Outside Ceremony---but AFRAID of RAIN!!!

I wouldn't book an outdoor reception unless there was a contingency plan. It's one of the main reasons I booked my venue (which is outdoor both ceremony and reception)--the whole shebang can be moved indoors to the museum lobby (a big gorgeous hall) on a moment's notice. It wouldn't be ideal, but it'd be better than having no place to go.

Oh, I might've misread this. For a ceremony, yeah, I'd book it outside. I thought you were asking about a reception space.

Welcome to WW, Kelsey! Where do you live? I know here in Florida, if you're having an afternoon ANYTHING in August, you are risking not just rain, but torrential downpour. So take into account what the weather is actually like around that time of year -- it may be 20 minutes, but if it rains like it does here, it would be a problem.

If you have an indoor space as a backup, that's all the plan you need. It may not be ideal, but it's better than drenched guests. And if it was moved, but then stopped raining later, you can always go back for pictures.

I hope you'll stick around and update that avatar (the rings) so we can remember you better when you need help in the future! This post tells you how to do that and more about the forums: https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/welcome-to-the-weddingwire-forums-please-read-if-you-are-new/b433c40c1a62b96a.html

I'm from West Virginia, and the ceremony is planned for 6:30 in the evening to avoid the heat. Typically here it rains for 15-20 minutes, then is gone. But who knows what could happen. I am afraid that I would kick myself in the butt if it was a beautiful day. Most summer days here in WV are....just needed some advice to ease my mind. At the end of the day whether it rains or not, we'll still be married. Thats the most important thing!

Well, kinda hard to ease your mind...none of us can control the weather.

If I were you...I'd take a gamble and pray for no rain.

Good luck.

Our cocktail hour is outside and we can't tent the area. I've decided to go with the idea that whatever is going to happen will happen but I'll end the day married. You can't worry about everything and as long as you have an indoor place to be married hope for the best and plan for the worst. Best wishes!

Agree with Amy V. and Diane. My venue has an outdoor ceremony area, and I plan on using it rain or shine Unless it's seriously bad outside. It's just for the ceremony which will be less than 20 minutues, and God forbid it's pouring outside I'll have a backup in my reception area. Nothing can really ease your worries, except for seeing how it is day of and realizing that unforunately it's the only one aspect of the wedding that cannot be controlled :-/

You don't have to rent tents (which is stupid expensive)...what I plan on doing is borrowing carport/boat cover tents from family. They are small, but if you roll up the sides and put two of them together, then you get enough ceremony seating (no aisle probably though) for about 75 people. Use tulle and lights to fancy it up, or hang pompoms from the poles that go across the top. You can even buy some of these tents (aka storage shelters, or portable garages) for between $200 and $300 from your local home outdoor store...which is way cheaper than renting a tent for $900 - at least, thats the prices I'm looking at in my area.

It sounds like that's really what you want so I'd chance it.

You should be able to pull up weather records to see how wet August has been in the past and take it from there.

They can plan it inside which isn't ideal like you said but it's better than nothing. Def take the chance because if it ends up being beautiful out you'll be SO happy. Mine is the same I'm not happy with the indoor space but i chanced it hoping it'd be nice outside and o well if it isn't, it's only 20 minutes.

I feel ya on this one. I hate our backup and am hoping we can do our wedding by the lake! But renting a giant tent isnt an option for the space they have. Just have to not think about it and realize at the end of the day, you will be married!