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Wedding Etiquette Forum
Winter wedding: what should I do if it snows?
Hey everyone. Our wedding is next December, ceremony and reception are both indoors. However, since we're in the South Jersey/Philly area, the possibility of it snowing (and badly) is fairly high. We haven't booked anything but the church yet, but I guess I'm just wondering what we could do in the event that it does snow, and is there anything we should write into our contracts before we book vendors? I think if it's a blizzard they would let us reschedule, but what happens if its 5 inches of snow? or icy roads? or if it snows badly a few days before but not on our actual wedding day? I don't want to lose a bunch of money if no one is able to come to the reception, but obviously I don't want anyone to get hurt trying to drive if the roads are bad. Any advice would certainly help me a lot, thanks!
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Re: Winter wedding: what should I do if it snows?
This is a risk of having a winter wedding in the northeast. If you do not want to play the what if game, you probably need to think about a new, less likely to snow, date.
Some ideas to embrace it are offer up hot chocolate and/or hot appler cider (people can add rum to the cider for some extra punch) to warm themselves up at the reception.
[QUOTE]Look into wedding insurance. Some (maybe even most) venues are not going to agree you can cancel a day in advance unless there is a state of emergence or something like that. Just because 50% can't make would not be a good enough reason IMO. It just a risk you take when you have a winter wedding. FWIW - My wedding was in the middle of a tropical storm with 100% of the guests being OOT. It was suppose to be outdoors also. We had a backup plan, but still. Unless there was a state of emergency we would not have gotten our money back. It's just the risk you take. GL and pray for good weather.
Posted by lyndausvi[/QUOTE]
<div>Ditto all of this. These are risks/chances you take by having a Winter wedding. One of my girls had a Winter wedding and things went fine. We had normal seasonal snow in Michigan.</div><div>
</div><div>Unless there is a state of emergency declaired I can't imagine any venue giving you as much leeway as you are wanting. If the weather is bad and a lot of people can't attend, the important thing is that you and FI and those that can attend have a good time and enjoy the wedding.</div><div>
</div><div>One of my other DD's attended her BFF's wedding a few years ago and it was in December. The weather was <strong>horrible.</strong> It was bad enough that I would have not attended and just sent the couple an even bigger check to cover the dinners they would have paid for plus their gift. It was bad and I would not have driven in it. They had the VIPs there and a very small number of good friends and they had a heck of a good time and didn't let the weather stop them.</div><div>
</div><div>If this is really a major concern to you then I encourage you to shift your wedding by a couple of months either way. You have to decide how much risk you are willing to take.</div><div>
</div><div>I would be interested to know what criteria is used in wedding insurance for this.</div>
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Winter wedding: what should I do if it snows? : I would be interested to know what criteria is used in wedding insurance for this.
Posted by kmmssg[/QUOTE]
Does wedding insurance cover snow issues in snowy areas?
And in late January, we had our tasting with our reception hall. We had a freezing rain the night before. The road stayed icy all day, but got better as the day went and the towns salted the streets. When we arrived to pick up the food, there was a wedding going on. So even though it was a bit icy, the wedding still took place at the venue. I can't say if they had their full attendance or not, but the parking lot was packed.
I ditto to look into wedding insurance if you are that afraid and get the rider for the weather. You could look for independant insurers or try your home owners or renters insurance policy if you have one. Or even the company that give you car insurance. Its possible you will get a discount as an existing member of the insurance.
[QUOTE]<strong>I would recommend a wedding later in the afternoon because if it does snow or ice, by the afternoon the streets will be plowed and salted. We're getting married January 26 in Pittsburgh and we set on a 4pm ceremony and 5:30pm reception just for that reason. </strong>
Posted by manjermj[/QUOTE]
<div>How does this logic help? What if it starts snowing at 3pm?</div><div>
</div><div>I'm with Joy. I lived in Phila for four years in college and only once did it ever snow bad enough to make any real drama. If you're that worried, I would change your date. </div>
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Winter wedding: what should I do if it snows? : How does this logic help? What if it starts snowing at 3pm? I'm with Joy. I lived in Phila for four years in college and only once did it ever snow bad enough to make any real drama. If you're that worried, I would change your date.
Posted by misssunshine17[/QUOTE]
<div>1. because it's warmer in the afternoons than earlier in the day. And the sun helps to melt the snow and ice. </div><div>2. Around here, on the weekends, plows aren't out until later in the afternoons. </div>
i did purchase (but didnt have to use, we had a sunny dry day!) a vinyl aisle runner for the church in the event it had been snowing - i did not want my train dragged through snow and salt that had been tracked in.
Winter wedding: what should I do if it snows?</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm also having a winter wedding in January, and I'm in Canada so I expect a good possibility of snow. I think it is a risk, but if you just talk to all your vendors and
make sure that you have a Plan B, all should turn out well. Make sure you
have a Plan B for your guests to - the OOT guests all have a place to crash if
need be etc . . . the vinyl aisle runner is an interesting idea - I might have
to use that! I was also thinking of getting a dress with no train to avoid
snow mmisfortunes with it.
Posted by kerbohl[/QUOTE]
I'm also in Canada and getting married in January. Snow is just something you have to deal with. I'm actually looking for a lot of snow... I definitely don't want pictures
with frozen brown dirt as far as the eye can see.
I like the vinyl runner idea as well... think it would be slippery if guests with wet shoes
walked on it?</div>