Rain, Heat and Weather Advice~

Good news:  in 13 years, LESS THAN 1% of our 2,000+ beach weddings were moved due to rain!
Besides us being very “charmed” here’s why:

For beach weddings along the coastline areas between Wilmington NC and Myrtle Beach SC, the weather is relatively stable and dry. Rain is very brief, real storms are few, and sunshine is plentiful. Why?  The geography affects this weather:  

• the Carolinas coastline curves inward as it becomes South Carolina. See our little sunny “map” image here?
• Look again at that blue coastline on that map… the inward coastline curve creates a weak eddy or whirlpool (shown in RED), 
• that swirling atmosphere overhead (BLACK arrows), so it all sweeps most rainstorms inland or out to sea! 
• As a result, often when it storms in Wilmington or Myrtle Beach, the weather remains clear and sunny INSIDE that red circle! Stays dry. 
• Thus, national forecasts for “the beach” here are 99% wrong.  Better resource below, read on.

So FOR YOUR DAY: 

**WORRYING OVER THE WEATHER and REPEATEDLY CHECKING FORECASTS works against you! ** Instead, read on for advice… 
First, we recommend that you avoid the “R” word, disallow joking, talking, and worrying about it!  Instead, tell people to think only “clear, calm weather.”  Avoid manifesting the “R” word, give it no power.  ONLY think about clear, calm, light breezes, overcast & dry weather! Overcast clouds are PERFECT!

Second, it sprinkles or gusts here SOMETIMES … for 5-15 minutes. Or, it may sprinkle or blow hard only on the next block, but not where you are! So if it does that on you, just wait a few minutes, it passes fast.

Third, you want to accurately track those scattered showers in real time?  Download these free cellphone apps “AccuWeather” and “My Radar” that we also use. Use the “map” or “radar” icon on it.

• If THESE real-time forecasters say 30% chance or less, then no worries here.
• If its 50% or less, you MIGHT wait a few minutes if it comes to your neighborhood, if it does so at all.

HEAT & MIDDAY HARSH SUNLIGHT:

For May, June, July, August, September dates~ 

•  Avoid midday hours between 9am – 6pm between mid-April – mid-October! They are terrible times for a wedding… SUPER HOT (heat index around 100 degrees May-Sept) & humid,  sweaty,
• burning sand on bare feet,
• crowded & very noisy (running screaming kids, others’ music boxes, etc)
• trashed beach (i.e. cluttered with towels, chairs, shoes, coolers, litter),
• overhead, harsh sunlight makes everyone squint nonstop with shadowy ‘black-eyes’ and black cheekbones/noses make everyone look super haggard, old, tired (see pics below)
• THE hottest hours YEAR ROUND are 2-5pm. 
• THE Best time for beach weddings is first hour at sunrise time. 
• Second Best is the last hour before sundown time, sunset time.
• FYI: a breeze will not help at 100+ degrees in direct burning sunlight! Remember, you cannot jump in water or walk away under a shade-canopy during your ceremony in wedding clothes.  It is nothing like being on beach in your swimsuit and shorts, friend. 
• PHOTO INSIGHTS:  overcast skies are BEST! Harsh overhead sunlight casts hard black shadows on faces, making everyone look haggard, tired, old, bleary. See these examples: