For those of you unfamiliar with our tropical climate and weather – here’s what you need to know. In Barbados we have just two seasons- the wet season and the dry season. Nice and uncomplicated, no?
The dry season is from December to June. The rainy or wet season runs from June to November/December. The hurricane season falls within that period and is officially from June 1 to November 30. Historically, Barbados is rarely struck by hurricanes (on average just about once every 25 years).
During the rainy season, in addition to increased rainfall, the humidity naturally tends to be high. Don’t let the rainfall scare you though- the wet season really only averages an hour less sunshine per day compared to the dry season.
In part 1 of this post we are going to look at some of the ways in which you can prepare to deal with possible rainfall on your wedding day.
Image- Inspired By This (Vesic Photography)
Location, location, location
If you are having an outdoors wedding, it is always great to use a venue that also has indoor options available in the case of bad weather. Think about what the set-up should be if you are forced to re-locate and and what you can do to have those changes accommodated. In your plan, remember to account for the delays that will happen if the location is changed and the impact that will have on your timeline.
Also make sure to communicate the details of your back-up plan to all of the relevant vendors so they know what to expect. You can also let guests know ahead of time what your Plan B venue or location will be.
Alternatively, you can choose to have a tent set up. Clear top tents are available for rent in Barbados if you want to have an unobstructed view of your beautiful surroundings.
Bear in mind though, tents are not ideal if the weather is extremely severe so you still need to have a contingency plan in place.
You also need to critically examine the layout of your venue. Will you have a case where ushers have to run back and forth sheltering your guests with umbrellas so they can get to the reception area? If so, a tented walkway might have to be included in your plans.
Make a note of all of the sheltered areas where you and your guests can take photos should the rain fall, so you can still have some variety in your shots.
For destination brides planning a beach wedding, here is an extra tip- don’t have your flight back home booked for the day after the wedding. Allow yourself some flexibility in case you have to delay the event due to bad weather.
Have a collection of ‘rainy day’ items handy
Here is an idea of what to include-
~Umbrellas for your bridal party and your guests
~Rubber flip-flops for your guests if the ground is wet or plastic shoe covers
~ Cute rain flats (love the ones by J.Crew and Anthropologie) or wellies for you and your bridal party
~Disposable plastic ponchos to keep everyone as dry as possible should they have to venture out under the rain
~A few large towels are always handy
~Clear plastic tarp to protect furniture or other items from the rain
~A sheet or shower curtain you can stand on to protect your wedding dress
Embrace It
You know, some really gorgeous photography can come out of overcast and wet conditions- the colour saturation is better and your photographer gets to work with softer, more diffused light. Just take a look at this gorgeous wedding in Barbados from local photographer, Andrew O’Dell.
You also have so many unique photo opportunities playing around with your ‘rain gear’ or just enjoying the water as these photos prove so beautifully!
Images- Kern-Photo, The Smith Nest (Heather Forsythe Photography), Olivia Leigh Photographie, Once Wed (Cooper Carras Photography), Style Me Pretty (Photophilcro Photography), Wedding Spot, Viva La Wedding, Style Events (Erin Hearts Court Photography)
Images-Rustic Wedding Chic (M2 Photography), Dpnak (Rhinehart Photography), Kern-Photo
Image- Bender Photography
