6 Tips to Prepare for Mother Nature on Your Wedding Day

When it comes to planning your wedding day, or any special day for that matter, you have control over a lot of things. You can pick the invites, the colors, the flowers. You can create a schedule to perfectly camouflage your family’s constant tardiness (because they’re ALWAYS 45 minutes “fashionably” late). You can select the perfect venue, perfect date and, most importantly, the *perfect* dress (oh, and the perfect fiancé, too). Unfortunately, the one thing you cannot pick is just what Mother Nature decides to do on that oh so perfect date. Try as you may, your wishing and hoping and chanting and acts of superstition are all no match for her, but with just a few tricks, a little extra preparation and a youthful sense of adventure, rain/snow/any kind of precipitation on your wedding day becomes a whole lot less intimidating. In fact, it can actually make your special day that much more special! Here are our 6 tips to prepare for whatever Mother Nature might throw at you! :)

1. Have a Backup Plan. It’s important to have a rain plan. Whether you’re concerned with your portraits being outside or your entire day is scheduled to take place out in the fresh air, come up with a back-up plan. Talk to your venue(s) about what options they have for unpredictable weather. Many outdoor venues have an indoor option as well, and they can often move you inside at the last minute if needed. No indoor option available? No worries, consider renting a tent! Aside from giving you peace of mind if it rains, it can also provide shade for your guests if it ends up being a beautiful sunny day. Tents can also be super pretty! Think twinkle lights and paper lanterns :)

More concerned about your outdoor photographs? If you really don’t want to risk the weather, there are tons of amazing indoor or covered spaces around our beautiful city of Buffalo that act as unique and stunning backdrops to your photos, whether on your wedding day, engagement shoot or family session. Talk to your photographer about your concerns and they will help you brainstorm a rain plan for portraits based on the location of your venues. That’s what we do for all of our Ayres couples! We can also make recommendations for some gorgeous indoor venues around the city that you can pre-reserve in case of inclement weather.  These locations do have a fee associated with them, but the resulting photos are so unique and amazing that we think it’s totally worth it! A few of our local favorites are:

Silo City (shown above).

Hotel Henry (shown above).

Ellicott Square Building (shown above).

2. Umbrellas! Simple enough, right?! Right! We suggest these awesome clear umbrellas. Not only are they super functional, but they go with any color scheme, aren’t at all distracting and can add a real touch of class and whimsy to your special day! Plus you can get photos THROUGH them. AMAZING! Purchase umbrellas for yourself, your party members and even your ushers (to help guests stay dry while they’re coming and going).

3. Waterproof Your Look. Not necessarily just your face, although that is important too! It’s always a good idea to make sure that the products used on your big day are able to hold up against the elements, whether that be sweat, tears, precipitation or wind. If you’re having your make-up done professionally then your make-up artist should have all the right tricks and tools to get you safely through the day unscathed, however it doesn’t hurt to check in with him or her beforehand and voice your concerns. If you’re doing your own make-up there are plenty of great products that can really make a huge difference in whether or not your make-up stays in place. Waterproof mascara is a no-brainer, but don’t forget about a good face and eye-shadow primer, waterproof eyeliner, and a setting spray to keep your face looking flawless from sun up to sun down! When it comes to your hair it’s always best to work with it instead of against it, regardless of the weather. If your hair typically doesn’t hold a curl well, can get frizzy easily or if you’re just afraid of it possibly losing it’s shape from things like wind and rain (and sweat, too) then consider choosing a hairstyle that’s mostly pulled up and secured versus something down and vulnerable to the elements. Bring a hairdryer with you to the venue just in case (even to dry your dress if needed! Hey, those things come in handy for more than just hair!) and when it comes to footwear, a back-up pair of flats or wedges are much more dependable than stilettos when you’re dodging rain drops and puddles, and stomping through rain softened grass or slick pavement. Or just go all in and find yourself a cute pair of emergency rain boots!

4. Keep your guests informed. If you’re planning part or all of your day outside, let your guests know ahead of time so that they too can be prepared for whatever nature sends your way that day. It’s no fun to show up to a wedding or party thinking you’ll be safe from the rain drops indoors only to arrive and find out that you’re actually going to be hanging out under the darkening clouds all day, just waiting for them to open up and dump buckets on your freshly styled coif (and after all that time you spent on it, too!!). Save your guests from the regret of leaving their umbrellas at home by simply making a note of your intentions on your invites. They’ll be grateful for the heads up.

5. Trust your photographer. It’s really just that simple. More often than not, your photographer has been doing this long enough to know how to get the shots they need regardless of what Mother Nature has in store. They’ve seen it all and they’ve made it all work. Wind, rain, snow – whatever the case, your photographer will make it look beautiful and memorable. Some of the best shots come out of unexpected and unpredictable weather situations.

And that leads us to our last tip…

6. Have a sense of adventure. Yes, it’s okay to get a little wet!! Laughter and a positive “roll with the punches” outlook can truly make or break your day. It’s all about mind set and if you simply tell yourself that you might get a little wet but you’re going to have fun doing it, then not only will your photographs be amazing but you’ll look back on your day with fondness and lightheartedness rather than regret and frustration. Like we said, you can control a lot of things but you absolutely cannot control Mother Nature. So rather than fight her and let her get the best of you, make the choice to have fun with her instead!

