Here Comes the Rain Again.....

I was going to blog about something else entirely, but the weather here today has led me to another topic altogether! Living in the Midwest, we are accustomed to the sudden changes that the weather can bring. Today, we have tornado warnings in effect until early this evening, last night we had straight line wind whip through the area, uprooting trees, and the skies have that threatening look, like just about anything could happen. It reminds me of what happened a couple of years ago, when an F3 tornado ripped through an event I had in production, tossing a 120 x 60' tent into the lake, along with the lighting, staging, chivari chairs and everything else! With less than 48 hours left to put everything back together, we had our work cut out for us! We made it happen, and you can see the result in our Featured Weddings gallery under Laura & Christopher's Aug. 18, 2007 wedding.

All of this brings me to the point of my blog. If you are planning on having any part of your wedding outside (ceremony, cocktail hour, etc. ) , you absolutely must have an indoor plan in case of bad weather. Its imperative that you have things in place, so that if need be, you can easily transition from outside to inside. Its not ideal and its not at all what you've envisioned, BUT you've also not envisioned yourself stuck in a downpour in your duchess satin wedding gown either.

When do you make the call to move things inside? That can be tricky! I think you have to evaluate the weather forecast and make the call based on that information, as well as your comfort level. You also have to take into consideration, how long it will take to relocate everything. Its a call no one wants to have to make on their wedding day, but, why chance having everything ruined that you've paid for by wind, rain or hail? Not to mention the comfort and safety of everyone in attendance.

I never ever recommend having your entire reception outside, ever. Your guest tables will be so beautifully appointed with linens, china and floral, why risk that (and again, your guests) to the elements? Even if you have a beautiful sunny day, no one will want to sit in the hot sun while having their meal. Having a tent will ensure that everyone will be out of the weather, they will be shaded from the sun, or protected from the rain. Most musicians, bands and DJ's also require some type of shelter overhead, to again, protect their equipment and instruments.

Having a contingency plan just makes good planning sense. If you need to implement it, you can rest easy, knowing you have made plans to make the transition. It will help avoid chaos, frustration and panic on what should be, the happiest day of you life.