Rings, rain and marigolds … congratulations!

There are many lovely things about the summer season; an outdoor wedding is close to the top of that list.

I always get that warm, fuzzy feeling when I’m out for a stroll and come across a wedding party having their photos done after the ceremony.

Of late, there has been very little of that. Now that the pandemic restrictions are easing and things are returning to a more normal state, love is back in the air.

Recently, I spotted a beautiful July bride and her handsome groom posing for the photographer at Sullivan’s Pond in Dartmouth. I think the geese were happy to see the young couple; they too stopped to admire their glow. It was an idyllic setting - the warm summer sun lowering in the west while the magical mist of the fountain created tiny rainbows that danced on the grass.

Regardless of when a couple chooses to say their “I dos,” the date never comes with a weather guarantee. That special date is often decided on far in advance; regardless of how good the meteorologist is, it’s a guessing game. Yes, there are statistics; the probability of rain for any given date — based on 30 years of data. I often get calls from brides-tobe looking for a “lowest probability” date for rainfall; still, no guarantees.

Grandma might not agree. She believed if you hung your prayer beads on the clothesline the night before your wedding, the rain would stay away. I can’t tell you how many people I have shared this with and while they didn’t all believe it would work, most did it anyway. It can’t hurt!

I’m not sure if Grandma thought this would definitely work but she convinced many nervous brides and allowed them to get some sleep the night before their big day.

The morning of the wedding is always busy, but Grandma might suggest a walk in the garden. It might help settle the nerves and it could set the stage for a long, loving marriage. Grandma would suggest you snip a few marigolds from the garden and tuck them in the bouquet for everlasting love.

As well as being a wonderful prognosticator, Grandma was an eternal optimist. If the beads out on the line overnight didn’t keep the rain away, she was quick to remind the bridal party that “if it rains on your wedding day, there would be money in your future.”

If you’re planning a wedding, I wish you blue skies and sunshine and long-lasting love.