The day you’ve awaited your whole life is almost here. You’ve planned a gorgeous outdoor ceremony, but fear starts creeping into your mind. What if it rains? No need to panic! Not only is rain manageable, but there’s an old saying that rain on your wedding day is actually good luck! We’ve put together this guide to help you figure out what to do when it rains on your wedding day.
1– Venue Selection
Chances are, when you decided to plan an outdoor wedding, you already considered this risk. Since you knew it was a possibility, you’re already one step closer to figuring out your rain plan! If you’re still in the venue selection stage, the best way you can plan ahead for rain is by choosing a venue with both indoor and outdoor options! If you’ve already selected your venue and don’t have an indoor option, you’ll want to start looking for an indoor location as the backup option for your ceremony.
A beautiful indoor ceremony at our Apply Barn venue at Howe Farms / Photo Credit: Kori Elizabeth Photography
2– Table and Chair Setup
If you were originally planning an outdoor wedding, you likely planned to use your indoor space solely for your reception. Now that you’re considering what to do when it rains on your wedding day, you might want to create an alternate floor plan. If you need to use the whole indoor space for the ceremony, you can set up the chairs and leave the tables in a nearby storage room to be brought out after your ceremony ends. This would just require a small flip! You can bring the tables out, and use the chairs you already have to fill them.
Another common solution is setting up half the room for the ceremony and the other half for the reception. For example, you could have the tables and chairs set up in the back of the room and the ceremony area set up in the front. After the ceremony ends, guests can simply walk over to the reception half of the room. To clear space for a dance floor, your coordinator can move your ceremony chairs into the storage room. Alternatively, you could leave your tables empty and have your guests carry their chairs to the table with them.
This couple opted for a split set-up, with some guests seated at tables and others in a reserved front row of chairs. / Photo Credit: Caressa Rogers
3– Photos
The logistics aren’t the only thing that will leave you wondering what to do if it rains on your wedding day. You also have photos to think about! You probably planned for beautiful outdoor portraits with natural light from the sun. Though the sun may not be shining, you will still have plenty of opportunities for photos on a rainy wedding day! In fact, you can get some unique photos using clear umbrellas or parasols. If you know ahead of time, you could even get matching umbrellas for your whole wedding party! When you decorate your venue with a rain plan in mind, you can also prepare for beautiful indoor portraits with your photographer.
Photo Credit: Nelya
If you’re still trying to decide on a venue that will be beautiful even if it rains, we would love to have you here at Howe Farms! Our property is home to five venues, each with its own unique indoor and outdoor space. Call (423)362-4517 or email [email protected] to set up a tour!