If it rains on your wedding day in Asturias, what saves the day is a plan B prepared well in advance for the ceremony, the drinks reception and getting around. If the ceremony was meant to take place in a garden, the couple need to know beforehand which room or covered area it will move to. It is also wise to agree with the venue at what point the decision to move the set-up is made, and to have simple solutions to hand, such as umbrellas, covered areas or a marquee. Both the ceremony venue and the reception venue should have an indoor space large enough for all the guests. In the north, rain turns up sooner or later, so the sensible thing is to plan for it from the start. What's more, a grey day doesn't ruin the photos: photographing a wedding in the rain in Asturias is like painting with a palette of greys, and an overcast sky can produce some very good images.
Choosing a venue with a good plan B
The work starts when you choose the venue, long before you check the weather forecast. When a venue offers its alternative for a rainy day, the couple have to like that alternative too. If the covered hall looks like a warehouse, it may be time to look for another venue. Many couples get this wrong because they only visit the garden and never step inside the back-up room.
The marquee and when to move
If the wedding is going to be outdoors, there is the option of hiring a marquee, which can be put up and decorated before the day. The problem comes when it is booked late and, on the wedding day, the marquee is still just an empty canvas. Once the venue and the marquee are settled, you need to agree with the venue who decides on the move and at what time. Without that agreed time, the decision gets made at the last minute, with guests already arriving.
Decorating the back-up space
The plan B décor deserves the same care as the garden's. With candles, warm-light lamps, flowers and good lighting, the back-up space can end up being one of the cosiest corners of the wedding. A marquee or a room with large windows also lets you watch the rain while saying "I do" or during the wedding breakfast.
Umbrellas and information for guests
If, in the days before, the forecast leaves no doubt that it will rain, it helps to have little extras for the guests: white umbrellas, waterproof hats or rain ponchos. The umbrellas can carry the wedding logo or the couple's initials, but that means ordering them in good time. Guests coming from outside Asturias should be given clear information about accommodation and transport, because rain makes getting around more complicated.
Photos on a rainy day
That leaves the question of the photos. The façade of the Palacio de Villabona on a rainy day is an example of a real wedding setting in Asturias. If the day doesn't allow for all the photos the couple wanted, a post-wedding shoot can always be done on another, dry day.
Three questions for your venue
The most useful thing to do now is to talk to your chosen venue and ask three specific questions: where the ceremony takes place if it rains, how many people fit in that indoor space, and at what time the decision to move is made. With those answers, you can judge whether a marquee is needed and whether it's worth ordering umbrellas in time. For anyone who wants to know how a wedding shoot in the rain in Asturias is handled, the next step is to get in touch and ask about available wedding packages.