Monthly Archives: June 2017

Weddings are often over the top experiences, but alcohol consumption is one area where moderation is the key. I would have hoped not to ever have to write this blog, but it happened again recently, so I guess it needs to be said. It’s important that the bridal party not overindulge before the wedding ceremony.

There is nothing attractive about a groomsman swaying down the aisle or a bridesmaid too inebriated to walk at all. And it’s essential that the couple marrying have their wits about them as they enter into a legal and emotional commitment intended to last a lifetime.

I understand that it’s a long day, often starting early with hair and make-up, and with periods of down time when a beverage is very appealing. I really appreciated the father of the bride at a recent wedding who shared that he had set a “one beer before the ceremony” rule for the groomsmen that day.

I understand that it’s a day to celebrate, and that alcohol is often a part of that, and I’m not anti-alcohol. I do, however, think that as a part of the wedding party you owe it to the couple to be sober and to gracefully fulfill the responsibilities of being a bridesmaid or groomsman. And I do think it’s important for the couple to set the tone for the day.

All that said, it’s better to excuse an inebriated bridesmaid or groomsman from the ceremony than risk someone falling or getting sick at an inopportune time. Processional groupings can be quickly adjusted and the ceremony can continue without delay if someone is not able participate. Few guests will likely notice, and if the person can sober up some they can rejoin the party later for the dinner and reception. Embarrassing, yes. Critical, no. But the best way to handle this situation is to avoid it in the first place. There’s enough emotion, happiness and excitement to fuel the day and guarantee a great celebration, so practice moderation with the alcohol.

An outdoor summer wedding requires special strategies to ensure that everyone stays safe and as comfortable as possible. While you can’t control the temperature or the amount of sun and wind that will grace your wedding day, you can and should make plans to accommodate possible conditions.

The first set of considerations revolves around the ceremony space. Consider your ceremony’s scheduled start time and look at the venue in terms of both shade that will be available for your guests and the position of the sun. If possible, orient the ceremony space so the sun is to the side so no one is looking directly into the sun. If the ceremony venue is fixed, and your guests will be looking into a setting sun, consider providing inexpensive sunglasses or visors for the guests. These can be favors/takeaways, and also very practical. If possible, position the chairs to take advantage of any available shade, too. If there just isn’t any shade, consider inviting guests to mingle in nearby shade until just before the ceremony begins.

Once you’ve done what is possible with the actual ceremony space, the next thing to consider is how you can increase your guests’ comfort in other ways. Having cold water available for guests to take as they are seated can help them stay cooler during the ceremony. Mounting your ceremony program on a stick provides a fan for guests to cool themselves with during the ceremony. You can also fill a large tub with rolled inexpensive washcloths sitting in iced water for them to take to wipe faces, hands and pulse points as they leave the space after the ceremony. (These washcloths can be laundered and donated to a homeless shelter, womens shelter or other charitable organization later.)

Beyond the ideas above, the best way to keep people comfortable is to start your ceremony on time. Don’t leave your guests sitting in the unrelenting sun and heat for 10 or 15 minutes beyond the published ceremony start time. Start promptly to allow your guests to enjoy the ceremony with you and then move to more comfortable spaces. And finally, if you know that you’re likely to have a hot and/or humid wedding day based on your location and wedding date, consider the length of your ceremony. You can do a very meaningful ceremony in 20 minutes, or even 15 if necessary, and your guests will appreciate your consideration.

Outdoor, summer weddings can be beautiful, but they can also be uncomfortable or even hazardous for you and your guests, so consider likely both weather and venue in your ceremony planning efforts. And don’t forget to consider the possibilities available for lovely indoor wedding ceremony options, too.

No matter how organized and well planned your wedding day is, the weather is one aspect you cannot control. In Minnesota, hot, cold, windy, rainy, snowy and stormy weather all can and do happen. So while outdoor ceremonies are very popular in our area, it is essential that you have a real bad weather plan identified and ready to execute. That was never more true than last weekend.

Scattered thunderstorms had been forecast for Saturday afternoon, but we woke to sunshine on Saturday morning, and a revised forecast indicating that the rain would hold off until around 7pm. In light of that the couple and venue moved forward with plans for an outdoor 4pm wedding ceremony. At 3:40pm the skies grew suddenly dark, the temperature dropped, and radar showed strong, possibly severe rain to the west, and heading our direction. When the first lightning was sited the bride and groom made the call that the ceremony needed to be moved indoors.

With only 20 minutes until the scheduled ceremony start time, everyone scrambled to help. The venue staff moved the chairs into the barn loft (the bad weather ceremony location), turned the lights on upstairs, quickly mopped the floors and turned large fans on to try to cool the space down a bit. The DJ and my tech support moved the sound system to the loft and did a quick sound check. The bridesmaids and groomsmen moved the floral decor and unity ritual props and table into the loft, and the parents greeted guests and directed them to the loft for the ceremony.

The skies opened and rain poured down about five minutes before ceremony start time, but the processional began and the ceremony was underway, on time, in the dry loft space of the barn. The cooperation of all parties involved was wonderful; the couple was calm and relaxed about the last minute change; and the ceremony came off without a hitch. But all of that was only possible because of the on site bad weather option that was available. There was no time to contact all guests and route them to a different location, as would have been necessary if a park ceremony had been planned, for example.

This story demonstrates the necessity for a real, executable bad weather backup plan, for while all couples hope for a picture perfect wedding day, it doesn’t always happen. As last Saturday shows, if you’ve got a good contingency plan in place an unexpected rain event can be only a minor blip in your day. Disaster averted, couple married, guests safe and dry, and the celebration enjoyed by all.