| Are you in the process of planning a destination | | | | Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, |
| wedding? Don't forget your seasons. And, no, I'm | | | | Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, |
| not referring to Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. | | | | Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and parts of |
| I'm referring to Fire, Hurricane and Tornado. | | | | Texas (in addition to bringing heavy rains and |
| The recent fires in the western United States are | | | | flooding to neighboring states). The Gulf of Mexico |
| a reminder that Nature can sometimes take an | | | | and Caribbean are also affected. The cyclone |
| ugly turn. But, often times, these "ugly turns" are | | | | season in Australia extends from November to |
| really part of predictable "seasons" that, if we are | | | | April. What popular wedding destinations might be |
| aware of them, can help us make informed | | | | disrupted by hurricanes? Myrtle Beach, South |
| decisions. | | | | Carolina is a popular wedding destination, as are |
| Let's take a look at some of these "seasons" and | | | | the beaches of Florida, Gulf of Mexico and |
| how they might affect your wedding plans: | | | | Caribbean. If you're planning a quick elopement to |
| Fire Season: | | | | these areas, it's good to get up-to-date hurricane |
| The western United States (California, Arizona, | | | | news from the National Weather Service National |
| New Mexico, Colorado and Utah) has what is | | | | Hurricane Center Tropical Prediction Center, |
| called a "fire season" that usually runs from late | | | | Globally, September is the most active month and |
| April until the end of October. Fed by drought (as | | | | May is the least active month for hurricane |
| in the case of the Arizona), low humidity, lightening | | | | cyclone activity, according to the Oceanographic |
| strikes and winds, they can burn thousands of | | | | and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) ( |
| acres and threaten communities and resorts. | | | | Tornado Season: |
| What are some popular wedding destinations | | | | Tornado season is generally March through |
| which might be affected by fire season? June, | | | | August, with 74% of all tornadoes occurring |
| 2006 saw the evacuation of parts of the resort | | | | between March 1 and July 31. Although tornados |
| town of Sedona, Arizona, including the Oak Creek | | | | can happen in many locations, they occur most |
| Canyon area, a location very popular for | | | | often in the central part of the United States |
| destination weddings. This fire also stranded | | | | known as "Tornado Alley." Tornado Alley affects |
| visitors to the Grand Canyon, who were cut off | | | | all of Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas and parts |
| from other northern Arizona towns by road | | | | of Texas, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Colorado, |
| closures. | | | | South Dakota and Wyoming. |
| The resort areas of Big Bear and Idyllwild in | | | | Keep the seasons in mind when planning your |
| California are also destinations for those wanting | | | | destination wedding. Of course, just because |
| to get married in the mountains of California. In | | | | there is a season for these natural occurrences, it |
| recent years both areas have been hard hit | | | | doesn't mean your particular destination will be |
| during fire season. Fire season also affects the | | | | affected. Should you decide to have your wedding |
| Rocky Mountains in Colorado and the mountains | | | | in one of these areas, however, it's always a |
| surrounding Santa Fe, New Mexico. | | | | good idea to be informed of weather updates, |
| Hurricane/Cyclone Season: | | | | and safety precautions you should take in the |
| The Atlantic hurricane season officially lasts from | | | | event of a fire, flood, hurricane or tornado. Being |
| June 1 to November 30 and affects the | | | | prepared and informed can help prevent the best |
| Southeastern United States of Alabama, | | | | day of your life from turning into a disaster. |