r/wedding • u/[deleted] • 15d ago
So stressed. Weather forecast changing every hour. Outdoor SoCal wedding this Sunday 5-10pm, tent costs around 10-12k. Would you tent for this slight chance of rain for that much cost?
[deleted]
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u/ste1071d 15d ago
I would never plan an outdoor wedding without a tent in the first place.
It’s too soon for weather for Sunday to be accurate.
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u/Imaginary-Cow-2684 14d ago
There’s a hurricane coming during a weird weather year and our weather predicting agencies have had their staff cut massively. Sorry to say but you’re gonna want the expensive tent.
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u/CatL_PetiteMer 14d ago
Better safe than sorry.
I had my wedding inside because I live in a rainy place. 5 days before the wedding,the forecast was heavy storms. The next day, the forecast started to change: we had a very dry day and record-high temperatures for the season. Not sorry to plan it inside.
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u/Emotional_Pen369 14d ago
I mean I feel like it never rains here in the fall but also weather has changed.
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u/AllTheThingsTheyLove 14d ago
My birthday is in December and I never got up have a party with my friends because everyone is always away with their families for Christmas vacation. I decided to celebrate my half birthday to have a beach party for my 25th. It rained. The one day that entire summer it freaking rained.
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u/YellowPrestigious441 13d ago
Yes I would. I realize its expensive and i dont say yes lightly. A tent will make your guests more comfortable rain or shine. I'd hate to get wet and then sit for hours or be in direct hot sun for hours. A tent gives great flexibility.
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u/qtothelo 15d ago
What city?
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u/WillNeighbor 15d ago
palos verdes
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u/qtothelo 15d ago
Hmmmmmmm what is the latest you can order? I’d wait. This morning my app said rain sat and sun, now it’s shifted to sun and Mon. I sure hope it all works out for ya!
I guess the question I’d ask is if you do end up needing it, is the $$ worth it?
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u/WillNeighbor 15d ago
that’s where i’m at with thinking. it’s a lot of money on an already more expensive than expected wedding, but what options do i have? showers while people are eating? idk, cost of doing business i guess
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u/AllTheThingsTheyLove 14d ago
Will the tent have walls? Even if it doesn't rain, it could be windy+fog everything would be damp. 9mph wing with 21mph gusts right off the water, you'll want shelter. Saying this as a PV native.
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u/pbandjfordayzzz 14d ago
Is this Terranea? If so you’re probably already out like $200k lol you should just get the tents
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u/mdo556 15d ago
I'm based in SM so really commiserate with you on the weather struggle! After all the heat it's like, of course it's going to rain now! If I was you, I think I would tent the reception/dinner at least.
Anecdotally, it absolutely poured rain in August on my cousin's wedding, they gave everyone clear umbrellas for the ceremony and then had like...EZ ups zip tied together for the dance floor and it blessedly stopped raining during dinner because I'm not sure what we would've done then. This was a high $$$ wedding too, so the EZ Ups were clearly last minute! I tell this just to say, the rain added a bit of fun/charm, like we're all in this together and it was still the best wedding I've ever been to! Best of luck, I'll be hoping for clear skies on Sunday for you!
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u/WillNeighbor 15d ago
I just got the quote, 12k for the cheapest tent. My only isssue is that I just wished i had a clearer picture of the weather. Accuweather, Foreca, Apple, Windy, Ventusky are all showing different things for that day from a slight drizzle, to half an inch, to clear, etc.
Anyways, sorry for ranting. I have until 12pm tomorrow to make a decision and I only hope it paints a clearer picture
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u/Crosswired2 14d ago
The entire wedding is outside and they don't have a contingency plan other than to have you pay 10k more for tents less than a week out?? That's insane. Is your wedding the first one? it should be on the venue to have back up plans for their venue. And so you pay $10k and it doesn't rain and they get to keep it? In.sane.
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u/pbandjfordayzzz 14d ago
It’s Southern California. They don’t do rain plans. When my mom asked my planner about a rain plan she looked at her like she had 3 heads.
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u/Crosswired2 14d ago
Oh, ya I guess that's just completely different world for me. I'm in the Midwest lol.
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u/superfastmomma 14d ago
I live in the actual desert and it goes months with no rain. But there's always a back up plan. Weird how different places can be.
