Just in Case: Planning for bad weather

Ah, New Zealand, Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud - known for its beautiful, raw landscapes and epically unpredictable weather patterns. Four seasons in one day, gale force winds, torrential rain, unexpected fog that delays flights - we really do get it all over here. 

The most important thing here is - you can’t control the weather (as much as you may want to!). What you can do is prepare for any scenario ahead of time, to avoid getting caught out in a thunderstorm without umbrellas or a back up plan!

PACK UMBRELLAS

This one’s probably obvious - but even in summer, random rain showers are pretty common, and if you’re anything like me, hair + rain = explosion of frizzy, gravity-defying hair. You could pick up some gorgeous, minimalistic white or clear umbrellas for the day - and they look great in photos!


HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN FOR YOUR CEREMONY

If you’re opting for an outdoor ceremony (because, why wouldn’t you make the most of your gorgeous locations!), come up with rainy-day option. Most venues will have a space for just such a situation, but if you’re celebrating at a private venue, you might need to consider a marquee or similar.

KEEP YOUR GUESTS COSY

Nights are the coldest in winter, so if your reception area isn’t the toastiest, consider supplying a bunch of blankets and hot water bottles for your guests. You can pick up simple, cheap blankets from The Warehouse or Kmart. 

WATERPROOF MAKEUP

Your MUA will undoubtedly be prepared with waterproof makeup - but if you’re a guest, or you’re opting to do your own makeup, go waterproof (trust me, this will also come in handy when the tears start rolling - nothing quite like the look of mascara tear tracks!). 

ACCESSORISE

Make a fashion statement whilst also keeping yourself warm all day long - a white faux fur shrug, a cardigan or a cosy wrap work well in winter, or if you’re wanting something a bit more edgy, go for a leather or denim jacket. Same goes for your girls! Winter is also the perfect time of year to try out some different fabrics like velvet or wool suits for the guys. Think about your choice of shoe too - sandals or strappy heels are unlikely to keep your toes warm in winter. Even summer nights can lose the heat, so coming up with a couple of additional light layers is a good idea. 


BACK-UP PHOTO SPOTS

Chat to your photographer and the venue about photo locations in bad weather. They may have recommendations for nearby indoor spots, or might have somewhere on-site you can use. If you’re feeling brave, you can always embrace the dramatic weather and get some epic photos - they’ll be some true New Zealand wedding shots!

Deanna Walker