Rain on your Wedding Day

You may picture a perfect day of blue skies and sunshine, but what if it rains on your wedding day?

If you are planning to host your wedding outdoors, you need to have a solid Plan B. You certainly don't want to be in a situation where you are scrambling to come up with options for a second location an hour before your ceremony!

• Your alternate location should be: Within easy distance from your outdoor location so you can move the decorations and furniture from your original location without fuss.

• Easy for your guests to access - remember parking, cover to and from the car park etc.
  
• Easy for you to let your guests know about. Ideally, you should be able to use good signage to redirect your guests, but if you have time, you could have one of your groomsmen or a favourite uncle who is sitting around aimlessly before the event ring your guests to let them know about the change. (And have that favourite uncle mind the family phone for you during your preparations, as guests are sure to ring to see if the location has changed).
  
• Most importantly, it should be a place where you feel comfortable conducting your wedding. You don't want to look back and be disappointed. Also, do remember that you're getting married to the man (or woman) you love, so it's less about the decor and more about committing yourself to this person in front of the people you love.

You should always discuss Plan B with your family, wedding party, venue, wedding planner and other vendors. It's important that your florist and decorator, for example, know what Plan B is in case there are changes to be made to the arrangements and decorations if you do move sites.

Most importantly, try not to be disappointed with the weather. In many cultures, rain on a wedding day is considered good luck and symbolic of a fresh start. In the Hindu tradition, for instance, rain on a wedding day signals a strong marriage, as a wet knot is harder to untie. Or as the old Italian saying goes: "Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunate" - a wet bride is a lucky bride.

And believe it or not, some couples are hoping for rainy day weddings. Why? A warm, summer rain can provide a beautiful backdrop to a unique wedding ceremony. And with wedding favours such as pretty weatherproof parasols, guests can enjoy the fun and festivities without getting soaked!