Rain on your wedding day

Ok, let’s not pretend rain on a wedding day is any fun. We’ll say it for you… it sucks. No matter how many old wives tales you hear, how confident your vendors are, how gorgeous the sky looks, or how romantic a rainy day can feel… no Bride is ever going to be pumped when her wedding day is a wash out. So now that we’ve gotten that out in the open, let’s talk about the reality. Sometimes it rains, and there’s nothing we can do to change it, but there is a lot we can do about it. Here are some tips/tricks/suggestions/reassurances/recommendations for our couples, speaking in terms of photography. Because we promise, even if you don’t want to talk about it, a rainy wedding can be just as gorgeous in photos.

*The photo above is one of our favorite portraits ever!

 

1. Be Prepared – There are so many ways a couple can prepare for rain on their wedding day and EVERYONE should be doing all of these things. We have had just ONE true rainy wedding day this year, and we’ve photographed almost 30 weddings so far. That should give everyone hope that your day will be rain free. That being said, you won’t know until the morning of the big day, so don’t risk being unprepared. Here are some ways you can be prepared for rain, that will alleviate the stress and hassle.

• Have a great timeline and do a First Look! In terms of photography time is always our number one necessity. Even on sunny days we need the time to take the photos you want. On a rainy day, time becomes 100% more important. By planning a timeline that provides cushion time in between major events, and extra driving time from location to location you will make room for changes in plans on a rainy wedding day. Planning for a First Look will save the day in photos. It gives us two opportunities to shoot portraits of the Bride and Groom, and hopefully one of those sessions is either without any rain at all, or we’re lucky to work with just a drizzle. If the forecast calls for rain to begin after your ceremony ends, and that’s the only time you planned for portraits, then we missed the rain free window of time earlier in the day. Don’t do that to yourselves! Plan to do a First Look and give yourselves the time to work around the breaks in the rain.
• Accessorize! Rain boots will always be adorable on any Bride. So we suggest finding a pair of colorful rain boots that match your theme and have them ready to go. Don’t take the tags off, if the rain never falls you can return them. But if you need them, you’ll have them. Sometimes there’s nothing cuter than a Bride hoisting up her dress to see her rain boots peeking through the hem of her dress  😉  Another thing to have on hand is a colorful, matching umbrella to your boots or to your theme/colors. We have a stockpile of classic black and/or clear umbrellas that we use whenever needed, but we cannot have the right color for every wedding. So if you want to be extra prepared, rent or buy umbrellas that you love for yourselves or even enough for the entire bridal party!
• Have a Plan B! This has little to do with photography specifically. But being prepared for rain is essential especially if you plan on having any portion of your day take place outside. Hire a good planner, and discuss exactly how you want your rain plan to go. On your wedding morning if the clouds open and the rain begins, you will know everything is in place and ready for Plan B to take over. Ceremony outside? Have the tent set up that morning to cover your guests, or move the set up inside to the interior space at your venue if there is one.

 

2. Be Flexible – Plans will have to change, but the changes are all there to better the experience for your guests and yourselves. Because you have a Plan B already set up and agreed upon, you won’t be shocked by the changes, but you will still need to be open to them happening. Be flexible with your photographers too. Sure, the timeline says your First Look is at 2pm in the gardens, but the rain will be too heavy by then, so let’s push it up to 1:30 and move the location to a spot closer to the venue so when the heavy rain begins we can all duck for cover quickly. Ideal? Nope. A great plan to still get you the photos you want? Absolutely.

 

3. You won’t melt, you will get wet, and you might get a little dirty – Unless there is a hurricane going on with downpours and sideways rain, it is possible to step outside in a little rain. We will have our umbrellas or your matching umbrellas to cover you both. Your pretty ivory shoes will not get dirty because you’ll be willing to go barefoot or switch out for those adorable rain boots you have on hand. Your hair and makeup will survive because we won’t let you stand in a rain shower uncovered. And yes, the hem of your dress might get a little dirty, but we’ll let you in on a secret we’ve come to know very well… your dress is going to get dirty anyway even if it doesn’t rain. Someone will step on it during family formals, the flower girl will hold her flower stems too close to your dress and get green marks on it, or when a friend hugs you there will be lingering foundation on your veil. No one will notice, and no one will care. You look perfectly beautiful in your wedding dress, and there is no reason NOT to take your portrait. So pick up that train, and walk with us into the rain for some of the most romantic portraits you’ll ever take. If our cameras can stand some rain drops, your hair and make up can too.

 

4. Don’t shock your family and bridal party with how cool you are – Now that you’re prepared, willing to be flexible, and you know that we’ll take care of your bridal look as best we can you’re totally ready for whatever kind of weather your big day throws at you. Your family and friends may not be. Let them know ahead of time that there is a rain plan for all outdoor events, and there is a rain plan for outdoor photos. Tell them all that you will be doing if it does turn out to be a rainy day, so that they are not shocked when you put on your rain boots and grab an umbrella. When the Mother of the Brides say “No way! You are NOT going out in that rain are you?!?” we don’t want our Bride to have to convince everyone around her that a little rain won’t hurt. Avoid the shock by discussing your rain plans ahead of time with your bridal party and family. Family formals will hopefully happen under the cover of a porch or in the open doorways of a barn, or even inside. Bridal party photos will most likely happen outside where we took the Bride and Groom portraits, using as much cover as possible, in acceptable amounts of rain. (Seriously if it’s too bad we won’t let our cameras get wet, so don’t worry about getting drenched).

 

5. Relax, trust us, and smile! There’s no reason to go through this planning and prepping if when we get out there for portraits you look sad or frustrated. So when it’s time to take the photos, embrace the experience, see it for how romantic it is, and just laugh and snuggle and kiss together under that umbrella. Your approach to the day will set the tone for everyone around you. When your guests, family and bridal party see you are having FUN playing in the rain, they will too. And THAT is what will make your day incredible.