April scores 67/100 for outdoor ceremonies: moderate rain risk (8 wet days, 114mm), 22°C afternoons cooling to about 16°C for the reception, and 12.8 hours of daylight for the photography schedule. July is the month to avoid at 28/100.
April outdoor ceremony score: 67/100
Climate normals for New Orleans rescored on wedding-specific weighting. Once your date falls inside the 14-day window the live forecast on this page takes over.
Last updated: · Live forecast data refreshes hourly.
| Best wedding month | April — 67/100 |
| Second choice | November — 67/100 |
| Month to avoid | July — 28/100 |
| Rain risk in the best month | Moderate — rain on about 8 days |
| Guest comfort | 100/100 at 22°C |
| Reception temperature | ≈ 16°C after sunset in April |
| Photo light | 9h of sun across a 12.8h day |
| Months scoring 65+ | 2 of 12 |
April keeps seated guests at 22°C in the afternoon and around 16°C after sunset — the closest New Orleans gets to a ceremony that needs neither shade structures nor patio heaters.
Rain falls on roughly 8 days in April (moderate risk, 114mm). Book a covered backup you would genuinely be happy to use.
April gives 12.8 hours of daylight and about 9 hours of direct sun per day, so a late-afternoon ceremony puts portraits inside golden hour rather than after it.
July scores 28/100 for weddings in New Orleans: 33°C highs, 170mm of rain and 27°C evenings make a fully outdoor plan fragile.
Scored on rain risk, guest comfort, evening temperature and photographic light — deliberately different weighting from the travel score.
| Month | Wedding score | Rain risk | Afternoon | Evening | Guest comfort | Photo light |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44/100 | Moderate (10 days) | 16°C | 10°C | 80/100 | 23/100 |
| February | 47/100 | Moderate (9 days) | 16°C | 10°C | 80/100 | 27/100 |
| March | 52/100 | Moderate (9 days) | 18°C | 12°C | 86/100 | 29/100 |
| April | 67/100 | Moderate (8 days) | 22°C | 16°C | 100/100 | 62/100 |
| May | 59/100 | Moderate (9 days) | 27°C | 21°C | 79/100 | 67/100 |
| June | 34/100 | Moderate (13 days) | 31°C | 25°C | 62/100 | 34/100 |
| July | 28/100 | Moderate (13 days) | 33°C | 27°C | 54/100 | 19/100 |
| August | 29/100 | Moderate (12 days) | 33°C | 27°C | 54/100 | 21/100 |
| September | 41/100 | Moderate (10 days) | 31°C | 25°C | 62/100 | 26/100 |
| October | 62/100 | Low (6 days) | 27°C | 21°C | 79/100 | 30/100 |
| November | 67/100 | Moderate (8 days) | 22°C | 16°C | 100/100 | 57/100 |
| December | 54/100 | Moderate (9 days) | 18°C | 12°C | 86/100 | 46/100 |
Wedding weather is scored differently from travel weather: seated guests in formalwear tolerate a narrower band than sightseers, and the ceremony hour matters more than the daily average. Each month in New Orleans is scored 0–100 on the weighting below.
| Factor | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Dry conditions | 38% | Share of days with measurable rain — the single factor most likely to force a backup plan. |
| Guest comfort | 27% | Distance from a 22°C daytime ideal, with an extra penalty for humid heat above 24°C. |
| Evening temperature | 20% | Modelled reception-hour temperature against an 18°C ideal for an outdoor evening. |
| Photo light | 15% | Sunshine hours and daylight length, which set the length and quality of the golden hour window. |
Based on long-run climate averages rather than a forecast. Plan the ceremony around the golden hour — see golden hour times for New Orleans linked below.
April, at 67/100. It combines moderate rain risk with 22°C afternoons and roughly 16°C evenings, which is the most forgiving combination New Orleans offers for seated guests.
July scores 28/100: 33°C highs, 170mm of rain over about 13 days and 27°C evenings make a fully outdoor plan fragile.
In April rain falls on roughly 8 of 30 days, so the single-day probability is about 27%. In July that rises to about 43%.
Yes. Even in the best month, rain risk in New Orleans is moderate, so book covered space you would genuinely be happy to use rather than treating it as a late add-on.
April gives 12.8 hours of daylight and about 9 hours of direct sun. Put portraits in the final 60–90 minutes of daylight so they land inside golden hour rather than after it.