Looking for more great wedding day tips?? Click here!

brooke + lee // Knox Farm Wedding Celebration

It’s not every day that we get to work with a couple who met back way back in the 7th grade. It’s even more rare that, back in the 7th grade, one of them had just transferred from South Korea, barely spoke English, and then (somehow) worked up enough nerve to give the other her first kiss by the following year. Yet, that is the exact story for Brooke and Lee! They didn’t start exclusively dating until their senior year of high school, and shortly after, Lee was obligated to serve in the Korean military for 2 years, during which time he and Brooke were barely able to communicate. They most often resorted to the old romance of handwritten letters. It’s a wonder that they not only stayed together during this time, especially being so young, but that it was this specific experience that helped them both to realize that they wanted to be together forever. Is there anything sweeter than that??

Lee proposed to Brooke on a beach in Busan, South Korea and the couple had their small and intimate ceremony there, choosing to throw an elegant “after the wedding” party back in the States a few months later. With help from Syrie Roman of Social Maven Event Planning, Brooke and Lee put together an exceptional outdoor soiree for 100 friends and family members. Syrie was able to find the perfect balance of simple, understated elegance. Seriously, guys, it was all so special! We’re endlessly grateful that Brooke and Lee chose us to document this amazing celebration of their unique love story.

Brooke: “I started browsing online to see what style dress I liked, and came across Lihi Hod – I completely fell in love with her elegant bohemian style. I found a small boutique shop in Toronto that carried Lihi’s dresses, and went from there. The first time going to try on dresses was a little overwhelming, but by the second time I knew I found my dress! And as an extra plus, it was comfortable.“

Brooke: “The first time Lee and I saw each other was for different reasons than you might think. I was still in my robe, and he was only partially dressed, he only had his T-shirt on with his dress pants – it was literally too hot out for him to fully dress. But the non-traditional spin is what made it funny and cute – that’s how we are! Mind you, he had already seen me in my dress back in March for our actual wedding. (Side note – we didn’t do a first look in March. My absolute favorite moment between all the wedding events was walking down the isle to Lee in March – I still get goosebumps thinking about it).”

Brooke: “Some of the best moments of the day were when Lee and I would be apart from each other, talking to different family and friends, but then catch a glance from each other across the way.“

Brooke: “The first time I saw the finished decor, I was in complete awe.“

Brooke: “Sitting next to Lee while hearing my dad and sister give speeches – we were so completely humbled and overwhelmed with love.“

Brooke: “‘Let There Be Love’ by Nat King Cole was a song we listened to on our honeymoon almost every day – it became special to us! A reminder of our first adventure as a married couple.“

Brooke: “I danced with my dad to ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’. My dad is a Disney fan, not just of the brand, but of Walt Disney himself. I like to think of my dad as my own Walt Disney :) He always followed his dreams and his heart, and encouraged us to do the same. I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am if it wasn’t for him!“

Brooke: “We’ve been through a lot together. Lee had to serve in the Korean military, and he chose to do his service right out of high school – wanted to get it out of the way so he could go to school and move on with our lives without the interruption. We didn’t get to see each other for two years, but it taught us so much. Sometimes our only communication was through hand written letters, which made our phone calls and Skype video chats even more special. I think that’s how we truly realized we could and wanted to spend our lives together – we never wavered once from our relationship over those two years, and it made us really appreciate each other. It definitely wasn’t easy, but it made us who we are today!“

Brooke: “I loved dancing with my hubby at the end of the night to some of my all time favorite songs. Not slow dance, but a goofy kind of dance! We were having a BLAST. And have perfect pictures to capture it.“

Brooke: “Our best advice – don’t get caught up in the details. Everything can’t be perfect. And trust the professionals to do their jobs! They are the experts. We let Syrie, the caterers, Ayres, etc. be creative – we didn’t restrict them. And everything turned out better than either of us could have imagined! Ayres is fantastic – I have never in my life seen better photos taken – I couldn’t believe how beautiful everyone and everything looked. If you want someone to truly capture your event, the vibes, and everything else, there is seriously no better choice!!“

We LOVE Knox Farm, don’t you?? Click here for another amazing Knox Farm wedding!

Wedding Vendors Include:

Venue: Knox Farm
Wedding Planner: Syrie Roman of Social Maven Event Planning
Invitations and Signage: Parkside Prints
Hair and Make-up: BLUSH Makeup and Hair
Wedding Dress Designer: “Roseberry” by Lihi Hod
Florist: Fern Croft
Tent Rental: All Season Rental
Lighting and Decor: Social Maven Event Planning
Furniture Rentals: Quaint
Serveware Rentals: Quaint
Catering: The Grange Community Kitchen and Lomo Lomo Food Truck
Donuts: Paula’s Donuts
Gelato Station: Sweet Melody’s Artisan Crafted Gelato
Dessert Table Styling: Social Maven Event Planning
Band: GRAVY Band