The Wedding Website & Invitation Wording for Inclement Weather

From picking out a favorite design to deciding what info to include, wedding invitation logistics can get overwhelming—even more so if you need to figure out invitation wording for inclement weather. Whether you're getting married at the windy peak of a summit, in a prone-to-rain destination like Ireland or in a chilly fall vineyard, you'll want to alert guests ahead of time on how they should dress or whether there might be a back-up plan. But writing out wedding invitation wording for inclement weather—and for your website—can feel a bit delicate. Here's how to communicate with wedding guests.

Invitation Wording for Inclement Weather

While it might seem like weather predictions are out of reach when you're sending wedding invitations six to eight weeks beforehand, you can use climatology to offer guests insights on what to expect based on past trends for your wedding date and location, says Andrew Leavitt, concierge event meteorologist and founder of Ironic Reports, which helps couples plan ahead based on the weather. Still feeling a little uneasy about trying to predict the weather? You can actually hire a wedding meteorologist to help you plan ahead.

"Climatology is like your personality, while meteorology is more like your mood," he says. "While you can't predict precisely what the weather will be like (the mood) on your wedding day, you can give guests a solid idea of the climate or what's typically expected."

Communicate on your wedding invite if the location is known for certain weather patterns, whether it's higher wind speeds, cooler fall temps or more severe weather like hurricanes or tornadoes. Briefly suggest an attire option if necessary and the Plan B location to help guests prepare in advance. This can be included as a brief line on the invite itself or on a separate rain card.

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Here are some templates for weather permitting invitation wording:

While the weather is typically warm and sunny, XX can get windy. We advise bringing a light jacket for the outdoor ceremony.

In the event of a snowstorm, the ceremony will be moved indoors to the lodge's den.

This date is during the Atlantic hurricane season. Please check our wedding website for postponements or updates in the event of inclement weather.

XX is prone to sudden showers. Weather permitting, the ceremony will occur on the beach. Otherwise, it will be in the ballroom.

Temps usually drop to the 50s in XX during the fall. We'll provide light blankets for the ceremony, but please dress accordingly.

And don't forget to include a QR code on your wedding invitation that will easily take guests to your wedding website so they can check for real-time weather updates the day of.

Wedding Website Wording for Inclement Weather

"Your wedding website offers flexibility that printed invitations don't, allowing you to provide more up-to-date information as the wedding day approaches," Leavitt says. "Since the website is dynamic, you can start updating it with weather forecasts about a week before the event."

Since wedding websites don't have the space limitations that invites do, you can include more details on attire, travel advisories, alternate routes, plans for backup venues and emergency protocols in the event of extreme conditions. "The key is to make it easy for guests to stay informed, especially if your wedding is in an area prone to unpredictable weather or during a season where conditions can change rapidly," Leavitt says.

Try a variation of these wedding website wordings for inclement weather:

While the weather is supposed to be sunny and in the low 70s this weekend, wind gusts are up to 15 mph and our ceremony is taking place cliffside 8,000 feet above ground. Since this may make temps feel cooler, we advise bringing a light jacket so that you feel comfortable.

Due to a recent advisory that a snowstorm will bring four inches of snow tomorrow, we are moving our ceremony from the forest to the lodge's den. This is located on the first floor off the main hallway to the right. Signs will help guide the way!

Due to the unpredictable path of Hurricane XX, we unfortunately will be postponing the wedding. Once we have a new date set, we will update the website and send out a new email invite ASAP. We're so sad to delay our celebration of love with all our family and friends a little longer and deeply apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Please note that today's weather forecast has a few sprinkled showers on the radar. We're proceeding with the ceremony on the beach for now and will be providing umbrellas. If the weather takes a more severe turn, we'll update this page, and our wedding planner will notify guests in the lobby to head to the ballroom instead.

We're so excited to tie the knot in XX's beautiful fall season. Even though there are clear skies, we know the 50-degree weather can feel a bit crisp. That's why we're providing light blankets for our outdoor ceremony and hot toddies during cocktail hour—but you might feel warmer wearing a jacket or long sleeves.

How to Communicate Inclement Weather Plans With Guests

You can hire a wedding meteorologist like Leavitt to help you plan ahead or keep an eye on weather patterns yourself with one of several wedding forecast apps. Deciding to move to your Plan B can vary based on your location, the availability of backup options (like a tent) and the severity of the weather forecast, Leavitt says.

"Thanks to technological developments, weather forecasts in most populated cities throughout the world typically reach an accuracy of approximately 75% to 80% seven days out and can see an accuracy rate of over 90% by the three-day mark," he adds. "If you're looking at a major storm or significant rainfall, making the call three days before your event is often a safe bet. However, if the weather forecast predicts light rain or scattered showers and you're comfortable with taking on some risk, you might be able to wait until the day of the event to finalize your decision."

But this depends on how quickly you can pivot. If you're renting an outdoor tent, for example, your vendor might require you to decide by the Wednesday before the wedding. But if you're just setting up chairs, florals, and a portable speaker system for the ceremony, you could wait until a few hours before.

The important thing is to keep your guests in the loop. Start by mentally preparing them ahead of time by communicating any potential inclement weather plans in your wedding invites—The Knot Paper has a ton of beautiful options to choose from. The day of, keep them apprised by updating your Knot Wedding Website with any inclement weather changes, which can also send guests updated text messages in real time.