 Following numerous calls for help from distressed brides to be, Wedding Ideas magazine has brilliant advice on how not to let this summer's awful weather dampen spirits on your big day. "Despite the grim weather, you can still have the day of your dreams," says Rachel Moschke, editor of Wedding Ideas magazine. "First and foremost, you should remember that the wedding is about making a lifelong commitment to the one you love, not the weather." She continues: "And even if it does rain, it needn't be a washout. Here are our top tips for a wet wedding." 1 Don't worry about the weather. There is nothing you can do about it; it's the one thing that you can't control. We hear from hundreds of rained-on brides every year, who almost all say that they were so happy on the day that they hardly even noticed it was raining. 2 Be prepared! Treat yourself to a trendy pair of wellies from funky-wellington-boots.co.uk or even some bridal specials from marshahall.com - you can change into your proper shoes once you're safely inside. 3 Arm your ushers and bridesmaids with some plain white or brightly coloured umbrellas to fit in with your theme and encourage them to accompany your guests from their cars to the venue door. Brollies will look stunning in your photos! 4 Make sure you can hitch your train up with a loop over your finger, or that your bridesmaids are well rehearsed in carrying it - you won't want it ruined during your walk up to the church. Take a big white sheet to stand on on the grass, so that the bottom of your dress doesn't get too filthy. But again, don't worry, your dress can easily be dry cleaned afterwards.  5 Choose a venue with some interesting indoor backdrops - and formulate a wet-weather plan with your photographer in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Shots sitting on the bed in the bridal suite or standing on a spiral staircase can be stunning. 6 Ring round your guests to warn them to bring wellies a few days before the wedding if the forecast is bad. Keep your eye on the situation using metoffice.gov.uk or better still - give your groom the job! The wellies themselves will make for great photographs. 7 It rarely rains all day, constantly. Keep checking what is going on, and make the most of sunny spells! Be flexible with the timetable of your day. 8 Don't panic if you have organised a barbecue for your wedding breakfast. Barbecues can take place under cover and your caterers will have a wet weather contingency plan in place. 9 If the worst comes to the worst, and you had set your heart on outdoor photos, you can always recreate the scene with your photography on a sunny day after the event. It's a chance for you to wear that dress again, too! 10 In some cultures, wedding rain is seen as a blessing. For example, in Italy they have a saying: "Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunate," which translates as "a wet bride is a lucky bride." |
