Outdoor Wedding. Rain Plans
/
PHOTOS BY BECCA GLEASON PHOTO
Outdoor Wedding. Rain Plans
An outdoor wedding at The Maples Estate is absolutely stunning, rain or shine!
With coordination services included in your wedding package, we will talk through your rain plans ahead of time for your outdoor wedding, to ensure we have a ‘Plan B’ confirmed before you even arrive. As a NY Wedding Planner, I will also remind you to turn off your weather app the week leading up to your wedding, since it will only just stress you out, and the weather is one of those things we have absolutely no control of on your wedding day. It is guaranteed to change 1,000 times in those 7 days leading up to your wedding weekend.
Instead, we will talk through an alternative ceremony and cocktail hour location in the case it’s needed, and get an idea of how important your ‘Plan A’ is to determine the best time to make the call on your ‘Plan B’. When it came to Rachel and Nick’s Rainy Day Lord of the Rings inspired wedding in fall 2022, they knew they didn’t care about a little drizzle on their wedding day and preferred to stick to their ‘Plan A’ even though rain was guaranteed at some point in the day. I kept a very close eye on the radar and shifted their ceremony back by 30 minutes to catch a break in the rain and hold their ceremony in the tree grove where they had originally dreamed it would be. We then shifted their cocktail hour under their tent to ensure guests were comfortable and dry. With a brand new event pavilion for our 2023 wedding season, couples no longer need to rent a tent and will be covered from the elements with over 4,000 square feet of sheltered event space!
With rain on Nick’s parents wedding day, this couple was prepared to make that call and I’m so glad they did because their photos are absolutely stunning and the drizzly day brought just the right amount of magic!
If you are a bit more concerned about the chance of rain for your outdoor wedding, we will confirm the location that is best for your ceremony and cocktail hour based on the number of guests you have attending, and also your personal vision and preferences.
There are a few alternative spaces that could work well for you.
With a 4,000 square foot reception pavilion, we could shift your reception layout to allow for a ceremony and/or cocktail hour to be held under the pavilion and out of the rain while still retaining the incredible views of the field and hills.
For smaller groups, our grand veranda could host your ceremony or cocktail hour for approx. 50 guests.
You could put a hold on a tent through a local rental company to have a backup covered structure as needed for your ceremony and/or cocktail hour.
Photo by Cassandra Daye Photography
Tips to share with your guests to ensure they are prepared for any kind of weather.
Remind your guests to have an umbrella or raincoat on hand just in case it’s needed.
The temperature can drop a bit when the sun goes down so remind your guests to have a top layer available to cover up on those chilly nights around the firepit.
Grass is not the best for stilettos, instead guests should plan to wear chunky heels, platforms or flats on your wedding day. It’s also nice to have a comfortable pair of shoes to change into for late night dancing!
In Summary - Never be afraid of a little weather
It might just add that touch of magic to your wedding day!
Wanting more planning inspiration? View these blog posts below and learn more about our Upstate New York Wedding Venue!
