With the country being in red alert during this storm I thought you might find it useful if I shared my Red Alert Wedding Checklist for Hail, Rain or Storm. Here are my top ten tips for planning your wedding in case there is a hail, rain or a storm forecasted. There will be no “rain checks” with this list!!!!
Here is your Red Alert Wedding Checklist for Hail, Rain or Storm
1. Choose An Indoor Venue
Whilst you might love the idea of having your wedding ceremony outside have a back up plan in case it is lashing rain because after all it is Ireland. Or if you are planning on having your drinks reception outside have a Plan B for having it inside in case you need it. If you are prepared for this it will save the scramble inside if the weather changes. The same goes for your wedding photographs! We all love photos outside but have a full list of where you might like photos inside your venue in case you can’t get outside. Catch to your photographer about this photo indoor list and ask them if they have shot indoor photos in your venue and they might have some ideas too
2. Communicate With Your Guests
Keep your wedding guests updated and this can be delegated to the bridal party. I know for us when the snow arrived the day before our wedding we were inundated with guests asking if it was still going ahead. And as a guest keep the bride and groom informed. We had a friend trying to fly from Germany and he was trying different flights and different airports to get to Ireland but unfortunately he didn’t make it in the end.
3. Plan For Extra Time
Allow extra time for travel if the weather is going to be bad because as we know if there is any bit of snow or bad weather the country comes to a standstill!!!! And the traffic definitely gets worse. You will need to factor this extra time into your wedding day timeline.
Lisa, one of my June brides talks about this too. They picked the 24th of June to wed as it was the last day of the Leaving Certificate and it’s always sunny right? Wrong!!! It was torrential rain all day long and they did not get one photo outside in the beautiful wedding venue she had chosen but it did not affect them one bit!!! Read more of her wedding tips here
Lisa & Gareth Wedding Car Photo
4. Get Umbrellas
Get some stylish umbrellas for the day in case you need them.
Rachael, my December bride says “Pick yourself up a lovely white frilly umbrella too just in case.. the black BMW one just didn’t have the same effect”. Tap here for all her wedding advice
5. Create A Cosy Atmosphere
If anything screams dull weather it is candles! And you know I am a lover of candles! Not only do they add to a cosy atmosphere vibe they create such a romantic vibe.
As Rachael got married at Christmas the daylight is short at this time of the year so she took advantage of this by dressing up her church and venue with low lighting. She says she’ll never forget the moment she walked into the room – it was breath-taking … a winter wonderland! Her wedding guests still tell her how much they loved the atmosphere from the low lighting and fairy lights around trees that the company brought in. It was worth every penny and sets an amazing atmosphere.
6. Timeline
Have a back up timeline plan for both your ceremony and reception and it ease the stress on yourself share it with your bridal party so they can help share any changes with your guests.
7. Stay Calm
Just remember that some things are out of your control so do your best to stay calm. If at the end of the day you are married then the most important thing has happened. Remember why you are having a wedding day.
My gorgeous bride, Zoë, talks about this wedding tip in my September Wedding Blog. Don’t get stressed about the unexpected or the things you can’t control. Things will happen last minute or in the run-up to your wedding day. This is normal and there is always a solution so try not to stress about it. Nobody even noticed at their wedding that the saxophone player they had booked got sick on the day of their wedding and another musician had to step in!
8. Embrace It
If you are feeling brave, embrace it! I remember a girl I worked with got married on such a windy day and they went out and got photos in it! There is one incredible photo of her veil flying up in the air and the two of them laughing. It was such a beautiful and memorable photo.
Lorraine, from the Hidden Gem, and who features in my October Wedding Blog chats about not letting anything rain on your parade-literally!! They got married on the weekend the tail end of storm Lorenzo hit Ireland and she is happy that both themselves their photographer insisted on getting pictures in the rain. As Lorraine says “sure getting soaked is part of the fun after all!”. She them below going with the flow. Have a read of Lorraine’s top tips here
9. Comfort Treats
Have some cosy treats for your guests like hot drinks such a hot chocolate or even a hot whiskey! You could add these to your reception drinks. Also, ask your venue if they have any spare blankets you could give your guests to make them cosy or even if they are going out for a smoke they could wrap one of them around themselves
10. Storm Survival Kit
What about doing an extra emergency kit for your wedding day in case there are stormy conditions? You could include more snacks in case you are stuck in more traffic, some blankets or a coat to wrap around you to keep you warm and dry when running in and out of the car or venue, spare umbrellas, an extra pair of shoes. Would you go as far as doing a rainy playlist for the morning of the wedding and have songs like “It’s Raining Men”
And after all of this I hope you have a honeymoon planned that will take you to a sunny and hot destination!
Do you have anything to add to the list?
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