Pittsburgh Weddings: Rain Plans by JPC Event Group

“Rain, rain, go away! Come again another day!”  Living in beautiful Pennsylvania certainly comes with one thing—unexpected weather. With our opening wedding weekend debuting last weekend, so did a Saturday full of dark clouds and wet puddles. Your wedding day only comes once, and we want it to be the best it can be, despite the twists and turns in the unforeseen weather patterns. When planning for a wedding, you try to prepare for everything, and that must include mother nature! With JPC Event Group managing an outdoor wedding venue, Rustic Acres Farm, we are more than used to accommodating weather plans. While making the call to move the ceremony location or rearrange your reception plans isn’t fun, the truth is, the earlier you are prepared for the possibility of rain or other inclement weather, the better. Here are some helpful tips to keep you and your guests happy on your big day, no matter what the forecast.

Photo by: Hot Metal Studio

1. ALWAYS have a backup plan:

Wedding season typically runs from May to October, and so does the rain! If your wedding is falling in any month where rain is a possibility, the absolute best thing to do is to have a plan in place as soon as you begin your wedding planning. This way, you will be used to the plan and the idea that it may happen, and it will be less of an upsetting shock on the actual day. You simply cannot plan an outdoor wedding and hang on the hope it won’t rain. At Rustic Acres Farm, we have made sure to renovate our space so that there are numerous places to have both a ceremony and reception when the sun is not shining. From our pull down covered sides on our wrap around deck, to a newly finished downstairs covered patio, there are plenty of ways to still have a picture perfect ceremony! We have also had couples move their ceremony to the inside of the barn, as well. As your wedding planner, we will always do as much as we can to make your day perfect, even if it is raining. In past years, we have gone to extraordinary measures for our clients, even moving large floral arches inside after they were set up outside to make the inside space just as magical as the bride and groom originally pictured and planned for it to be outdoors.

Photo by: Hot Metal Studio

2. Keep Your Head Up:

No event planner wants to make the call to move to a rain plan. Most of the time, the decision disappoints the planner as much as it does the bride and groom! As an event planner, there are always times where we will make a last minute game time decision to try and do the original plan despite the weather, but this isn’t always the best option. The fact of the matter is, the sooner the decision is made to go with the rain plan, the better it will flow. If you decide to go with Plan B early enough, there is still time to make the new space look as good as it can and just as nice as it would have been outdoors.

Photo by: Lacandella Weddings

3. Think of Your Guests:

While it may have been a more unique ceremony to get married under a tree, in front of water or in the middle of a field, your guests are not going to appreciate the fact that you had them standing in the center of a thunderstorm to see you say “I do.” Your guests have come from near and far in their nicest clothes, and sitting on wet seats does not always go over well. If you are going to go for it, make sure you have provided your guests with an efficient amount of umbrellas, tents, or heaters to fill the space.

Photo by: Lacandella Weddings

4. Protect Your Dress & Hair:

If your wedding day turns out to be wet and rainy, make sure to protect your dress, hair and makeup! Using a large umbrella is sure to do the trick—not to mention the many helping hands who will want to assist you in holding up your dress to protect it from the wet grass or mud. Having a small can of hairspray near and ready will help keep your hair under control with no frizz if the rain is accompanied by humidity. {If you have a planner, they probably have some available in an emergency kit!} Lastly, if you still want to take some photos outside, place a white sheet under your dress. This will not only protect you and your dress, but will also be nearly invisible in your photos!

Photo by: Hot Metal Studio

5. Stay Positive:

Even if the weather is not the best, don’t let it ruin one of the biggest days of your life! Take a long, deep breath and leave the worrying to your event planner. Think of the positives that come along with the rain. Yes– we know this may not be the easiest tasks, but not only does the not so great weather turn out beautiful in photos {it really does,} but most people will tell you that having rain on your wedding day is GOOD LUCK. Embrace it!

XO,

JPC Event Group & Rustic Acres Farm