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VIP July 2018
Catti Labelle · on January 23, 2018 at 3:47 PM
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Get the tent. The reception is also outside? Can you just imagine everyone struggling to eat dinner while holding their umbrellas? If this is a budget killer, cut that guest list.
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