Unveiling Elegance: The Perfect Wedding Dress for Your Special Day
The Journey to Finding Your Dream Wedding Dress Your wedding day is an enchanting chapter in your life story, and at our wedding planning agency,
15/07/2023
Planning 2 weddings (with rain and no rain)
Let’s Start Blogging with the Topic No One Wants to Hear About: The Rainy Season!!
“The one we must not speak of,” the uncomfortable conversation—one that, although it worries us and gets on our nerves, is better addressed than avoided. Just like in a relationship, it’s that hard conversation no one wants to have but could save us from a disaster.
It’s May 13th and we’re in the Caribbean, where every year—and thanks (or no thanks) to climate change—the rainy season starts whenever it feels like it. In past years, I remember telling couples that weddings in May were THE best: great weather, no rain, and hotels offering the best lodging rates. Now, I honestly don’t know what to tell them. Over the last five years, May has been a hot, humid month—not the most ideal for weddings. HOWEVER, room rates are still much more affordable during this month and other months like September, October. Of course, hotel prices are dynamic: the higher the demand, the higher the price. But that’s a topic for another blog.
As I was saying, in the last five years, May in Cancún and the Riviera Maya was the ideal month for weddings. This year has been all over the place. A few days ago, we had one of the first significant rains of the season in Cancún—the kind that lasts almost all day. And who is on high alert? Wedding planners, couples, and wedding vendors.
So, let’s talk about Voldemort and what to do if you have to plan your wedding day with rain in mind.
Let’s start with the climate basics of this area—the so-called tropical climate. Honestly, in this region, being so close to the jungle and the beach, we can expect rain year-round. We’ve had rainy days in January, February, March, April, May… hahaha, should I go on!? However, there are months when the rain only lasts about 10 minutes. You just need to stay alert, since (in my experience) it usually rains in the morning. Keep in mind that wedding days often start in the morning, receiving vendors and setting up the furniture. During some other months, it rains later in the day. If we’re lucky, it’ll rain after the ceremony and, if we’ve planned it well, we’ll already be under a palapa or tent for dinner.
I want to clarify that the purpose of this blog is to present possible scenarios and—more than scare you—to help you imagine yourself in a situation where you’d need to make a decision about your wedding setup. That way, you can approach the planning of your wedding with a clearer mind—anywhere tropical, not just Cancún or the Riviera Maya.
How can we plan with peace of mind?
There are two main considerations, from which all other decisions stem:
First—is your wedding at a hotel or at an external venue?
In 99% of cases, planning a wedding at a resort—especially one that also hosts groups and conventions—will give you access to outdoor spaces for your cocktail and reception. However, they’ll also usually hold a ballroomfor you, a backup in case of rain. This ballroom should accommodate your event in banquet layout and include space for your tables, DJ, bar, and dance floor. As a general reference, ballrooms I’ve seen are around 12 x 25 meters (40 x 80 feet). So, best case scenario—you’ll already have Plan B at your resort.
Now, if your wedding is at an external venue, either here or in another destination in Mexico, make sure the venue includes key features to help execute a Plan B in case of rain.
First and ideally, the venue should have a covered area. For example, if it’s an hacienda, there should be a dome, salon, palapa, or integrated tent. But if your venue has limited infrastructure—like a beach or garden—it’s essential that, with the help of the venue manager, your wedding planner, and decorators, you take the necessary steps to be ready to install a tent or canopy, as well as a floor platform if needed.
Another very important factor is cost—another one of those uncomfortable conversations that we need to have to save everyone from muddy shoes and/or a muddy wedding dress.
Without further ado—and without trying to scare you, I repeat—here are 13 questions you’ll want to ask yourself and those in charge of your wedding setup:
- Is it allowed to install flooring in the area?
- Does the area get muddy when it rains?
- Can flooring be installed? Does it need a structure or can it go directly on the ground? Can we use rugs?
- Can a tent be set up at any time of the year?
- Is it allowed to stake or anchor tents into the ground?
- Does the tent include curtains?
- Can the curtains be opened and closed freely during the night?
- Does the tent need air conditioning?
- Can decorative elements like string lights or hanging floral arrangements be hung from the tent structure?
- Can you use local vegetation, like trees or palm trees, to help support ropes or similar structures?
- How far in advance should the tent be reserved, in case it’s needed?
- How far in advance should you decide whether to install a tent or not?
- What happens if it rains and I didn’t install a tent? Or what if it doesn’t rain and I did install and pay for one?
What do you think? Do you feel more confident about having your destination wedding in a tropical climate?
I hope so—and that this text helped as a reference, I invite you to share it with any friends planning to get married in Mexico, Cancún, or the Riviera Maya.
If you still have questions, please email me! contact@weddinginrivieramaya.com
I’ll be happy to help!
Happy Planning!!
Celeste Aviles.