Rain forecast right before my wedding
An unexpected rain forecast just days before an outdoor wedding causes deep disappointment, which is worsened by guests constantly messaging about the weather. Trying to play it down while dealing with last-minute anxieties often forces sudden logistical pivots, such as changing pre-planned hairstyles meant for clear weather.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Reframing the focus on the marriage and having fun rather than picturesDid this help you?
- 2Buying matching umbrellas for cute photosDid this help you?
- 3Reminding yourself that rain photos can look romantic and memorableDid this help you?
- 4Reconsidering wearing hair down or half-up and looking for alternative styling tips or examplesDid this help you?
- 5Switching to an indoor or covered backup planDid this help you?
- 6Waiting and checking if the weather forecast changes or clears upDid this help you?
- 7Having the venue set up tables beforehand with space for an aisle so guests can watch the ceremony from their seatsDid this help you?
- 8Hiring help through Taskrabbit to handle the decor setupDid this help you?
- 9Having a wedding party member or the officiant hold a large golf umbrella for the coupleDid this help you?
- 10Using a patio umbrella with a standDid this help you?
- 11Holding the umbrellas themselves despite the difficulty with vows and holding handsDid this help you?
- 12Setting up a small pop-up canopy or tent structureDid this help you?
- 13Calling local indoor venues, restaurants, community centers, and churches to check last-minute availabilityDid this help you?
- 14Putting up tents and buying cheap umbrellasDid this help you?
- 15Adjusting the timeline on the wedding day to work around breaks in the rainDid this help you?
- 16booking indoor venuesDid this help you?
- 17renting a backup tentDid this help you?
- 18splitting tent rental costs with another partyDid this help you?
- 19moving the ceremony inside a tent or into the backup indoor spaceDid this help you?
- 20using fake candles to make an indoor space look more intimate and romanticDid this help you?
- 21embracing the rain and taking creative photos with off-camera flash or during a break in the weatherDid this help you?
- 22focusing on the marriage and refusing to let things ruin the celebrationDid this help you?
- 23Moving outdoor ceremonies into the reception spaceDid this help you?
- 24Trying to roll with the punches and accept the changesDid this help you?
- 25Checking weather apps obsessively leading up to the eventDid this help you?
- 26Relying on a backup rain plan for the venueDid this help you?
- 27Hiring an Etsy witch to cast a good weather spellDid this help you?
- 28Burying a sausage the night before the wedding for good weatherDid this help you?
- 29Trying to avoid checking the weather forecastDid this help you?
- 30Having multiple contingency plans with a wedding plannerDid this help you?
- 31Using umbrellas and moving guests to covered areasDid this help you?
- 32Doing a separate photoshoot on a later day using an iPhoneDid this help you?
- 33relying on venues set up for rain with multiple barnsDid this help you?
- 34Pulling the plug on the outdoor day entirely and looking into indoor entertainment alternatives like Dave & Busters or a theme park.Did this help you?
- 35Moving the ceremony to a borrowed beach house in a non-flood zoneDid this help you?
- 36Hosting a makeshift potluck meal using leftovers from the welcome dinnerDid this help you?
- 37Having family members step in to handle photography, music, video, and officiatingDid this help you?
- 38looking at a foliage map onlineDid this help you?
- 39seeking reassurance from family or online community membersDid this help you?
- 40Purchasing large clear bubble umbrellas to keep dry and use as props for alternative outdoor photos.Did this help you?
- 41Dropping off decor and supplies at the venue early before the rain kicks in.Did this help you?
- 42Asking the venue for a room to get dressed in or touch up hair and makeup upon arrival to avoid traveling in the dress.Did this help you?
- 43Having a backup plan with the venue and planner.Did this help you?
- 44Moving the ceremony under an awning instead of fully indoors to keep an outdoor feel.Did this help you?
- 45Opting for a 'first look' earlier in the day to capture outdoor photos during a dry window.Did this help you?
- 46Burying a sausage as a proactive tradition to ward off bad weather.Did this help you?
- 47framing the rain as a sign of good luckDid this help you?
- 48embracing the bad weather for its unique ambianceDid this help you?
- 49Moving all outdoor event segments into an indoor backup spaceDid this help you?
