How to Weather-Proof Outdoor Wedding Decor

1 Spend Extra Money to Plan For Basic What-Ifs

"You cannot plan to use outdoor spaces without thinking about the what-ifs," says James, adding, "no one wants to spend money needlessly, but the what-ifs sometimes happen." They can range from extreme temperature changes to wet weather. To combat these what-ifs, James encourages his clients to spend the extra money to rent heaters and order side flaps for tents, even if it means cutting the budget elsewhere. "[It] may take away from the floral budget and the soaps with your new monogram you were hoping each guest would cherish forever, but there is real value in peace of mind."

Photo by Paco & Betty via Green Wedding Shoes

1 / 7

2 Be Practical With Flowers

Pick flowers that can stand up to your wedding setting and climate. "People don't always think about what kind of flowers to use in a practical way; they choose them for the look, color, and sentiment," says James, citing hydrangeas as a beautiful flower that will wilt immediately in humidity. If you love hydrangeas or another delicate flower, you don't have to give up your dream of having it at your wedding altogether; just reconsider how you'll use it. "Save them for the air-conditioned dinner rather than the ceremony or your bouquet."

Photo by Gina & Ryan Photography via Green Wedding Shoes

2 / 7

3 Make a Contingency Plan You Actually Like

Image Source: Oldani Photography

"Picking a contingent plan for the weather-sensitive parts of the ceremony and reception is imperative; however, making sure you could actually love that plan is just as important," James advises. Too often brides merely concede to bring the wedding indoors in the case of bad weather, then cross their fingers and hope that they'll luck out with a beautiful wedding day. Take it a step further and proactively plan where and how the wedding will go off indoors (where will the ceremony occur? How will the dining tables be laid out? Where will the dance floor go?) to create a contingency plan you would be happy enacting.

3 / 7

4 Consider Tent Power Sources

If the temperature hits a record low on your wedding day, you'll be glad you planned ahead and ordered heaters for the tent — but you'll also need to plan for the extra power they require. "If you are having a tent in your backyard or on a rented property, make sure not all the power is being drawn from the house," James warns. Blown circuits and power outages can have widespread effects on a wedding and are something no bride should have to deal with on her big day. To avoid this, James recommends having an electrician check everything out prior to the big day.

Photo by Abby Jiu via Style Me Pretty

4 / 7

5 Pick Decor That Is Compatible With Your Contingency Plan

Image Source: Stacey Pentland Photography

"When you're working on the design, think of things that could work for both inside and out," James advises. "Don't use tables that are too big to be in the contingency plan or chairs for the ceremony that cannot be folded up in a pinch." Linens can easily be moved indoors, but 300-pound antique farm tables cannot, so be sure you're picking versatile decor.

5 / 7

6 Consider Wedding Insurance

For those one-chance weddings where there is no contingency plan available, James recommends purchasing wedding insurance. He says, "Wedding insurance is a real thing. Just like travel insurance there are limitations, so do your research." It's also worth checking out the policy of each of your vendors. "Your wedding will not be the first one that has ever had bad weather, so ask [vendors] about their policies, rebooking, and refunds."

Photo by K&K Photography, LLC via Style Me Pretty

6 / 7

7 Don't Let Weather Concerns Hold You Back From Planning Your Dream Day

"Weather concerns shouldn't stop you from planning anything, and if you let yourself, you will have the day of your dreams regardless of the conditions or if things need tweaking," James reminds clients. "If you are lucky, that day will never happen again, so relax, have some Champagne, keep the umbrella handy, and enjoy every second, because it really does go by too fast."

Photo by Vanessa Joy Photography via Style Me Pretty

7 / 7