When You Throw Your ‘Plan B’ Rain Plan Out the Window and Just Embrace Mother Nature

Jan 15

There are a lot of things you can choose to focus on on your wedding day. If the weather is what matters most to you on your wedding day, then sure — rain might feel like the main character.

But you can also choose to remember *why* you’re gathered in the first place: to marry the LOYL (love of your life).

One of my most memorable weddings from this past year was Sara and Joe’s spring wedding at The Ivy Place in May. You know the saying, “April showers bring May flowers”? Well, May clearly didn’t get the memo and decided to be just as rainy as April, at least that's how it goes here in the South.

The forecast showed rain all day — and not the light, romantic drizzle kind. This was a full-on downpour. Heavy rain, no breaks. We held off until the very last possible minute to place their ceremony flowers, hoping for even a tiny window of calm weather. That window never came.

So there I was, setting up wedding florals in the pouring rain, without a rain jacket (because I truly didn’t anticipate needing one). Completely soaked. Zero complaints though. Because at the end of the day, my job as a wedding florist isn’t just to design beautiful flowers — it’s to show up, adapt, and go above and beyond for my couples. If that means getting drenched so their vision comes to life, I’m all in.

And Sara? She never let the weather touch her joy.

Guests kicked off their shoes, the gals tied up their dresses, and some guests even drove their cars down to watch the ceremony drive-in-movie-style. With only a handful of guests choosing to fully embrace the rain, the photographer and I made a quick call just ten minutes before the ceremony began — we removed all of the chairs from the curved aisle seating to avoid rows of empty chairs and create a more intentional, intimate ceremony layout. One of those behind-the-scenes design decisions no one notices… except in the photos, where it makes all the difference.

The ceremony florals featured a garden-inspired design — wild yet refined — with lush greenery, soft white blooms, and cheerful pops of yellow that felt especially fitting on such a gray, rainy day. Natural, romantic, and effortless… even when Mother Nature had other plans.

And the moment they said “I do”? Every car honked in celebration.

Instant chills. Instant tears.

Not traditional ceremony music — but something uniquely theirs. A sound that will forever remind Sara and Joe that love shows up anyway. Rain, mud, soaking-wet and all.