I learned during last year’s Coffee Morning that weather can undo even the tidiest plan. We’d expected a bright Saturday, set everything up in the garden, and then watched the rain arrive early. It wasn’t a washout, but it did make the morning far more frantic than it needed to be.
Since then, I’ve built a small wet-weather routine. It’s not fancy, and it certainly won’t solve the British climate, but it removes the panic and keeps the focus on raising money for Macmillan.
If you’re thinking of hosting your own Coffee Morning, you can borrow any part of this, especially if your space is a mix of indoor and outdoor areas.
How to host a Coffee Morning in the rain
When the forecast changed from dry spells with a bit of a breeze to 80% chance of rain, I knew we probably weren’t going to be sipping our coffees in the garden. Given the Great British weather, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan if you’re hoping to host outside, no matter the time of year.
Create space with a five-minute room reset
We knew we needed to turn the inside of the house into the new venue without dragging the entire morning off schedule. Here’s the simple layout flip we used:
- Furniture stack: Chairs moved against one wall to open up the floor.
- Hallway flow: Cakes nearest the kitchen, drinks near the hallway, and a clear loop so nobody gets stuck in a doorway.
- Shoe and umbrella station: A tray by the door for wet shoes, plus a basket for soggy umbrellas.
- A quick text to guests: One message to the group chat to say, “Still on! Just moving indoors. Pop shoes by the door when you arrive!”
It only took a few minutes to transform my living room into a clear space, and it meant we could still be cheerful in the downpour.
Set up a drying station
If your guests get caught in a drizzle on the way, have everything they need to dry off all set up when they arrive. The coffee and cake will do a good job of warming people up, but it’s a good idea to give them a slightly more practical helping hand.
Drying station checklist
- Towels (you can use old ones since they’ll just be for a quick drying off!)
- A spare bath mat is great for any guests with prams
- Hooks (or over-door hangers) to air dry coats
- A laundry basket labelled “Wet bits here!” for people to dump hats or umbrellas
Quick communication that actually helps
I’ve copied the exact message I sent out (pre-downpour) this year, which you’re welcome to adapt:
Wet-weather switch!
Still hosting, still plenty of cake and coffee – just moving everything indoors!
Leave shoes by the door and pop umbrellas in the basket.
See you soon!
A message like this, ideally in a group or a quick batch send, reassures people that the event is still happening and avoids the trickle of “Are you still running it?” texts that you’ll have to answer while you’re running around collecting brollies and topping off cups.
Keep donations easy
A change of venue can affect fundraising if things become confusing, so I kept the giving options simple and obvious:
- Donation tin in the hallway
- Tap-to-donate reader by the drinks
- QR code on the table for the Coffee Morning page
- A second QR code linking to Macmillan’s free will writing service, which a few guests genuinely wanted to read more about after the morning
Using both QR and card options helped donations stay steady even once everyone had squeezed indoors. If guests prefer to donate later, they can always log on online.
Stock up on the right equipment
Even if you planned on hosting indoors, there are a few less-obvious items and ideas that I’d highly recommend for any Coffee Morning:
- Tablecloth clips: They stop indoor cloths from sliding when guests lean in (and of course come in handy for windy days outside)
- One “traffic warden” volunteer: Just someone near the door to manage the shoe station and greet people. In wet weather, they can help point out slippery areas and show people where to leave their coats.
- Pre-filled cafetiere jugs: If there’s been a downpour, your guests will want to warm up quickly.
These tiny things kept momentum going and avoided the usual “bottlenecks” that appear when you shrink a venue or more people arrive at once to take shelter.
What I learned from the rainy-day chaos
A wet-weather plan doesn’t remove every challenge, but it turns a stressful scramble into a light reshuffle.
It keeps the focus where it belongs: on community, connection, and raising money for a cause that means so much to so many.
Every time I host, I’m reminded that people come for the cake but stay for each other, and a simple Plan B helps protect that feeling (and my sanity!).
Don’t let the weather stop you from hosting a Coffee Morning: it’s one of the easiest (and most delicious) ways to donate to Macmillan Cancer Support.
BIO
I’m Holly, a business owner and lifelong lemon-drizzle enthusiast who loves nothing more than a good natter over a cup of coffee. When I’m not writing, chatting, or working, you’ll probably find me helping out at my local church or cuddling my two dogs. Hosting my first Macmillan Coffee Morning reminded me how powerful small community moments can be and I can’t wait to plan the next one.
Image: Depositphotos
