All gorgeous photos by Portraits by India Lawless
Outdoor weddings are a popular choice for wedding venues for all the right reasons – the stunning views, the fresh air, and grounding, nature-centric vibe, but what do we do about rain? It sure seems tempting to ignore the possibility and pray like crazy for sunny skies and 75 degrees, but it’s critical to have a plan if the weather will turn icky.
Today, we hope to talk you through all the steps to feel confident about your plan B, while moving forward with the plan A. Being prepared for either scenario will allow you to sleep well at night in anticipation of your outdoor wedding day! That is, unless you are struggling to sleep because you are so excited?
For today, let’s meet Ellen and Dan.
Ellen and Dan hired us to plan their wedding in Wausau, Wisconsin and they had so many personal, gorgeous elements and they are truly delightful people! When it came to planning the ceremony, they were so excited to book the Yawkey House Museum because it is simply a beautiful venue, as you can see!
When it came to planning for rain, Ellen and Dan smiled at the idea of continuing forward with an outdoor wedding ceremony even in the rain because it reflected their g0-with-the-flow, whimsy side, and they felt excited to get a little wet if it needed to happen. Let’s take a look at how the day unfolded and how we adapted to the rain, and what guidance we have for couples who want to prepare well for a plan B.
When clients sign with us as their wedding planner, one of the documents that is in their portal is called “Inclement Weather Considerations”, and this document is our key to success in creating a Plan B that is appropriate for the venue and situation and has saved us countless times! In the summer of 2022, we had a strange reality where a majority of our weddings had rain ALL DAY. It was initially so disappointing, but a good reminder of why we plan ahead!
For each of these weddings, we had worked through the weather considerations so we had established a Plan B. We took a look at those decisions that we had made ahead of time and simply executed them the day-of so we didn’t have to make rushed decisions that weren’t fully thought through. We, as the planner, communicated the new plan to guests and vendors, and made the necessary adjustments to the venue, moving decor, signage, and getting everyone where they needed to be.
In case if we aren’t your wedding planner, maybe we can help by sharing the considerations and the questions we answer ahead of time so your Plan B can be made ahead of time, taking out the worry of sudden rain!
Saving those worst-case scenario questions for when the wedding is breathing down your neck is the best way to make sure that you WILL be stressed about your wedding. If you can honestly discuss the Plan B ahead of time when the stress level is lower, you will make better decisions and your vendors will be able to plan ahead with you, making the wedding day smooth across the board, even if there is rain.
In this Case Study we are looking at today, we see Ellen and Dan, two fabulous and gracious people who knew, without a doubt, that they wanted to get married outside in the beautiful, luxurious gardens of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau. When they saw the constant rain in the forecast for their wedding day, they embraced it, letting their clothes get soaked, sneaking under umbrellas whenever possible, and enjoying every second. What a way to let the romance in and really make memories than getting married in the pouring rain! Though many couples would prefer to have an indoor option for their Plan B, some couples may opt for rain. Just know you may have some guests not attend if it’s raining, but if you are fine with the tradeoff, it’s your call!
Ellen and Dan told their guests to bring an umbrella, and they did! The guests braving the rainy ceremony did have umbrellas, and a whimsy, positive attitude, and it made for a memorable experience for everybody. Though it can make the photos challenging if umbrellas are in the way, it also ended up being a charming bonding experience.
If you want a cohesive, beautiful wedding umbrella plan, we would encourage you to purchase or rent umbrellas that match your color scheme, like clear or white, so that the umbrellas enhance the design rather than taking away from it. We’d also recommend to avoid black umbrellas for the guests since it makes the wedding feel a bit more like a funeral!
Very often, wedding venues will have a Plan B option available to couples, and that decision can be made by the venue instead of the couple. This can help with decision fatigue! We have some favorite venues in Wisconsin that have an outdoor ceremony space with a pavilion option, or some others like Stevens Point’s SentryWorld that have unique indoor options for ceremony spaces like the tennis courts. We encourage you to consider these Plan B options if available, or if those options aren’t made possible by the venue, create a Plan B with your wedding planner.
Ultimately, what’s most important to you can be the priority when it comes to creating your Plan B. Do you want an indoor backup plan? Do you want to embrace the rain and make plans to communicate with your guests to make it successful? Is there a middle ground, and what options are available to you at your venue? Talk to your wedding planner to establish a Plan B, and your outdoor wedding will be great, no matter the weather.