How You Can Be Prepared for Rain on Your Wedding Day

Here at Spring Lake Winery, we take pride in creating customized experiences for our Brides & Grooms. We like to say we offer fine wines and memorable experiences here at Spring Lake, and ask anyone who’s had their wedding here, and they’ll back us up on that! We decided to create this blog to help brides, grooms, and local WNY families get answers to some of the most common wedding and event planning questions. As we are in the heat of summer here in WNY, a common question asked by people looking for their dream wedding venue is: “What do you do if it rains?”  

Let’s take some time to go over some things to consider when planning a wedding that might involve being outdoors. 

Questions to Ask

Any wedding venue that offers outdoor events should have a thorough, proven plan for weather. You should always ask about what the venue has to offer for a backup indoor space. Rain on your wedding day might mean “good luck,” but if your entire party or ceremony is focused around being outdoors, your dream can quickly become a nightmare if there’s no backup plan. Be sure to ask to see the backup space, or ask what other patrons have done in the event of rain at the venue. Make sure your guest count can still be accommodated comfortably in case of rain. 

This can be much more important to consider as your guest count grows, as you can see. 

Fortunately for us living in 2026, we can know what the weather might be like within a few days. You should also always ask the venue about what their final deadline is for making a weather call. This means ahead of the wedding and on the day of. You need to know who makes the final call and at what exact time the final call to move is. Make sure to understand any fees or added costs associated with changes or the time of changes. Lastly, you may want to have a tent on call if you know it's going to be a rainout. 

You’ll also need to make sure that your vendors, DJ/band, Photo/Video, and caterers all have space and a rain plan with the venue. When choosing a photographer, make sure to check their level of comfort with rain, and what their plans are in the event of it. 

Having a plan for rain is just as important as the perfect outdoor view, because Mother Nature doesn’t stop for weddings! (even if it is “good luck”)

Logistics & Guests

Maybe you’re ok with rain. Maybe the ceremony is only outdoors and the wedding is indoors. Maybe a summer rainy wedding IS your dream. Either way, there are certainly steps you and your wedding venue can take to help guests be more comfortable outdoors in the event of weather. 

One thing you can do is build in time. This means factoring in 15,30, 45 minutes into your plan to schedule for delays or potentially moving the guests inside. Your venue should have this factored in to avoid any disruption on the day of. Another thing that a trustworthy wedding venue will be aware of is mud. You’ll want to ensure that you protect the ground for yourself of course, but also for guests. Consider the areas that will have the most foot traffic, and the areas that will have the most people looking. Another nice touch to consider is providing baskets with helpful items like umbrellas, blankets, or small towels for guests if you’re moving forward with a rainy ceremony. 

The Wedding Party

Lastly, we figured it would be helpful to drop a few tips on what you as a bride, groom, bridesmaid, groomsman, or other involved wedding party can do to prepare yourself for a successful day. 

Footwear is the first thing to consider. If its going to be muddy for any part of the day, you should consider a backup pair of shoes that will still fit your look, without being worried about ruining. The footwear must also be suitable for moving around on wet or muddy terrain. 

Hair is another factor to consider. Men can usually touch their hair up somewhat easily, but when involving hair and makeup, rain can make things much more difficult. If you are going to be in the rain, you may want to consider secure hairstyles, like updos or braided styles that can resist moisture, humidity, wind, and heat. 

Survival Kit- Whether it’s going to rain or not, if you’re a part of a wedding, you should always pack a quality survival kit. This means anything you might need to feel good and look good. The bride and groom should both designate an important member of the wedding party to secure and keep their survival kit handy, so makeup touchups and comforts are always at arm's reach. When considering rain, it’s clear that the survival kit will be an imperative feature of the day to ensure a comfortable public display.

Lastly, its important to remember that no matter what, don’t let ANYTHING ruin your day! 

You made it this far, all the planning, stress, financial commitment, fears, hopes, all led you to this day. Enjoy it no matter what, becoutause you deserve it! No matter what, stay flexible, free, and grateful for the day, because the more free and happy you feel, the better you will look in photographs. Embrace everything about the day and smile, because you are the star! 

If you or someone you know has questions about outdoor weddings, we should talk! We offer indoor and outdoor options, with easy conversions in the event of rain into our timber lodge. Get in touch with us via our contact form to ask questions and to schedule time to speak with Tamre about taking a tour of our venue today!