To not go to this wedding (camping in the rain)

[Raisinbrain]

We're supposed to be going to a wedding on Saturday. It's a beach wedding (we're not in the UK) in a national park and we're supposed to be camping. It's a five hour drive to get there and we have an 11 year old and a very active, hard work 16 month old.
The weather forecast is looking dreadful, very heavy rain all week.
We haven't been camping for a couple of years, we have a new tent but we don't have a lot of gear, just the basics. The children don't have waterproof shoes or clothes. We live in a flat and don't have any outdoor space at home to dry a wet tent.
The wedding is a very casual bring-your-own-food-and-drink type thing with not very many guests as we're all expats. They're friends in our circle who we've never spent time with outside group get togethers.
We're skint and can't afford alternative accommodation nearby.
Would it be awful of us to cancel at such late notice?

I am just a bit aghast that your kids don't have waterproof shoes or coats.

bratsy the IP appears to live in Australia. Rather less need for them there.

Nah i wouldn't go. And i wouldn't be sorry about telling them why.

I've been camping in torrential rain with young dc. It was awful

I agree with Minipie Surely the couple are going to have to come up with another plan. I bet all the other guests will be hoping the same.

With that weather warning YANBU and I think the bride and groom need to get out plan B.

Having been in that area in the kind of weather...no. Just no. Don't go, tell them why and ask for plan b. Maybe if just 11 year old but a toddler no way.

bratsy the IP appears to live in Australia. Rather less need for them there.

While it doesn't rain as much in the south eastern parts of Au as it does in the UK, it does rain. I can't think of anyone I know in Au who doesn't have wet weather gear, wellies etc.

They can't expect people to camp when there is a severe weather warning. They must have a plan b.

Yes but echt it is Summer there currently, so you can see that it's the kind of thing your kids grow out of and you replace for the winter.

Unlike in the U.K. where you generally have a need for them year round.

Agreed it's summer, but here in Melbourne, it was a cold and rainy spring and early summer, and in Sydney you can expect heavy rain all year round.

As I said in my post, i was not criticising the OP, just countering the perception that there is less need for wet weather gear in Au.

Unlike in the U.K. where you generally have a need for them year round.

Definitely need them year-round in Australia.

My toddler started walking in September last year in the spring and the only shoes he's ever had are sandals. He's been in t shirt and shorts all summer, no jumpers needed let alone rain coats! Obviously it does rain from time to time but there's no need for him to go out and about in it. It has been a very long very hot summer!
My eleven year old refuses to wear a coat even in the winter and only has canvas shoes, flip flops and school shoes.
It does rain a lot here in terms of mm of rain but it does it in short heavy bursts that often seem to happen at night.

I don't think I'd go.

We decided not to go. Well, DH decided. He is the flaky one whereas I would usually force myself to suffer through once I've signed up for something. He sent the B&G our apologies.

The wedding is still going ahead as planned as far as I know. Most people are staying in cabins, not camping. I wish we had booked a cabin originally! Phone reception is rubbish where they are so we haven't had any updates.

Feeling so torn and shit still about whether we should have gone. The forecast has improved but it's still very wet. Oh well. I am writing an apology to the bride and planning to drop off a nice gift for them when they get home. Gutted to be missing the celebrations but also happy to be dry at home with a dry peacefully napping baby.

You made the right decision for your family. Hopefully the B and G understand.

I was going to ask if you if you were on the east coast of Australia and I see that you are. It would be extremely dangerous to camp in this weather, they are predicting another east coast low, the last one was terrible and destructive.

Btw regarding wet weather gear, we are in Australia and we all have umbrellas and thats about it. The kids had a raincoat when they were small but won't wear them now, we definitely don't have gumboots.

That sounds horrible. I would apologise and duck out.

Have they replied yet?

God, I'm in Sydney and love camping, but no way would have camped in this weather. It has been relentless this weekend. I think the only other thing the op could maybe have done was ask other guests if there were any spare beds in their cabins. Or spoken to campsite and asked for options.

At such short notice though, I can totally understand making the decision not to go.

Yes we got a lovely message from the bride saying they totally understand, it was very wet in the evenings (the tents all flooded) so we did the right thing and we were in their thoughts and there in spirit.
She's a good'un.

Pleased to hear it all worked out . Do get to the South Coast sometime, its beautiful!

I'm glad it all worked out. I don't think you could have foreseen this rain when you accepted the invitation. Also, I'm in inland Australia and only my husband owns gumboots and a mac of sorts, as he works outside. The kids and I don't own either: they had them as littlies (passed down) but not for 8-10 years now, so don't feel bad.

I'm glad it all worked out for you abc I hope they had a lovely time.