Weather and other Disasters

All the planning in the world cannot avoid the different things that can be thrown at you and should be taken into account. I always ask my couples if they have an alternative venue or plan in place should something go unexpectedly awry. It always pays to have a backup plan in place.

Some things I shall write about I have experienced but sometimes a couple have it set in place what they want and the advice I give can fall on deaf ears. So, here a few things that can turn your wonderful day upside down and some tips on how to avoid them.

Extreme heat - I have done weddings where the hot summer days that this wonderful country can turn on - can also be ones that cause your guest to melt and expire. If you are going to have your ceremony in the full sun please be aware of the older guests and the little ones that find it difficult to cope. Umbrella’s are a lovely way to shade your guests and can also be a lovely memorial of the day or alternatively choose a venue with shady trees or a marquee. Also, have bottled water on hand for your guests. I have also attended a wedding where the couple had provided a basket of thongs of various sizes. One other piece of advice check that the venue has decent air conditioning. One venue I performed a wedding at on a 38 degree day with extremely high humidity only had evaporative cooling which is ineffective in extreme humidity and would make for an uncomfortable reception.

Rain - Yes that dreaded word - rain. Sometimes even the best marquee can’t stave of a decent downpour or hailstorm. Please do your research when it comes to the weather and as we all well know - Melbourne can have all four seasons in one day. If you choose to get married in Summer or Spring it doesn’t always guarantee you a rain free day. My father (who was a builder) would always say “I never take a roof off in October” little known fact May and October in Victoria have the highest precipitation. So this is another reason that an alternate venue should always be a backup plan or a venue that has a covered area that can be used should the dreaded rain clouds hover.

Beach - How romantic to get married on the beach - I have performed many beach weddings so speaking from experience there are a few things that should be taken into account. Firstly the weather as I have previously mentioned, secondly wind and this doesn’t always present itself in a lovely coastal breeze either. Your nicely coiffed hairstyle can end up in a whirlwind of fuzziness, dresses uplifted and sand sprayed in the air and lets not discuss veils! Thirdly, and by no means less important tide times a picturesque piece of sand on an otherwise glorious day can turn into a disaster if tides times (up to the minutes) are taken into account. No one wants to be stranded with the water lapping around their feet. Lastly, please make sure that you have something in place for the elderly who may have to walk on the sand with their wheely walkers or even wheelchairs. One wedding I did the grandmother had to stay on the bank because she was in a wheelchair at the time of the wedding which she hadn’t been in earlier.

Dogs - Lets discuss dogs. Dogs are an all important family member and some couples couldn’t bear for their loved fur babies not be able to attend one of the most important days. Advice on dogs - should you wish to have your dog there please make sure that the venue allows it, that you are not bringing your dog into a National Park or a council park that do not allow dogs. If you do need to bring your dog to be a part of your day have a trusted person there to take the dog away after the ceremony, the last thing you want to do is be constantly worried about where your baby is and what it is getting up to. Dogs as ringbearers - cute as this sounds this can be fraught with disaster unless a few things are taken into account the person in charge of your dog is well in control of it, that the dog is familiar with this person and follows instruction from them, that your dog is on a good strong lead and even a harness, there has been many stories of dogs taking off after seeing a bird or even a stray cat which brings me to the rings NEVER tie the real ring to the dog’s collar, should your dog decide to “take off” as humorous as this would be for your guests your all important ring could disappear into the dirt or undergrowth somewhere. If your dog is to be ringbearer then the handler should hold the real rings and a fake ring can be tied to the dogs collar for the purposes of photography etc.
I have had cardboard cutouts of the beloved family pet as an alternative to the actual one being present and are quite lifelike. A fellow celebrant colleague of mine had one made of the beloved family cat and a message from the cat was read to the guests.

Children - People have very different views when it comes to children being present at a wedding and then there is the question of whose children should be included and whose shouldn’t. I have witnessed some very funny events where children have been present and also some very distressing ones. Take into account the ages of the children and whether they will behave or be able to miss that all important nap time making tired grumpy children that can be such a distraction. Children can be a delightful addition to a wedding and of course your own children should be present but be aware of what time of day you hold your ceremony and whether the children will need to go home to sleep at a certain time. Choice of venue can make having children present a more pleasant experience if you can have accommodation attached or close by for a babysitter.