A BEAUTIFUL RAIN PLAN, JUST IN CASE

One or two times a year, the rain doesn’t stop in time for an outdoor ceremony at SCR. It is rare; we’ve never had more than two rain plans in one year! The rain always seems to stop and allow for an evening ceremony, but in case the rain doesn’t stop, our couples have peace of mind knowing an indoor ceremony will be romantic and just as memorable.

Having your guests seated under the chandeliers is a stunning “rain plan” that never disappoints. If fact, almost every time a couple uses the inside of the barn for a rain plan, I hear, “no one would have known it wasn’t my first choice!”

“ROMANTIC” - BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE AN INDOOR CEREMONY, aka RAIN PLAN, at SCR

The twelve antique chandeliers at Sparrow Creek Ranch are gorgeous and genuinely vintage - nothing comes from China at SCR. Each of these treasures has a story of how we found, repurposed, and placed it in its forever home at SCR. The largest one came out of my mom’s house in 2012 for my wedding, SCR’s first, and it never left! Three came to us from the Lord as we were preparing for my wedding, and people just showed up and asked if we wanted them. I’ll never forget living in an attic in Fort Worth while teaching at TCU, and this older neighbor came over. She brought a box over, and inside was a gorgeous chandelier and asked if I’d have a use for it. She didn’t know me, didn’t know I was getting married, and certainly didn’t know we were unknowingly building a wedding venue, and this chandelier would have a central place there!

HOW TO FLIP SCR FROM INSIDE CEREMONY “Rain Plan” to BARN RECEPTION

The Mirror Wall or the Big Barn Doors?

• The first decision with an inside ceremony is what backdrop you want for the altar.

• We’ve seen it both ways many times, and both are beautiful. This would be an excellent topic to discuss with your photographer based on their lighting equipment and preference for backlighting while shooting ceremonies inside.

• If you choose the Mirror Wall, the bride will exit the back door of the downstairs bridal suite, come outside the barn, and walk through the big barn doors. That is, of course, if the rain has stopped. If it is still raining, she can come out the hallway door and walk inside the barn while her groom is turned away, facing the wall. When she rounds the corner and stops at the start of the aisle, the groom is tapped by the best man and turns around for the big moment!

• If you choose the Big Barn Doors, the bride can walk out of the downstairs bridal suite and into the Boxcar Room. From there, she can wait until the industrial hand-made glass doors are slid back (fun to give two people this special honor) and then walk through under the chandeliers to her groom. Some couples leave the doors closed, others open, so the trees remain in the backdrop.

INDUSTRIAL BLACK DOORS AS BACKDROP (photos before black doors were built) - WEDDING PARRY ENTERS FROM FRONT BARN DOORS

INDUSTRIAL BLACK DOORS AS BACKDROP - WEDDING PARRY ENTERS FROM FRONT BARN DOORS

BARN DOORS AS BACKDROP - BRIDE ENTERS FROM BOXCAR ROOM

BARN DOORS AS BACKDROP - BRIDE ENTERS FROM BOXCAR ROOM

Next, the flip!

• For an easy, no-stress transition after the ceremony, have all your guest tables set up in their place in the “wings” of the barn. But do not place chairs at the guest tables.

• The ceremony chairs in rows under the chandeliers can now be moved in 5-10 minutes with a few able groomsmen.

• After the ceremony, guests will head to the bar for cocktail hour. As they stand, groomsmen quickly move the chairs to the tables.

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