We seem to be caught in a never ending loop of rainy, windy, cold weather at the moment. Fair enough, it’s February, so we expect some bad weather in winter. But we all know that in England it can rain at any time. In fact, we’ve had some of our rainiest weddings in the summer months! Anyway, it got me thinking about writing a blog post with some tips on what to do if it rains on your wedding day, as it’s something that crops up an awful lot.
If it rains on your wedding day – don’t panic!
First off, don’t panic! It’s not going to ruin your day, and the best thing you can do (genuinely!) is embrace it. We’ll still be there to capture the day as it unfolds, and we don’t mind getting ourselves wet for the perfect shot!
Have a wet weather plan
If you’re prepared for rain and have a plan, everything will happen as it was meant to. I always think that if you buy a few umbrellas (we like clear ones for photos, but cream/white are good too) and have your wellies at the ready just in case, it’s less likely to rain. But if it does, you’re ready for it!
If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony, make sure your venue has an indoor alternative you can move it to, or if you have a marquee, can you move it in there like Gemma and Pete (below)?
If you’re planning an outdoor drinks reception, again, check that the venue has an alternative space indoors, or think about having a small marquee/gazebo anyway. You never know, if it doesn’t rain, you might need it for shade!
If you’re worried, ask your venue, suppliers and photographer. I can’t stress enough that the good ones will be able to give you the benefit of their experience. They’ve most likely worked on hundreds of weddings, so why not use their knowledge? We’re always happy to help with any aspect of your plans, no matter how small or silly you might think the question is!
If it rains on your wedding day – embrace it!
Even if it does rain on your wedding day, it probably won’t rain for the entire day and you’ll still be able to get outside at some point for photos of the two of you. As photographers, we keep an eye on the weather all day so we can come and get you if the rain stops, and you’re up for it. Or be brave like Angela (below) who told her groom, Alex, that this was a day they couldn’t repeat, so a little bit of rain wasn’t going to stop them from having photos and memories they’d look back on for years. They headed outside in some light drizzle for photos with us during their November wedding.
Basically, we’re more than happy to get outside and brave the weather if you are. We can take an umbrella which can be used in your photos, or keep you dry in between. We can also do our best to find outdoor shelter such as awnings, a gazebo, or trees. Failing that, or in addition to it, we can look for locations inside your venue too.
When it comes to group shots/family photos, we’ll find the best available indoor location for them. And don’t worry, we always have lighting equipment with us in case we need it. Just bear in mind that if your venue doesn’t have lots of free indoor space, you may have to compromise on larger group photos, and have smaller groups.
Don’t stress about the dress!
If there’s one thing I could tell every bride, it’s this! You’re only going to wear your dress once, and yes, it probably cost a fair amount of money, but if it gets a little bit wet, or a bit dirty round the edges, it’s a sign that you embraced your day wholeheartedly, and enjoyed every moment without a care in the world. A dirty dress tells a story, and holds memories. And wouldn’t you rather that, than worrying every five minutes about where you’re walking and what people might think?
Relax…you’ll look gorgeous. And I guarantee you, no-one is going to notice a tiny bit of dirt on the bottom of your dress. They’ll be too busy looking at your happy, radiant faces!
Remember why you’re getting married
Don’t let the rain ruin your day. Remember the real reason you’re getting married. You love each other and want to celebrate that with your family and friends. You can’t control the weather, so embrace it and you’ll still have a perfect day. And if it really does rain, and practically flood your venue like Angela and Rich’s August wedding day in the country (not joking!) you’ll have a fabulous story to tell your children. Angela just pulled on her wellies, and literally jumped in puddles, whilst their guests had a whale of a time dancing! Happy days!
Heather
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Natural, relaxed, creative wedding photography from a husband and wife team based in Skipton, North Yorkshire. Serving Yorkshire, Lancashire and the UK.
