My last post about the Goths in Hot Weather blog got me thinking about alternative weddings and weather.

It’s often said that as much as brides try to control their wedding, mother freakin-nature is the ONE aspect you can’t count on. In “normal” weddings, this means outdoor photo shoots in the vineyard and beach ceremonies might be off the cards if the weather doesn’t agree.

But for a skully wedding, the weather can play equal havoc on the best laid plans. Want a moonlight, candlelit ceremony? It’s not gonna happen if the wind is up. Want some post-apocalyptic hilltop stormy photographs – you’d better plan your wedding for hurricane season and hope for the best.

I’m a strong advocate for indoor ceremonies. When you’re planning an event that only lasts for 5-20 minutes and is SO reliant on candles and people hearing and you being able to see where you’re going and looking pretty for photographs and family members being comfortable … I think it’s easier to leave the super-dramatic fantasies for the bridal portraits.

We originally planned a moonlight, candlelit ceremony, but we quickly realised we’d be waiting till around 8pm at night for a suitable level of “kreig darkness” and if even a simple breeze blew up, the whole thing would be a bust. Rather than having the circus tent as our ‘backup’ we just moved the whole ceremony there – bingo, instant stress relief.

You’re always well advised to plan your wedding date in the season containing the weather you’d most prefer. But it’s not a contract between you and the weather gods. Don’t plan your wedding around a specific type of weather – you can’t get mad if it doesn’t turn out like you hoped.

My two best friends and I all had our weddings within 45 days of each other (different years). Jen’s was sweltering hot to the point that she nearly fainted at her reception. Mine was dreary and it bucketed down for an hour before the ceremony and from about 11pm onwards, and Lin’s was sunny and cool until about halfway through her photo session, where it bucketed down.

Wedding weather is just one of those things you have to cast off your shoulders, and say “Well, I’m looking forward to the weather surprise – I like surprises on my wedding!” and trust that your photographer knows how to get the look you want with the weather you have available.

Alternatively, you can sacrifice a goat to the weather gods. I’m sure they’d appreciate the trouble.