To say that just because you can have your wedding outside in March…

[Forwardthinkingcrayfish]

… it doesn’t mean you should?

Wedding is tomorrow and the weather forecast is 12 degrees with winds ranging between 20mph and 40mph where we are, but no rain. I’m involved at the venue. Guests will be outside and suppliers/musicians are booked to serve/perform outside for the ceremony and drinks part. Everyone is likely to be absolutely freezing, yet the bride still “has her heart set” on an outdoor wedding. I just don’t see how anyone would enjoy standing outside for 3 hours in wedding attire?!

This is by far not the first wedding in similar circumstances, and won’t be the last. I have no say on the bride’s decision, but I’m putting it out here because I’m curious!

AIBU to think that the comfort of the guests and staff is more important than going ahead with an outdoor wedding whatever the weather?

Are they going to provide blankets etc?

So no back up plan for the weather?

The couple are bloody fools.

Our wedding was in August and we still had huge back up plans to implement in case of bad weather due to the location of the ceremonies requiring most guests to hike up a big hill! It is an ancient castle, so not much choice really....

We managed to sort some. transport for a handful of disabled / elderly family members but everyone else had to hoof it.

As it was we all got sunburnt and it was brilliantly hot and gloriously sunny, but we also had bottles and shade all over the place for the walk to make sure no one was too hot or dehydrated.

It's just part of the planning of the day. If everyone is sodden, freezing cold and miserable they'll just leave and the couple can enjoy being cold and wet in a field alone.

YANBU

its just as ridiculous as socialising outside was in Covid times.

Ridiculous. If you have your heart set on an outdoor wedding, don't book March for a start. And definitely be prepared to change plans. I hope the guests know it's outside!

Our wedding was early March, all indoors but we did want photos outside of the weather was ok but had an indoor back up. there had been snow the year before so we planned for both scenarios (I had pink floral wellies just in case!)
Luckily it was sunny but a bit chilly so did a few photos outside then the rest indoors.

I'd be mightily pissed off at spending the day outside in a posh frock in this weather. We've just been to the park in hats, gloves & wellies because the wind is freezing & the ground is sooooo soggy from all the rain

Sounds like hell; i got married in March but it was all inside and planned that way because it’s cold and wedding clothing is not normally the warmest

Any outside wedding is risky in this country but having one in March is mad.

I’ve always been of the opinion that I’d rather not have my “perfect” wedding day memory, if it comes at the expense of 100 other people having 100 miserable memories of it.

I really, really don't understand why anyone in the UK gets married outdoors, even at the height of summer, without any alternative available if the weather's bad. Outdoor weddings are lovely in nice weather, but you ALWAYS need a back-up option.

If the guests are aware they're going to be outside, I'd expect more than a few last minute apologies.

It wouldn’t be my choice, but I’d take a coat and enjoy the day.

Just wear warm clothes. I don't see the problem.

Taking a coat is obviously an option for guests, but I strongly doubt the staff at the venue will be allowed to wear them to serve drinks and canapes.

We went to an outdoor wedding last October, it was cold and wet but we had a great time and I don't even like weddings !

I’m struggling to picture what I own that’s warm enough to stand outside for 3 hours in this weather and suitable wedding attire!

Sod that! But then we’ve seen bride and groom in full regalia leading their wedding party onto the BIg One in Blackpool in piddling rain 🤣

We went to one in June, on a farm, in a barn. By 10pm everyone had left, it was just freezing.

it's not just the issue of it being cold - what if it pisses down? It's barely stopped raining since October!

Decades ago, a close friend from university got married in March. It wasn't an outdoor wedding but the reception was in a big back garden in a marquee. It snowed and was bitterly cold - I can still recall how miserable we all were.

Rain not being forecast is not the same as their being no rain at all either. It’s a pretty daft idea if there’s no back up plan.

Agree with this

Outdoor weddings in the UK should always have a back up plan for poor weather

Ours was in Scotland in October. Pretty much guaranteed to be wet and/or windy. Turned out to be unseasonably warm and fair weather, we had all our photos taken outside in beautiful sunshine with the autumn colours of the trees around us. Bet if we'd had it in June it would have been throwing it sideways!

If anyone has their heart set on outdoor wedding, don’t get married in the UK. At all. Spring, summer, autumn or winter.

We attended a friend’s wedding in early June. It was freezing and it rained all day with flood warnings in the vicinity. We had better wedding for our wedding in February.

Do you usually go to a wedding trussed up in your warm clothes? Most people usually dress up in something nice for a wedding

Well, maybe in the light of location and weather people need to re-think what constitutes suitable wedding attire. Think outside the box i e not a flimsy dress and heels.

I would if it was outside. Definitions of 'nice' vary.