If you ask me, Las Vegas has experienced quite an odd week for April weather. With winds as high as 60 miles per hour and temperatures so cold that some Vegas valley areas saw snowfall, many April brides are beginning to question: What if weird weather strikes on my wedding day?
Las Vegas brides, even in our usually sunny city, it’s always best to have a back-up plan. Starting today, we’ll present the weather challenges you might experience for your Las Vegas weddings. Then we’ll give you the tools you need to prepare, in case of these uncharacteristic weather conditions. To kick-start Bridal Spectacular’s “Wedding Weather Wisdom” series, let’s take a look at how you can prepare for spring’s windy weather.
Exchange your veil.
Recently, I attended a wedding where a bride’s veil took flight across her face and slapped the groom across his lips during the vows. And, well, it’s just not fair to watch the groom sputter against a flyaway veil as he’s delivering some of the most important words of his life. If you’ll have windy weather, exchange a lengthy, traditional veil for a birdcage veil. This will look chic and stay in place throughout the entire ceremony.
Inform your guests.
If your wedding is planned for an area that is prone to high winds, find an efficient way to inform your guests. Post a note on your wedding website, for example, to let guests know they should dress accordingly.
Give your hairdresser a heads-up.
After you’ve checked the weather on your wedding day, let you hair stylist know what you’ve learned. In case of wind, she can add more bobby pins to keep your elaborate hairdo in place and off your face without lacquering your look in hairspray.
Exchange tall floral arrangements for low ones with a wider base.
Thin arrangements in tall vases will be blown over easily, and your florist’s hard work will roll away with the wind. Instead, opt for floral arrangements lower to the ground in thick vases with a wide base. Keep these details in mind anytime you plan an outdoor ceremony, so you won’t be caught unprepared on your wedding day.
Hire a professional photographer.
Yes, hiring your amateur friends to photograph may save you money. But they won’t have the equipment or expertise to deal with changes in weather. With a professional photographer hired from the start, you won’t have to worry about the wind. A professional will have a tripod that won’t tip, a camera with proper sealing to protect its circuitry, and lenses to withstand dirt pitting. Most importantly, he’ll have the know-how to deliver stunning photographs for your wedding day, no matter the outdoor conditions.
Let your officiant wear a headset microphone.
With rushing winds, your officiant’s words may be lost during the ceremony. Give him a headset microphone, so all your guests can hear his words. Just be sure to secure your speaker system, so the audio devices don’t topple in intense gusts.
Have a professional wedding coordinator handle the details.
If it’s within your budget, hire a wedding coordinator to take care of the details. Whether you need to shorten parts of your ceremony, secure early access to your indoor reception venue, or inform the caterers of a change in plans, a professional coordinator has the necessary experience in levelheaded crisis management and wedding planning. This way, you can stay relaxed as the professionals handle the tough stuff to ensure your wedding day is just as special, regardless of windy weather.
Las Vegas brides, continue to check Bridal Spectacular’s Las Vegas Wedding Blog this week as we bring you more instances of Las Vegas weather conditions and corresponding preparations to ensure your wedding day is all you’ve dreamed. In the meantime, please feel free to view our Bridal Spectacular website. You’ll find wedding vendors for hire, bridal show times and tickets, and more helpful wedding planning tips and resources!
Author: Allyson Siwajian
Photographs provided by: Debra Hansen