- 50Abandoning planned decor and accepting a destroyed timelineDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I can’t be the only bride to have dealt with the total insanity that the Nor’easter caused for weddings up and down the coast this weekend.”source ↗
“Sadly, by Saturday conditions were so bad that the only bridge onto and off the island was closed- this made it impossible for our vendors and venue to get to us or staff the reception.”source ↗
“I posted before about the weather forecast for my destination wedding so I thought I should post an update.”source ↗
“Three hours before my outdoor ceremony it was misting and then let up so we made the call to have the ceremony outside. However fast forward about an 45 minutes before my ceremony it started pouring.”source ↗
“Not ideal for my dress because the aisle was a little bit smaller, but we still got to have our wedding “outside”.”source ↗
“Honestly the day goes by so fast and my biggest worry as a bride was getting our outdoor pictures.”source ↗
“The venue is already flooding and the forecast is calling for way more rain. It’s an absolute disaster. There is no way we can have a wedding there.”source ↗
“i’m 4 days out and there is going to be a nor’easter of rain on my wedding day.”source ↗
“i just feel so dejected and sad. i know it’s still a happy day and at the end of the day it’s about me and my husband, but i hate a change in plans and i feel so sad by this weather.”source ↗
“i don’t like the umbrella pictures that i see on pinterest and feel so hopeless about getting nice pictures.”source ↗
“Getting married this weekend and of course it is suppose to rain the whole time. Just wondering if anyone had a solid day of rain forcast where instead in only rained a bit? We are super bummed, so much work and money has gone into this beautiful venue and it's not going to be nearly as nice now, but that's life.”source ↗
“Thankfully, just about everything is indoors (other than photos which shouldn't be too difficult to move), so I don't have to scramble too much, but man, I still find myself stressing about it!”source ↗
“all this hype about the potential nor’easter has us a bit stressed.”source ↗
“it’s hard to not feel stressed and bummed about the forecast!”source ↗
“devastated doesn’t even feel like a good enough word at the moment.”source ↗
“by the time I got there, it started getting worse and absolutely everything had to go into a small ballroom.”source ↗
“Everything was chaotic and stressful.”source ↗
“I just wanted the experience I planned so much and paid for.”source ↗
“I feel so guilty feeling bad for myself while those brides couldn’t even keep their dates or weddings in some cases.”source ↗
“I told myself I would be fine with rain but I am so devastated still.”source ↗
“Anyone else dealing with weather news and feeling your feelings?”source ↗
“I’m getting married this Saturday, and of course the forecast is calling for rain, with a 90% chance right now.”source ↗
“I’m so devastated about the rain :( Please help me feel better about it!!”source ↗
“What’s the best way to go about holding umbrellas as the bride and groom? I feel like we should have both of our hands free to hold hands with each other and hold our vow books, but I’m not really sure if it would look good to have someone else holding the umbrellas for us.”source ↗
“We are due to get married within the next week and our sunny all the time wedding destination has rain forecast. All the guests keep messaging me about it. I’m trying to play it down and I know it might change but deep down I’m really disappointed.”source ↗
“Does anyone have photos/examples/tips for how to wear your hair for an outdoor wedding?”source ↗
“I’ve always planned to wear my hair down or half-up, but now I’m thinking against it.”source ↗
“I’m freaking out that I chose the wrong date.”source ↗
“I’m so worried we messed up and people will be cold for no reason.”source ↗
“I’m in the same boat, the weather forecast is killing me :( my ceremony is the only thing outdoors but the backup plan is super ugly so I’ll be disappointed if it rains too.”source ↗
“The entire 2 weeks leading up to our wedding, the forecast said rain for our day.”source ↗
“I’m getting married this Saturday and I’m starting to freak out about getting all the tables set up.”source ↗
“Now, all family members are going to have to take photos so 3 of our wedding party members and parents.”source ↗
“Is it even possible to set up 19 tables with 5 bridal party members while my mom and I who are planning everything are busy taking family photos?”source ↗
“I don’t know how I’m supposed to do it all without help”source ↗
“Honestly, we just held them ourselves. It wasn't ideal but I'm not sure someone else holding it would have looked better. There was one section of our ceremony where we were supposed to hold hands, so there was a good chuckle from the crowd as we maneuvered to do so.”source ↗
“It’s been raining for a week straight and there isn’t a day without it in the forecast. It’s muddy now and starting to flood”source ↗
“We had a rain plan, not a flood plan”source ↗
“I had an outdoor wedding at a state park, absolutely beautiful, but like I am literally Diagnosed with anxiety. Why did I do that to myself!? Haha. It was only $80 to reserve the amphitheater and stone pavilion, but still I was a wreck for sure.”source ↗
“Not even for me but my fiancé, she's worked so hard planning everything and this has been very upsetting for her.”source ↗
“Me! Was almost obsessively checking Apple Weather and TWC for a week leading up to the wedding.”source ↗
“We are getting married in a destination wedding next week, and I am doing my best to not check the weather lol.”source ↗
“Our wedding is coming up so soon on October 3rd. I’m in the southwest Ohio area and there are thunderstorms and a lot of rain predicted for that day 😞.”source ↗
“I just wanted a clear sky with a pretty sunset pictures and a ceremony by their pond😭”source ↗
“So many things I am already worried about and now I’m worrying about this too 😅”source ↗
“I hope so! it doesn’t have to be perfect peak but I don’t want it to be all brown and dry/ snowy by then.”source ↗
“I’m getting ready at an Airbnb 10 min from the venue and worry about putting on the dress there and having to walk in the rain to the car and then from the car into the venue.”source ↗
“How my hair and makeup will hold up is also concerning me, even under an umbrella.”source ↗
“Additionally, worried about loading in our decor and stuff the morning of if the weather is particularly heinous.”source ↗
“Most of all, I’m struggling with disappointment at the prospect of not having the outdoor ceremony I planned on for over a year, or the outdoor photos with my fiancé, family, and friends.”source ↗
“Of course, the weekend is outside, and there is a non 0% chance the weather won't cooperate. So, I also need a contingency plan I can activate pretty last-minute. Thinking moreso a replacement for bonfire/off-roading as the ceremony will be very easy to move. Something like Dave & Busters, or a theme park (plenty to choose from around here!). Is there something else I'm not thinking of?”source ↗
Where this came up
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