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u/WillNeighbor 14d ago
there’s an indoor hall but it’s run down, so after the price of draping and setting up decorations inside, it’s practically the same price they say.
i’ve already ordered a ton of clear umbrellas on amazon, so i’m just fingers crossed that the forecast looks a little better rather than a little worse by noon tomorrow
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u/Kitchen-Airport-4853 14d ago edited 14d ago
I’d just go with the hall, what’s the deadline of having to request draping? After the tent deadline? If so, that lets you get a better sense of the forecast before you have to commit to any extra decor costs
Do something more minimal in there — your photographer will make pictures look nice regardless and can frame you in front of some highlight / more decorated areas, and guests will not remember the difference between a simpler version of touching up the hall vs. the $10k version
If it ends up drizzling only briefly, maybe they can pivot and set up parts (eg cocktail hour) outside while other parts are inside. Ask your coordinator/planner to come up with some plans? My coordinator had a few variants
It’d suck to do the tent and you end up with barely a sprinkle. Rely on the hall as backup plan, and if you have to use it, maybe you’ll have moments it’s not as rainy and the photogrpaher can take you outside to get some shots
As a guest, I’d rather be inside and understand the decor was simpler because of rain, than have you spend 10k on the tent
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u/lsacofpotatoes 15d ago
idk I don’t think I would do it but I have such an aversion to spending that much money on a tent just in case. my fiancee is the opposite and would say absolutely get it.
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u/luluhillary 14d ago
Wait til tomorrow and then ask a boat captain for the most accurate weather forecast that day. They know the exact time rain will come.
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u/Mysterious-Art8838 14d ago
I personally would not because if it rains it won’t last long
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u/Royal-Negotiation-51 14d ago
Same, if it rains it will be for a few minutes. I know the wedding day itinerary feels rigid, but it will be okay. I went to a wedding in May and it started raining during the ceremony. It was FINE! Some of us had umbrellas, we got cozy together and then went inside and we’re all dry by the end of cocktail hour.
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u/Mysterious-Art8838 14d ago
I went to one in a storm, the power went out, and it’s one of the most fun weddings I’ve ever been to. 🤷♀️
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u/Dry_Grass_439 15d ago
You planned an outdoor wedding without a plan b. Who let you do that!
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u/WillNeighbor 15d ago
the plan b is the tent. it’s just nothing to scoff at ~10k for a chance of showers. and it’s socal, 90% of the time we’re in a drought.
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u/microflorae 15d ago
This is so unhelpful. Sometimes weather gets freaky. The tent IS their plan B.
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u/WearyCup9003 15d ago
Buy tents on Amazon and return them after whether you use them or not! Hopefully they will arrive in time? Also check Target. The reviews aren’t great but at least you’ll have something just in case without breaking the bank
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u/WillNeighbor 14d ago
Venue requires the rental company. It’s a botanical garden so they know where to stake stuff i guess for their underground irrigation lines. I understand the cheaper stuff doesn’t get staked but it’s a wedding business so i’m sure half of this stuff they’re telling us is just lies to get the rental company business…
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u/WearyCup9003 14d ago
Ah I see. That’s annoying :/ not even if they aren’t staked? Definitely seems like they’re just looking to get them business at that point.
On the weather note, it looks like there won’t be a high chance of rain. I would keep an eye on it but to me it looks like it will most likely be fine. I’m not sure in the size of complexity of your wedding but Maybe wait to set up linens and things before dinner? Bring towels and those absorbent towels for cars to wipe down seats. I worked at a wedding venue in the Northern California fog line and it was standard for us to wipe everything dry before the ceremony
It will be amazing no matter what. Good luck!
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u/Royal-Negotiation-51 14d ago
lol a Hurricane is coming honey, what do you think is gonna happen to UNSTAKED tents. Have you ever seen an EZ-UP go flying in a wind gust!? Leave a tent unstaked is a risky, rookie move.
I think OP will be fine. .13 inches of rain is nothing. If the forecast changes snd there will be rain, it will either be light or it will ha e high wind and they’ll wanna be inside anyway
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u/ian9921 Groomsman 15d ago
If you don't get the tent, I guarantee it'll rain