What happens if it rains or is very hot at your Orlando outdoor wedding? You need a weather backup!
If you have lived in Central Florida for any amount of time you know that the only predictable thing about the weather is that it is completely unpredictable! Having an outdoor wedding is a beautiful option and so popular here in the Sunshine State. Even though we would love to believe that the weather will be perfect on your wedding day {and chances are it will be!}, it is best to have a weather backup plan just in case Mother Nature isn’t on our side!
The biggest piece of advice we can offer is to make sure your venue has a just-as-pretty weather backup. It can rain any time of year in Florida, so if you have to implement your Plan B, you will be just as happy with the look of your ceremony. When we are touring venues with our couples, we make sure to go over this so you’re realistic about different scenarios.
There are certain things to consider when we have to make the call on using the backup plan. Some venues make the call first thing on wedding day morning, while others allow you to make the call just hours before the ceremony is starting. Either way, we must consider the extensiveness of your set up. We have had cases before where we had very involved set ups that couldn’t just be moved inside last minute and we had to make the call at 7am. It’s hard to predict what the weather is going to do 10 hours later, but it’s better safe than sorry. We always tell couples that if it starts raining during your ceremony and they have to pause it and ‘run for cover’, that’s likely the ONLY thing they will remember about your wedding day.
We have certainly had to work our magic when it comes to a weather back up for an Orlando outdoor wedding. It takes a village and the vendor team is so important when it comes to a change in the plans. It’s not just rain we have to worry about. Sometimes it’s just too hot to make your guests sit in the sun in their formal wear, so we make the call last minute to move it inside (if set up permits), so you and your guests will be comfortable.
Let’s talk tents. Almost every Orlando outdoor wedding needs one in some way. We work at venues that require you to put a tent on hold, as an “insurance policy” on your wedding day. The last thing you need to deal with the week of the wedding is having to scramble to find a tent that you could have reserved months before. Should you need the tent, make sure you have everything in it that will still make your reception as you had envisioned it. This includes decorative rentals, lighting or flooring. We have actually seen some gorgeous receptions that take place under tents, and it beats having to cancel your wedding or your guests eating in the rain.
It’s so important to have a weather backup in place for your Orlando outdoor wedding, just in case. Although it is rare that we have to implement a rain plan, not having one can cause a lot of stress on a day that is stressful enough! You’ll want to keep your set up/logistics in mind (leave that up to us), and your guests’ comfort level in mind at all times. And remember, it isn’t the location of the wedding that’s important -it’s the union of two people in love that matters and the marriage that is to come!
