June 11th, 2018

I had this idea several months ago to get a bunch of people together for a tie-dye party and BBQ at my house. Unfortunately, when I came up with the plan, it was grey and rainy here in Creston, so I asked around to see if anyone would be interested in tie-dyeing "when the weather gets nice", and then I started collecting things to dye. Now it is June, and we had so many gorgeous days in a row. I checked the forecast, and decided Sunday June 10th would be the day. And then the forecast changed, and the weekend was cold and rainy and just not good for  an outdoor party. I'm a bit disappointed, but it will happen eventually, and fortunately, I have some flexibility in my planning. It got me thinking though... about the importance of having a backup plan in case weather interferes with an event that cannot be moved. No matter how much planning we put into something, the weather can turn what should be an amazing day into a disappointment pretty quickly. But does it have to be a disappointment? 

I started to reflect on events I have attended or held where the weather played a role. My first wedding was HOT. It was a scorching Saskatchewan summer wedding, and although the venue had air conditioning, it could barely keep up. My hair and makeup were melting by the end of the night. It wasn't what I'd planned for, but it didn't ruin the day. I've heard horror stories of elderly aunts fainting from the heat, I've attended small town weddings in sweaty community halls, I remember the heat, but I don't remember it ruining anything for me. The overall feeling of the event doesn't have to be sacrificed due to a little bad weather. I think a little creativity and some outside the box thinking can go a long way to ensuring your guests can be comfortable at your event.

For hot weather, consider paper fans as wedding favours. They can be purchased inexpensively and can be coordinated to your wedding colours.   Is your event during the known rainy season? Tents and umbrellas could be brought in and decorated or coordinated to match the theme. If you're worried about your guests being cold, why not buy or make some fleece blankets and place them around the venue? Are bugs going to be an issue? You could buy insect repellent bracelets for each of your guests, or place baskets with cans of bugs spray strategically around your event location. 

An outdoor event has a ton of charm, and so many people shy away from planning something outside because there are so many things we can't control. I believe that with a little planning, and a little creativity, you can have a successful outdoor event, while keeping your guests, and yourself, comfortable.