Rain or Shine – A Wedding Plan to Waterproofing your Wedding

You can decide on your ideal ceremony location, pick out the perfect gown and choose gorgeous table settings, but there’s one thing you can’t control or guarantee on your big day – the weather. While certain conditions and temperatures can be expected at particular times of the year, there’s an old saying, ‘climate is what you can expect and weather is what you get,’ so the best thing you can do is be prepared, have a wedding plan that will make your day stress free no matter what the weather!

The Heat is On

In summer you may need to contend with scorching temperatures, humidity or strong sunlight on your wedding day. While many brides want to wear a full length wedding gown for this special celebration, steer clear of voluminous styles or heavy fabrics during the warmer months. The guys may even like to wear open necked shirts, depending on the formality of the occasion.

Think about appropriate accessories for the warm weather, too. Parasols, fans or sunglasses can provide a welcome relief from the sun, plus they make great props for the photos. Flowers can wilt in hot weather, so you may want your florist to wire the bouquets to keep them looking great all day, or you could stand them in water until you’re ready to leave for the wedding ceremony.

Keep the wedding menu light and fresh, and provide plenty of chilled water and non alcoholic drinks to keep everyone refreshed and hydrated. Wedding cakes can melt in high temperatures, so if you’re getting married in the height of summer, fondant icing is best as it’s more resistant to heat than butter cream.

If you’re saying ‘I do’ outdoors, hold the ceremony in a shady spot, and when you set up the chairs, make sure your guest won’t be blinded by the sun. Advice guests on your invitations that it’s an alfresco ceremony and arrange for the ushers to offer them sunscreen on arrival. Limit the length of the wedding ceremony to 40 minutes maximum so your guests aren’t exposed to the elements for too long.

Chilled Out

A cold snap can strike at any time, but it’s especially important have a wedding plan for nippy temperatures from April to October. Keep the wedding party cosy with three-piece suits for the guys, and wraps, faux fur stoles, bolero jackets or long sleeved gowns for the girls. Rather than strappy wedding shoes, choose closed toe styles to keep your feet warm.

Check that the wedding venue is well heated, too. If your guests will be mingling outside after the ceremony, consider setting up some patio heaters. Then, as they arrive at the wedding reception, welcome them in from the cold with hot apple cider or mulled wine.

Breeze Along

If you wake up to blustery conditions on your big day, it’s probably best to opt for an up style hairdo, as the wind may tangle your hair if you wear it loose. Carry a small bottle of hairspray and some bobby pins in your bridal emergency kit to deal with any flyaway locks.

Choose a sheltered spot if you’re having an outdoor wedding, making sure your registry papers and wedding decorations are well anchored. A good sound system is essential, too, so your voices aren’t carried away by the wind.

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring

With 600-1600mm of annual rainfall in New Zealand, wet weather is a common occurrence throughout the year. Your wedding plan should include enough umbrellas to shelter the wedding party if it rains. It’s also ital to have a contingency wedding plan for outdoor ceremonies and photos.

Muddy grass and heels aren’t a good mix, so you may like to invest in a pair of heel caps to stop your shoes from sinking into the ground. Alternatively, wear a pair of funky gumboots if you need to venture onto soggy ground for photo shoots. If your gown has a train, make sure it can be hitched up to prevent it from getting wet or mud splattered.

Snowed Under

During winter, it can snow heavily in mountainous areas and in the South Island. As roads can be treacherous during snowy conditions there may be road closures or slow moving traffic, so try to allow some extra time for travelling to the ceremony and between locations. It’s also a wise idea to ask your venue or an usher to arrange for someone to clear any icy or snow covered pathways that you’ll be using.

Whatever the Weather

On the day, no matter what hand Mother Nature deals you – whether it’s brilliant sunshine or thundery skies – embrace it and enjoy yourselves! As long as you are well prepared and have a foolproof wedding plan you can’t go wrong. As English poet John Ruskin once said: ‘Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.’