Weather on your wedding day

The weather can change a lot of things on your wedding day and it is obviously one of those things that you have absolutely no control over. However it is something that you need to think about when planning your big day, you need to think of a backup plan if you are having an outdoor wedding and make sure that it is something that you and your partner agree on and have discussed. Remember too, it is not just rain that has to be considered, it is wind and heat too. Wind and heat can ruin your big day just as much, if not more than rain can.

Whenever I meet with a couple or they book me for their special day, I always talk a lot about where the ceremony will be held and if there is a backup plan in case of bad weather. Most of the time this has been thought of, or the venue is somewhere where it will not matter if the weather changes, but I have done some weddings where the weather has been a problem and at the last minute we have had to change where the ceremony is going to be held. It is a good idea to talk to each other about this plan as sometimes the groom can be apprehensive about making decisions about changes at the venue on the wedding day when he can’t ask his bride what she would prefer, so it is good to have a solid plan that you have discussed so that everyone is on the same page about changes.

Usually a little spitting rain is not a problem on your wedding day. One wedding I conducted in  the Burnley Gardens, (check out the blog about it here) were it was cold and there was a little rain, but nothing to really be worried about (a few spots of rain has never worried me). Importantly, there was a backup plan in place if the weather had not held out.

The other thing to consider is the wind; wind can be cold, create problems with the PA system, if you are using one, and with veils, flowers and other accessories, so it is a good idea to think about how the wind could affect your day when picking out the area that you will have your ceremony.

You also need to think about the heat if you are having your ceremony somewhere that doesn’t have a lot of shade. You need to consider that most of your guests will be standing out in it direct sunlight for about an hour and a half for a standard 30 minute ceremony; most people will arrive about half an hour before and they will still be there mingling and talking for about half an hour after the ceremony concludes.

It is also a good idea if you have backup plans that change the location or even time of your wedding, you might want to put someone in charge of letting guests know that the venue has changed. Make sure that this someone who is not in your bridal party; the bridal party will have enough to worry about on your day. Organise this with this person in advance and make sure that you include on the your invitations something like “Contact Lucy in case of inclement weather on 04……..” so that on the day if any of the guests are concerned or need to know what is going on they have a name and a number where to contact someone who can let them know what the new plans are.

Thank-you to Amy Schulz for letting me use her photos on this weeks blog, these photos were taken at Longbeach Estate in Ashburton, New Zealand and the couple are Megan & Mike.

Amy is a fantastic New Zealand photographer I met when doing a wedding in New Zealand, (you can see that blog by clicking here) check out her website here and her facebook page.

Amy and Paul

I met Amy a long time ago. She went to school with my husband, and I have always known her to be such a lovely, bubbly, happy, person. I saw Amy again at Kris and Glen’s wedding. (see post about their wedding here) It was really lovely to see her again after such a long time.  I was really happy when a number of months ago she called me asking if I would like to conduct her wedding. The whole wedding process with Amy and Paul was a joy, they were so wonderful to work with, and it was fun to meet up with them for all the stages of planning their special day.

Amy and Paul met at The Burnley Gardens about 12 years ago, so it was very fitting that they chose to have their winter wedding there. I was a little worried as on the Friday before the big day as the weather had been cold and wet, but the Saturday turned out to be quite nice for a Melbourne day in June.  The weather held out for us, and we only had to contend with a little rain. Amy arrived in a fantastic blue kombi van that had bridal ribbons coming off the side mirrors.  She looked stunning in her beautiful dress and had the most perfect hair accessory to match the dress. Amy was accompanied by her father, nieces and friend Brooke down the aisle.

Amy and Paul shared beautiful vows, and the story of their lives together in front of their family and friends. The Burnley Gardens looked fantastic with all of the big umbrellas that they had hired for the occasion. Their guests shared some drinks before and after the ceremony before they all left the gardens to go and enjoy magical views and great food at the Rialto.

Really you couldn’t meet two more lovely people, and for me it was an absolute pleasure to be a part of their wedding day. It is always so much fun for me to get to know about the couples that I work with, to hear about how they met and how people love and support one another. Amy and Paul are a perfect example of this; they support each other and encourage each other to be the best people they can be.  It made me realise just how lucky I really am, to do what I do, I love every moment of it, and love spending time with fantastic people on one of the happiest days of their lives.

Thank-you to Nat at Waterlily Photography for the use of her lovely images, check out Waterlily Photography’s website here.