Extreme weather isn’t just headline news when it’s headed toward your wedding venue. It’s personal!
While you can’t control the weather, you can minimize disaster-damage and soothe your nerves with a bit of planning. These eight tips will help you expect the unexpected while you hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
1. Timing is everything. As with most things in life, timing is critical. Most places in the world have seasons – think winter, spring & fall only substitute hurricane, tornado and maybe even cicada season.
Find out what that season is. “Off-season” or “Low Season” in many exotic locales is “off” because it’s hurricane, rainy or blizzard season or an otherwise less desirable time of year to be there. Make sure you weigh the savings vs. the risk to you and your attendees before you commit to an off-season wedding.
2. Get refund policies in writing. Whether you choose high or low season, before you lock in your wedding plan, get a firm grasp on your natural disaster refund policies for everything from the flights and hotel rooms to caterers, photographers and florists. Many vendors require at least 72 hours notice of cancellation so check the fine print and plan accordingly!
3. Talk the talk. Early on, develop an open line of communication with your guests. Probably best to avoid a mix and match game of jumbled of group texts, Tweets or Snapchat threads. Grandma Jackie will never keep up with that. Centralize the communications to make it easy for everyone to follow along. Of course, we recommend handling announcements & updates via your Wedivite Home page 😉
4. Cover up at outdoor weddings. If your guest list includes more than you, your beloved and a couple of friends, consider what you will do in the event of rain. In the tropics, there is a saying that rain on a wedding day makes the marriage stick. That’s because even the most gorgeous clear-sky days have a little rain, especially in lush locations. If there is not enough space to move all of your guests undercover and keep on dancing, you should think about tenting the reception area. Yes, it is an added cost, but as it protects the rest of your investment from soggy ruin, it’s worth it.
5. Ensure you’ve got the power. Many destination wedding locations are remote and have unstable power sources even on beautiful days. Most wedding days require electricity from start to finish for hair dryers, curling/straightening irons, food prep and the lovely live music or DJ. Make sure each location has a generator, or an alternative power source should the primary power source fail.
6. Become weather aware. Check the forecasts with sites like Weather Underground or AccuWeather at least a week before your planned trip. If you will make the excruciating decision to cancel your wedding due to pending weather, it is much better to do it BEFORE you and your guests fly. Airlines and hotels often have set policies in place for natural disasters; you’ll want to know when you must pull the plug.
7. Buy Wedding Insurance. Wedding insurance can be expensive, and some policies have hidden exclusions, so before you buy carefully evaluate the insurance policy offered and then weigh that against all of the vendor refund policies and travel insurances that come with your event contracts and purchases.
8. Chill out. Marriage itself is about letting go of total control. Even the Great & Powerful Oz couldn’t control everything. Just do your best to plan and understand your options in the event of a natural disaster and cut yourself a break if you are forced to cancel or change. Even though weddings can feel all-consuming, remind yourself: “It’s all about the love.” And, just breathe.
Photo Credit is Lindsay Kammerzelt Photography
