Did it rain on your outdoor wedding?

It rained for approximately two minutes immediately after the ceremony, so I highly recommend renting a tent as a backup. I included the tent when I rented tables, chairs, and linens. Pricing varies depending on the size, the type of tent (frame vs. pole), whether or not you include tent sides, the travel fee, and the company you rent from; I paid $650 for a 30'x60' tent and an additional $50 for labor. I rented a tent mainly as a precaution against rain, but it was terribly windy on my wedding day which made it chilly. Unfortunately, I did not have tent sides, but they probably would have blocked the wind to prevent people from freezing- you will have the option to leave them up or down if you decide to include them. The final decision to set up the tent was made after monitoring the weather forecast, and the tent was set up two days prior to my wedding. Due to the forecast prediction, most things were set up under the tent- DJ table, 10- 5 ft round tables, buffet, hors d'oeuvres, desserts. The bar, gift table, and guest book were set up in a small barn, located a few steps from the tent. Everyone had a blast even though it was under a tent. I know you are probably worried that a tent will put a damper on things, but personally, I'd rather by dry than wet and cold.

Hi Jesse

I'm in a similar situation as you. The only difference is my ceremony place is a park and has a large size pavilion. I'm not sure where you are located, but check out places like Classic ten and party rentals. It's a nationwide company and they have reasonable prices

No but we had tents on rain reserve just in case

Yes. And for the five days before our wedding. The whole area we were going to get married in (outdoors and in the grass) was a swamp so we had to move it indoors.

Best piece of advice, Have a back up plan and the resources to implement it if you have to. We had to rent a tent for the day at the last minute (which wasn't cheap, but still looked nice). We also had some umbrellas, but lucky for us we didn't have to use them as it stopped raining long enough for us to have our photos taken outdoors.

You have to have a backup plan or you'll spend your whole wedding week looking at the weather channel and your whole day looking at the sky. Don't do that.

I did not want to rent a tent. But literally everyone I talked to from my Mom to my DOC to FH said I should suck it up and get the tent. So we are putting one up and only using sides If it rains. In my area the quote for a 30x60 tent was $800 plus hundreds more for sides, lights, extension cords, a heater, exit signs and a fire extinguisher.

I have a back up plan tent.

My non refundable deposit was $400.

3 days before te wedding I have to decide if I want it or not and then I have to pay another $1000 if I do.

It's totally worth it for me so I'll be able to keep my outside ceremony.

However, I am hoping it doesn't rain and I'll just lose my $400 and not need a tent.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the feedback and have some good new info to work with. I most definitely plan to have something available in some capacity, if it's through a rain deposit or what have you. Would definitely not book a totally outdoor venue without that in mind. Mainly curious how it worked out for others who ended up having to employ their rain plan, and if they were happy with the results, or how others' rain plans were organized.

We ended up with a light mist coming down in the beginning, the reception area was the backup in the case of rain. None of the guests got really wet & the cloud cover should make for better photos

I am in the same boat, kind of. We do have a barn for rain. But only fits 120. So people would be sardined in there. And due to ordinances, we HAVE to have a permit and a professional company put up the tent if I need one. I am looking for a good rain plan. And right now, that is lowering the guest list so we can all fit. But, tents around here are not too expensive.

Rent the tent.

Our weather changed the day before - and it wasn't on the weather channel until the day before that. All of a sudden, we had rain and a cool front scheduled for that weekend. All morning it was very dark, and we planned for the rain (moving the chairs inside the pavilion)- luckily it didn't, but the cold front came and people didn't stay outside longer than the ceremony.

We had an indoor alternative if it rained. The weather said rain and thunderstorms all day, starting at 10 am. someone upstairs must have been watching us because it didn't rain until it was over and everyone got home. BUT not everyone is so lucky. be sure to always have a plan B.