Looks good for now, but those clouds might be heading for you…
We’re the world’s biggest fans of outdoor weddings because the pictures are always better. But unless you live in San Diego (or Death Valley) you have to be ready for whatever falls from the sky. It could rain (not on your wedding day!). Or snow (even in May where we live). Or worse. And it’s never a good idea to try to fool Mother Nature because she almost always wins.
So first, make sure your wedding venue is prepared if your day turns out to be other than perfect. Any good wedding location should have a Plan B involving a comfortable, attractive indoor space for both the ceremony and reception, even if they have to move a lot of chairs in a big hurry. And, we hope, a nice place to take the pictures.
Even if your day dawns as drop dead gorgeous as you are in that dress, danger lurks in the sky. When you’ve chosen a lovely seaside location, with the pounding surf and rocky shore or pristine beach, you should be aware you have entered the exclusive province of The Gulls, those airborne rats that hang around any waterfront wedding (there’s food, isn’t there?) ready to do one of two inexcusable things. There’s a reason why Hitchcock cast them in his movie. It’s OK if the photographer is the target of a large glob of gull by-product, but just imagine what every guest at the wedding will remember forever if that biodegradable bomb were to land on the bride’s dress, or hair, or on either of the mothers.
If you’re planning a dramatic display such as a bonfire on the lawn, check the forecast for the prevailing wind. The laws of probability be damned: the smoke from said fire will ALWAYS blow right into the tent where everyone has just sat down to dinner, scattering the guests like driven outs from a multiple-alarm blaze in a Dorchester triple-decker.
And speaking of flaming items, consider the dreamy exit scene as you head for the limo and ride off to whatever exotic locale you chose in order to escape your parents and new in-laws. Since no one throws rice any more, the image of your best friends waving sparklers in the summer night as you make your way through them is almost irresistible. But think again: is it really a good idea to put small incendiary devices in the hands of dozens of people who have been drinking for the past six hours? Are you feeling lucky?
What was the forecast for your wedding day? Did it all go according to plan?
Now THAT’S being prepared!
My Pinterest and Facebook always get great weather!
