I know a big cause of stress for many couples when they are planning their wedding day is the weather. Of course, we have no control over the weather, we have no idea what it’s going to do when we set the date. It could be pouring rain, scorching hot, blizzarding, or anything in between. Of course, the weather is perfect in many occasions as well! But for this post, I’m going to tell you 3 things to help you deal with bad weather on your wedding day.

#1 Have a Backup Plan

This is a good idea no matter what. But especially if you are planning an outdoor wedding. Even if your wedding is in the middle of the summer, there is always a chance that you could get a huge thunderstorm that day. One great way to avoid this, is to have an indoor venue or hall that you can move to in the case of terrible weather.

If you’re planning to elope in the mountains, it’s not a bad idea to have a couple of days set aside around the exact date you’re planning on. Mountain weather is very unpredictable, and if there is a crazy storm the day you were planning, a safe bet might be to wait til the next day or even another week.

#2 Embrace the Bad Weather on Your Wedding Day

I know this isn’t for everyone, but this is my first choice for bad weather. If the weather is not dangerous, like a tornado, torrential hail, hurricane or wildfire, then I say embrace it. If you get a little wet, it’s not the end of the world. Get a little hot and sweaty? You can always shower after. Often the most moody, dramatic photos are taken in bad weather. That being said, if you’re willing to embrace the weather, make sure you have appropriate gear and clothing, especially for an adventure elopement. Bring a raincoat, sunscreen, lots of water, extra clothes, and even a towel. Bring along an umbrella. Have your guests bring umbrellas. You can get those cool little clear ones on Amazon, and they look really good in photos.

#3 Be Flexible

This kind of goes hand in hand with having a backup plan. But I want to specifically talk about elopements here. For hiking or mountain elopements, weather can always be an issue. If you are having your ceremony on the ground, and then hiking for formals, be sure to be flexible with times incase a storm rolls in. You might have to wait until the next day to do the hiking photos.

For helicopter elopements, make sure you plan to be in the area for a few days around when you have the flight booked. If it is too cloudy, foggy, or stormy, the helicopter can’t fly. So you may need to wait a few hours, or reschedule to the next day.

As a final note, don’t let bad weather on your wedding day ruin your joy and excitement. It will still be an incredible day, and best of all, you still get to marry your best friend.

If you have any other questions for me, please reach out and I’m always happy to chat!