Four Seasons
This week I hope you have stayed warm, dry, and out of the snow, wind, and rain! We have certainly experienced the full force of weather, so I thought it might make a good topic for this week’s wedding guide.
It’s no coincidence that, with the exception of December, the driest months are also the most popular for weddings. A warm, dry day is usually pretty high on most couples (and photographers!) wish lists for the big day but unlike a DJ or car hire, sadly the weather isn’t something you can book in advance!
The saying goes, there isn’t such a thing as bad weather, you just need to be prepared and when it comes to weddings this is definitely true. Being prepared isn’t about spending a lot of money or making complicated plans, just about a few alternatives and perhaps a couple of small items to make sure that you have fabulous day, whatever the weather.
Most couples will spend some portion of their wedding day outside, it might just be your arrival at the venue, or it could be that you plan to have as much of the day outside as possible. If you are planning for an outdoor wedding (and I can honestly say, they are amazing!) then you might have already considered a back-up option such as a marquee. As with the wedding guide on venues, talk to the wedding co-ordinator about any restrictions or requirements. If they have the option of a paved area, courtyard or conservatory then I would always consider them, grass can be lovely but if it rained in the last few days, it can really impractical in high heels.
Regardless of how much of your day is going to be spent outside, it’s worth considering some best- and worst-case scenarios. If having some pictures outside is important to you, is there somewhere in the grounds of the venue that might offer some shelter but still allow you the option of a few outdoor pictures? On wet days I’ve often used balcony’s, doorways, and trees to offer some protection from the elements but still get some great outdoor shots.
A beautify option for a wet day is to use umbrellas; Clear and white are very popular but different shades to compliment the colour scheme can also look really striking and can create beautiful pictures.
The other scenario that is worth considering is the temperature. Some of my favourite winter and autumn weddings have featured a faux fur jacket or a marabou bolero, a simple accessory that compliments your outfit and can be worn again. For summer weddings, a good option for younger members of the bridal party is a summery outfit in the colours or style of the wedding. This especially popular with pageboys and ring bearers who might struggle with wearing a kilt or suit all day when it’s really warm.
It's probably worth mentioning that it’s supposed to be good luck if it rains on your wedding day! I’m not sure if it’s true but when we got married it rained most of the day and it was freezing but we still had a wonderful day and honestly, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
