Reagan Prechter

There’s something about a Wednesday before a wedding weekend that makes your heart beat a little faster. Add in a forecast filled with rain—and suddenly, it calls for a full-on wellness check.

If you’re a planner heading into a celebration you’ve spent over a year designing, only to be met with steady, unwelcome rain, you’re not alone. Consider this a check-in. From one planner to another.

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This Is When the Job Gets Real

Our value doesn’t lie in executing perfect plans under perfect skies. It’s in how we respond when things don’t go according to plan.

We’re here for the pivots. For the unexpected reroutes. For those “this wasn’t in the timeline” moments that test every part of your role as a leader. This is where the work—your work—really shines.

I’ve been in it. A few years ago on Kiawah, we were minutes from kicking off a highly designed celebration under a meticulously planned tent setup. But winds were so strong that the structure became unsafe—it was literally lifting off the ground. We had no choice but to pull the plug and reroute the party to a ballroom. It wasn’t plan B. It was plan C...maybe even D. And yet? The guests danced all night in an electric, face-to-face experience with the band. Some even said it was better than anything they could have imagined.

The magic wasn’t lost. It just took a different shape.

Leadership Starts with you.

How you handle change sets the tone for everyone around you.

Guests take cues. Vendors follow your lead. And your couple—especially your couple—will look to you to gauge how they’re supposed to feel. I always compare it to a child falling down. Their instinct is to look to the adult: Are we crying or are we fine?

That moment of response? It’s everything.

If you’ve done the right prep, you’ve already walked through rain contingencies with your couple well before signing a venue contract. You’ve painted the full picture—what happens if the weather turns, what Plan B will really look like. And if the rain plan is a dealbreaker, you’ve helped them make that decision before it becomes an emotional pivot point.

And when the day comes, you’re not forcing decisions. You’re calmly laying out options, guiding them gently through disappointment, cost considerations, and next steps. It’s not just logistics—it’s emotional intelligence.

Relationships Save the Day

When plans shift, your vendor relationships become your lifeline.

That trusted tent vendor you’ve worked with for years? They’re the one answering the phone on the fifth call of the day. That long-standing lighting partner? They’ll hustle to rework layouts because they know how you operate. These people matter. And when we treat them with professionalism and respect—especially when tensions run high—they show up for us.

This is why preferred vendor relationships aren’t about kickbacks or convenience. They’re about reliability under pressure. When time and inventory are tight, those partnerships move mountains.

Protecting the People Behind the Scenes

Rain doesn’t just soak your plans—it soaks your team. Literally.

Pack extra clothes. Stash rain gear. Keep shoes dry. Make sure your crew is fed, prepared, and equipped for long days in less-than-ideal conditions. Take care of yourself, too. Sleep. Hydrate. Move your body. It sounds basic, but it’s the only way to lead with clarity and steadiness when the plans start to shift.

Emotionally, this is a hard one. You want the dreamy outdoor ceremony just as much as your couple. But your ability to remove the emotion from the logistics—so they don’t have to—is what helps everyone get through it with grace.

The Party Can Still Be Electric

Here’s the silver lining: sometimes, the best celebrations happen in the most unexpected circumstances.

I’ve watched guests come alive in ballrooms that weren’t even part of the plan. I’ve seen energy eclipse disappointment. When the vibe is right, and the leadership is solid, the rain becomes background noise. A minor detail. Forgotten.

So if you’re heading into a weekend with soggy forecasts and tense decisions, remember this:

You were hired for this. Not for the weather, but for your ability to weather the storm.

Lay out the options. Stay steady.

Lead the way.

And trust that even if the forecast doesn’t cooperate, the experience can still be unforgettable.

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