What is the risk of rain at a wedding in Asturias, and how to prepare

The risk of rain is real, but it is lower than people tend to fear. A photographer who has covered more than 350 weddings in Asturias says that the weather was good at 90% of those held there in recent years, and keeps the photos to prove it. A storm can appear in any month of the year, although some dates are more prone to it than others. That is why the sensible approach is to factor in rain from the outset and decide three things in advance: where the ceremony takes place if it rains, where the drinks reception is served and how guests get from one place to another. With those answers agreed with the venue, a downpour means a change of setting, but nobody has to improvise. Nor is there any reason to be upset: in many traditions, rain on a wedding day is considered a good omen and is associated with a prosperous life together.

What a plan B is

A plan B is a complete second version of the wedding, prepared indoors or under a marquee. If the ceremony was planned for the garden of a country estate or in front of the façade of a manor house (palacio), the plan B sets out which room the chairs go in, where the officiant's table goes and which door the couple come in through. The same goes for the drinks reception, which in Asturias is usually set up outdoors, and for the journeys between the church, the venue for the wedding meal and the car park.

When the switch is decided

There is one detail that many couples forget to ask about: the time at which the venue decides to move the set-up. Moving flowers, tables and chairs takes time, so the decision is made before the first drop falls. It is worth knowing that time and who has the final say.

The short outdoor stretches

Then come the short stretches, which cause more problems than you might think. A dry hall is of little use if you have to cross a soaking courtyard to reach it. A few umbrellas by the door, covered walkways or a marquee solve almost everything. A clear marquee also lets you watch the rain while you say ‘I do’ or while you eat. When the dress has a train, the dressmaker can show how to gather it up to walk outside without dragging it across the wet ground.

Favours that keep the rain off

If the forecast says rain is certain, the guest favours themselves can double as protection: white umbrellas with the couple's initials or the wedding logo, waterproof hats or raincoats. Personalised umbrellas need to be ordered with some notice, so it is better to decide weeks in advance rather than the day before.

Rain as a good omen

That leaves the least practical and most curious part. Rain at a wedding has long been read as a sign of abundance, and some see it as a symbolic beginning, a way of closing one chapter and opening another.

What to do this week

The next step is simple and can be taken this very week. With the estate or manor house already chosen, the useful thing is to visit it with a grey day in mind: walk the route between the ceremony area, the drinks reception and the dining room, notice which stretches are uncovered and note where a marquee could fit. It is worth asking the photographer to find a couple of covered corners with good light for the portraits. If the date is still to be confirmed, it is worth asking the venue which months have brought it the most rain at its celebrations.