Rain plan for a farmhouse wedding: covered spaces and how to plan it
Nobody controls the weather, but you can control how you respond to it. A practical guide to having your rain plan ready long before you need it.
A good rain plan for a wedding is a covered space you have seen and agreed on well in advance, big enough for all your guests, with good light, pleasant acoustics, climate control and toilets close by. If you marry at a farmhouse with a covered space, rain changes the setting but not the celebration. In this article we explain what a rain plan needs, when to make the call, how to brief your suppliers and how it works at La Masseria de Mas Vall-llovera, in Tona (Osona).
Why every outdoor celebration needs a rain plan
Garden ceremony, drinks with a view, dinner in the open air: that is what most people picture at a farmhouse wedding. But you cannot book the weather like a date.
It can rain in spring, in autumn and on a summer afternoon when a storm rolls in. We won't give you statistics, because every year is different. What we can tell you is that the couples who take rain in their stride are the ones who had their plan B decided, visited and explained to everyone long before the day. If you are still choosing a date, our guide to the best time to get married in Osona may help.
A rain plan is not a compromise: it is a second version of your day, just as carefully thought through.
What makes a good rain plan
Having a roof is not enough. Before you accept a covered space as your plan B, check these five points:
- Real capacity. How many people fit seated at tables and how many standing for a drinks reception.
- Light. A space that is dark at midday takes something away from the atmosphere and the photos.
- Acoustics. A room full of people and hard walls can get loud.
- Climate control. A rainy day can be cold or, in summer, muggy. An air-conditioned room makes a real difference.
- Distance from the outdoor area. The closer it is, the easier it is to move tables, decorations and guests.
Wet weather plan for a farmhouse wedding: how it works at La Masseria de Mas Vall-llovera
La Masseria de Mas Vall-llovera is a 15th-century Catalan masia hired in full exclusivity, with every space included. So the rain plan is not an extra room or a shared one: it is already part of your day.
La Sala Interior, the main shelter
La Sala Interior (the indoor hall) is air-conditioned and holds 70 guests seated or 100 in a drinks-reception format. It also doubles as a dance floor. It also has an office kitchen with fridge, ceramic hob, microwave and dishwasher, which is handy for your caterer.
La Plaça Major and La Bodega de la Masseria de Mas Vall-llovera, under the stone arches
La Plaça Major (the main square) is the heart of the masia, framed by traditional stone arches. Under the arcade you will find La Bodega, a bar built in beneath the stone arch, which stays sheltered. The arcade is a good spot for a welcome drink or part of the cocktail hour under cover; we can show you how many people fit comfortably when you visit.
La Sala Relax and La Sala dels Nuvis
La Sala Relax, the restored old stable with original stone walls and wooden beams, sits next to La Plaça Major and is also the anteroom to the toilets. On a wet day it keeps the toilets right next to the party.
If you are getting married, La Sala dels Nuvis (the couple's room) is your private space to get ready, with natural light and the best views of the masia.
If you have close to 100 guests
Let's be honest: if you want a seated banquet and you have more than 70 guests, you will not all fit at tables in La Sala Interior. In that case, plan a drinks-reception format for the rain plan, combine the hall with the covered areas of La Plaça Major, or book a marquee for the garden. Talk it through with us before you finalise the guest list.
Marquees and tipis in El Jardí: a middle way
El Jardí (the garden) is a 250 m² lawn with views over the Tona valley and the Montseny mountains, and marquees or tipis can be put up there. It is a good option if you want to keep the ceremony or the meal outdoors, or if you are a larger group.
Marquees are hired from a specialist company and need booking ahead. Ask for the latest date to confirm or cancel and whether side walls are included. Remember too that nothing may be nailed, screwed or stuck to the stone, beams or arches of the masia, which affects any structure or decoration.
When should you decide on the rain plan?
There is no single rule, but this timeline works well for many couples. It is our advice, not venue policy:
- Months before: visit the rain plan space, decide what the day would look like under cover and share it with all your suppliers.
- The week before: check the forecast daily without obsessing.
- 24 to 48 hours before: make the final call and tell everyone at the same time.
- On the day: if you went with plan A but the sky looks uncertain, agree on one person and one time for a last check.
How to brief your suppliers
A rain plan works when everyone knows it in advance. Send each supplier a short document with plan A, plan B and who makes the call.
- Caterer: catering at La Masseria de Mas Vall-llovera is free choice, so the team you bring may not know the masia. Ask them to visit, to know where they would serve indoors and how they would use the office kitchen, and to adapt the table layout to 70 seated guests.
- Florist and decoration: pieces should be easy to move indoors and everything must be fixed without nailing or sticking anything to the stone.
- Music: where the equipment goes indoors, what power it needs and how volume is adjusted in an enclosed room.
- Photographer: make sure they know the well-lit covered spots, such as the arches of La Plaça Major or the window of La Sala dels Nuvis.
For a broader view of how to coordinate everything, see our guide on how to plan a farmhouse wedding in Osona.
Rain plan checklist
- We have seen the rain plan space in person and know how many fit seated and standing.
- We know where the ceremony, drinks, meal and dancing go if it rains.
- All suppliers know the rain plan and, where needed, have visited the venue.
- We have agreed who makes the final call and when.
- If we hire a marquee, we know the deadline to confirm it.
- We have umbrellas and somewhere to leave them.
- We have told guests to bring comfortable shoes and something warm.
What to ask any venue about its rain plan
- Which is the covered space, and what is its capacity seated and standing?
- Is it included in the hire? Is it ours alone, or could another event use it the same day?
- Is it climate-controlled? Does it have natural light?
- How far is it from the outdoor area and from the toilets?
- Who handles the changeover and how long does it take?
- What is the latest we can decide?
- Can marquees be put up, and on what conditions?
Let's talk about your rain plan
We don't control the weather, but we can show you what your day would look like in sunshine and in rain. Come and see the spaces by appointment and we will go through the rain plan together. Write to us through our contact page, on WhatsApp at +34 621 503 716 or at lamasseria@masvall-llovera.com. We reply in under 48 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if it rains on your wedding day at La Masseria de Mas Vall-llovera?
The celebration moves to the masia's covered spaces, which are all included in the exclusive hire. La Sala Interior, the air-conditioned indoor hall, holds 70 guests seated or 100 for a drinks reception, and La Plaça Major has a stone arcade with La Bodega under the arch. Next to it, La Sala Relax leads to the toilets.
How many guests fit in the covered space at La Masseria de Mas Vall-llovera?
La Sala Interior at La Masseria de Mas Vall-llovera in Tona holds 70 guests seated or 100 in a drinks-reception format. If you have more than 70 guests and want a seated meal, plan a reception-style rain plan, combine the hall with the arcade of La Plaça Major or put up a marquee in El Jardí.
When should you decide whether to switch to the rain plan?
A good approach is to follow the forecast during the week before and make the final call 24 to 48 hours before the wedding. That gives suppliers time to prepare the set-up. Agree in advance who makes the decision and how everyone will be told.
Can you put up a marquee or tipi in the garden at La Masseria de Mas Vall-llovera?
Yes. El Jardí at La Masseria de Mas Vall-llovera, a 250 m² lawn overlooking the Tona valley and the Montseny, can host marquees or tipis. They are hired from a specialist company, and nothing may be nailed or stuck to the stone, beams or arches of the masia.
What should you ask a wedding venue about its rain plan?
Ask which space is covered, how many guests it holds seated and standing, whether it is included and reserved only for you, whether it is climate-controlled and whether toilets are close by. It also helps to know who handles the changeover and how late you can decide.
