How to Ensure Your Wedding Runs Perfectly In Bad Weather
You can’t control the weather but you can deal with rain on your wedding day if you plan ahead.
There’s an old fable that rain on your wedding day is good luck. As marriage is symbolised by ‘tying the knot’, and it’s more difficult to untie a knot when it’s wet — rain surely is a good sign that your marriage is set to last. All that being said, no bride or groom is hoping for a torrential downpour on their big day. And the most prepared couples will have few tricks up their sleeves to make sure their wedding day runs without a hitch, even in the worst weather. Here are our top tips, to ensure your day runs perfectly when it rains.
Tip One — Have a Plan B
It’s important to choose your venue wisely. It’s wonderful to have your ceremony outdoors on a beautiful day and there’s bound to be some brilliant resulting photos. Most venues that offer an outdoor ceremony will have a plan B in case of terrible weather on the day, so make sure you ask what it is when you’re doing your viewing. At The Manor House Hotel, our beautiful outdoor courtyard is a popular option for outdoor ceremonies and a light shower wouldn’t stand in the way of our ceremonies going ahead, thanks to its covered area and outdoor heating. In worst-case scenarios, we’re always happy to move our ceremonies inside should it be required and we’re confident that many venues should offer the same high-quality service. So do your due diligence and make sure you know exactly how your day will run if the weather forecast is bad.
Tip Two — Get Brollies
Determined to have the outdoor wedding of your dreams? Then invest in some brightly coloured umbrellas for your bridal party, and if you want to go all out, for your guests too. Whilst we’re not suggesting you hold on to these all the way through your sit-down meal, few people mind cosying up under an umbrella for the length of a ceremony.
Even if your ceremony is indoors, it might be worth having a few umbrellas on standby for any of your guests who need to pop outside during the evening for a breath of fresh air, or to borrow as they get into their taxis or cars at the end of the evening.
Tip Three — Brief Your Photographer
Make sure your photographer has the right set-up for bad weather and that they bring it along as a back-up. Many photographers actually prefer a cloudier day to photograph, as the pictures ultimately look much clearer than on a bright, cloudless day. Rain can also provide some wonderful opportunities for fun photography. Use those brightly coloured umbrellas as props for you and the bridal party and get some fun wellies or cool boots for the ultimate cute photograph. Take a look at Pinterest for some wonderful rainy wedding day ideas and chat to your photographer about what’s possible. You may end up hoping for a spot of rain after all!
Tip Four — Make Sure your Dress, Hair and Makeup is Rain Ready
When you’re picking your hair and makeup artist, be sure to tell them if you’re concerned about rain on the day. Between you, you can pick a hairstyle that will stay true if it gets a little windy and ensure you have extra bobby pins and some hairspray, tucked away for when you need it. Likewise, ask your stylist if they have waterproof mascara and a setting spray as part of their kit, if not, then these are great investments to ensure your makeup remains intact and pristine throughout the day.
When picking your dress, try and pick one with an underskirt and a hook that lifts your train and stops it from dragging on the ground when you’re outdoors. This is also useful for when you’re dancing. If the dress your have your heart set on doesn’t come with a hook, ask a tailor to make one for you by attaching a loop of ribbon to the underside of your train, which you can wear around your wrist.
Tip Five — Have your wedding all in one venue
A wedding hotel is a perfect way to ensure that your guests don’t need to leave the comfort of your wedding venue and the party can continue, no matter what the weather is doing outside. For example, here at our charming wedding venue in Cheshire, we’re fully licensed for civil ceremonies, so you can get hitched in our heated courtyard or indoors if you prefer. Our Alsager suite converts perfectly from ceremony to wedding breakfast, to evening party, with your guests well catered to in between each part of your day. Start your day by getting ready in one of our comfortable rooms and know that it awaits you if you need to freshen up at any point. And when your feet are tired from dancing at the end of the night, you and your guests, won’t have far to travel as we have 52 lovely rooms available. By staying in the same place you get married, you won’t have to worry about a drop of rain touching your head all day. Whether we’re your choice, or you opt for another venue, picking a hotel and keeping all of your celebrations under one roof is convenient and means that you don’t need to worry about what the weather brings on the day of your wedding.
Love the sound of a wedding at The Manor House Hotel? Our beautiful farmhouse wedding venue has been lovingly restored to become a chic and versatile venue, in close proximity of South Cheshire and Stoke-On-Trent. Get in touch to book your viewing or to find out more about what we can offer.