The Rain-Plan Question Every Outdoor Wedding Venue Needs to Answer

I have walked venues where the outdoor ceremony space was beautiful — and the backup plan was not. That is one of the quickest ways for me to slow a bride down before she signs.

“What exactly happens if it rains?”

Do not accept “we move it inside” as the whole answer. Ask the venue to walk you through the actual changeover.

• Where does the ceremony move?
• How many guests fit there comfortably?
• Does the room look and feel like a real ceremony space or a last-minute holding area?
• Who makes the weather decision, and when?
• Who physically moves chairs, décor and florals?
• Is there an extra fee?
• Can cocktail hour and the reception still happen on schedule?
• How do guests get from parking to the indoor location without getting soaked?

Make them show you

If possible, ask to see the backup space during your venue tour. Mentally place the chairs, aisle, ceremony backdrop and guests in the room. A plan can sound reasonable until you see that the backup room is also where catering needs to stage.

Weather affects more than the ceremony

Parking, narrow driveways, tents, guest transportation, photography locations, vendor loading areas and power access can all change when the weather changes. Good venue planning looks at the entire guest and vendor experience, not just where the vows happen.