Worst Case Scenario Wedding Day Survival Guide: Thunderstorms & Power Outages

We all like to expect that a wedding day will go as smoothly and as close to our dream as we'd hope it would, and for the majority of what I see, wedding days are mostly awesome with no issues. However, there always exists a scrap of worry that something may happen which would throw the whole dream off kilter, especially when outdoor events are planned and atmospheric conditions cannot be controlled.

In my 4.5 years of shooting weddings, the first a weather related fiasco happened was on April 28th this year. I must highlight the couple, Andrea and Patrick, because they handled thunderstorms and on-and-off power outages so well that I came to note how they handled it as a guide for How Not To Worry. Here's a list, in order of significance, on how to prepare yourself to handle a wedding fiasco if you fear the worst. Hopefully this guide will settle the minds of over-worrisome brides and help them know there is no reason to worry!

1. Most Important! You are marrying the person you love. If this is key (and it should be!), even the end of the world can't keep you two from getting married. Enjoy being rained on or being blown away as a unique set of crazy events and challenges that didn't stop you from tying the knot.

 2. Keep calm and roll with it. If you lose power in a windowless room, smart phone flashlights work like a charm. In a pinch, I harnessed usage of a bridesmaid's phone light to snag a few portraits in the dark. Spot lighting quality wasn't half bad!

3. Notify guests to prepare for weather conditions. Anytime a ceremony or reception is held outdoors, guests should always be prepared with umbrellas or a nearby indoor or tented area for retreat. A mention about preparing for weather can even be stated in the invitation.

 4. If the power goes out, get creative and play it by ear. Delegate tasks to your service providers or event coordinators to improvise if loss of power means food can't be served or music can't be played. Prepare to transform a sit down dinner into cocktails and h'ordeuvres, or even an order of pizza for all your guests. Something is better than nothing, and your guests won't mind if they're hungry. (Luckily the power came on and stayed on just in time for Andrea & Patrick's reception.)

5. Use your bouquet as an umbrella! Simple resourcefulness goes a long way.

Preparedness is your best prevention!