Rainy Day Blues

Don’t let bad weather wipe out your wedding

 By Rae McConville

Rain on the wedding ceremony is the nightmare of brides everywhere. The day brides have dreamed about since they were little girls, ruined by mud and puddles. Summer storms here on the Gulf Coast are unavoidable and a rain plan is a must for every Gulf Coast Bride.

No one wants to wear ugly yellow galoshes and rain coats while saying “I do,” so avoid it by planning an alternative that you can enjoy. Many brides make the mistake of not being practical when thinking about the possibility of rain. “My bride said rain was her absolute nightmare and wouldn’t even speak of any plan other than her original dream wedding,” says Jenifer Simpson of Marybelle’s, remembering one of her brides that refused to even discuss a rain possibility. Sadly, this wedding was rained out.

No wedding professional wants your day to be ruined – by rain or any other way. So, they will all tell you a “Plan B” for an outdoor wedding on the Gulf Coast isn’t just a good idea, it’s an absolute must. The chance of rain on a hot summer day isn’t just high, it’s almost guaranteed. Not having an alternate plan that you are comfortable with is begging for trouble. Don’t fret just yet. Many outdoor locations offer a rain alternate indoor location, or if not, many rental companies have tents that can be booked on contingency.

“Try to wait summer storms out. They usually pass in about 30 minutes,” Sheila Newman of Orange Beach Weddings recommends. After three years in the business Orange Beach Weddings has never had to cancel a wedding but did have one close call. “We had a wedding through a tropical storm, however we survived," Newman says. "Everyone wore raincoats and umbrellas. We took their pictures the next day.”

Leanna Ott, a wedding planner in Mobile, AL, had to move a wedding because Hurricane Ivan blew away the planned hotel. Leanna and the couple decided to move the ceremony to a bluff in Fairhope, AL. Leanna says the wedding was a hit and the couple still had the water feel and sunset look that they wanted. “The ‘Plan B’ is never what the bride wants, however sometimes it happens and you have to adapt,” comments Leanna. “Now the couple has a unique story to tell.”

The important thing to keep in mind is to plan out during well in advance where everything will physically move from the outside in the event that the rain does come. With advance planning, the transition of your outdoor wedding to an indoor wedding won’t completely lose your key elements and feel, and you will be happier with the result. Renee Lambert of TLC Weddings says of one of her resort weddings that had to be moved inside. “We made an aisle, and guests sat at the reception tables.” Renee also recommends leaving the stress of weather to your wedding professionals. “They take care of the little unexpected things, and you can enjoy your day.” Make sure that all your vendors are aware of your “Plan B” and all of the details that will change from your original wedding plan if rain does fall.

Attitude is always a key to a stress free wedding and when weather starts to cause a problem, remember the reason you are going through this event in the first place.  After all, rain is considered a sign of good luck on your wedding day. Paula Benson, wedding and event coordinator for Hilton Sandestin Resort, likes to remind her brides of one thing. “It doesn’t matter if you get married on the beach or in a ballroom, when you look in to your fiancée’s eyes and say the words, it is going to feel the same.” Plan ahead, be practical, and it will work out, rain or shine.