Tips on How to Plan for Rain on Your Wedding Day Without a Tent

You've planned the perfect outdoor wedding. The entire month is scheduled to be dry and mild, and not a single cloud threatens to ruin your perfect day. However, that unexpected and completely unpredictable change in the weather that could suddenly occur is always at the back of your mind. While renting a tent or two would be wise, doing so isn't always possible for every bride and groom. From space problems to financial setbacks, a wedding tent simply isn't always the most convenient or affordable rain backup option. If you find yourself in such a predicament, however, there are a few cautionary steps that can be taken to ensure that your nuptials aren't completely ruined over a slight change of weather. Consider the following tips on how to plan for rain on your wedding day without a tent for a little extra security.

Tip #1: Hold your ceremony in a wooded area. It's a simple concept, really. Trees provide shelter, and sometimes significant protection from the elements. If you are holding your wedding in a garden or other scenic location, consider placing chairs beneath the shelter of these natural protectors. While they won't offer much help should a deluge befall you, a few sprinkles can be held at bay quite well provided that your ceremony is held in spring or summer (before the leaves have fallen).

Tip #2: Invest in decorative umbrellas. For smaller weddings, providing beautiful umbrellas in colors and fabrics that match your theme can be an excellent way to add a sense of romance and ambiance should the skies begin to darken. Plan to keep them available in strategically placed umbrella stands near the entrance of your ceremony location. For the sake of providing a beautiful backdrop for your pictures, consider purchasing umbrellas made of lace, pearls, and other traditional wedding materials. They do not have to be elaborate, but do ensure that guests will be protecting themselves with something a bit more formal than usual. Allow your guests to take their umbrellas home after the ceremony as a keepsake, even if they are only used to block out the bright sunlight (which will hopefully be the case).

Tip #3: Locate and decorate outdoor sheltered areas before the ceremony. From awnings to covered bridges to umbrella-covered tables, scope out potential "hiding" places within your outdoor ceremony/reception site and plan to include them in the decorating process. Making these little escapes a special part of your wedding, even if they are not needed in the end, may save you the trouble of scrambling to find appropriate seating for guests in the rain. If the weather makes a sudden turn, be sure that your wedding staff knows how to realign the chairs, tables, and place settings for your plan B arrangement. Keep in mind that referring to that plan B may mean saying your vows in a more central location where all guests can hear from their alternative seating positions, so have a backup area for that, as well.

Tip #4: Invest in a lace canopy. Much like netting (but much more formal), a sheer lace overlay that drapes over your guests from above can offer them a bit of protection from unexpected light showers. Simply place tall posts or pillars at the ends of several rows, and drape the lace over each and secure. The result will be a romantic, ethereal roof over your guests. Visit your local craft store for yards of the relatively inexpensive fabric, and be sure that the designs within the lace are tightly knit and intricate for the highest level of protection from raindrops.

Tip #5:Create an indoor alternative within your reception area. If you, like many couples, plan on exchanging your vows outdoors and then allowing guests to go indoors for the reception, it is essential to create an indoor backup plan. Taking the party indoors at the last second with no alternative plan will mean being forced to move tables and chairs and finding a suitable place to say the most meaningful words of your life at a moment's notice.....not exactly a dream scenario. Be sure that if you are using an indoor reception site it can be quickly realigned for the ceremony itself, and that your wedding staff are aware of what to do should the need arise to quickly move guests indoors.

Of course, most of the tips above won't protect your wedding guests from a severe thunderstorm, but a few raindrops don't have to darken your day. Keep elegant silk gowns protected, flowers unwilted, and guests untouched with a few simple adjustments should a stray rain cloud loom.