We’ve all heard of parades getting rained on, but weddings?

No bride should suffer through the pain of experiencing more lightning than camera flashes on her special day.

There are never any guarantees with Mother Nature.

However, there are a few ways to help ensure clear skies, while still preparing for the worst, in order to end up with a perfect wedding day.

Dig up some history.

It’s difficult to get accurate weather predictions off the news more than a week in advance.

However, looking at weather patterns from previous years can be a good indicator.

Statistics about average high temperatures, low temps and precipitation can help you to narrow down your wedding to a particular month or week of the year that, historically, has fairer weather, according to many online wedding sites.

Watch the clock:

Outdoor lighting is an important thing to consider when planning a wedding.

“A wedding set after dark can make locations very hard for guests to find,” said Meagan Zimmerman, a bride married last November.

Additionally, seating should be planned so guests aren’t blinded by sunlight during the daytime.

“It’s small details like this that can make or break a wedding,” Zimmerman said.

Cover your angles:

“When having an outdoor wedding, talk to a pro with experience on issues to consider,” said Jean Ash, event planner.

“Simple things like not researching when the tide comes in can ruin an otherwise perfect beach wedding. Tents are also always a good idea, they can give you the effect of the outdoors while still offering protection if necessary.”

Look for the silver lining:

“Cloudy days will give you better photographs than a sunny one,” said Lexie Leuth, professional wedding photographer.

“No bride thinks she wants a cloudy day until she gets her wedding photos back and it’s all glare and wincing.”

Keep your chin up:

As long as the bride is happy, everyone else will be too.