Planning for a rainy wedding
What happens if it rains on our wedding day?
One of the questions I get asked frequently from couples is “what happens if it rains on our wedding day”? In short, the answer in my mind is, nothing changes, you will still have the best day of your lives and you will still have a selection of gorgeous photos that tell the story of your day.
Ok, so if you book a summer wedding. I can totally understand how you would want that day, especially if you're planning a very outdoorsy wedding, to be a gorgeous blue skied sunny day. But this is England, and no matter what time of year you are getting married you need to be prepared that it may rain!
Having been a wedding photographer for 10+ years, I have seen and captured my fair share of rainy weddings and to be totally honest, many of them have become my all time favourites. There is just something about them, it always feels like the guests enjoy themselves much more, I can’t really explain why!
Remember.. it’s unlikely that it will rain all day on your wedding
What I always say to my couples is exactly that. Even if it rains, at some point during the day there will nearly always be a dry spell that you can get outside for photos. Of course, it is better if that dry spell can be during the drinks reception when the couple and family shots are taken. But on many of the rainy weddings I have captured, many of the couple shots and even some of the family ones are taken later in the day, after the wedding breakfast. All that’s needed for a few couple shots is 10 minutes and we can dash out and do this whenever the weather permits! If all else fails though, there will always be somewhere, either inside, or some covered outside area that we can go for the family and couple shots, or better still, think of how cool the photos could be with brightly coloured umbrellas?
I don’t mind getting wet and am always prepared!
Many of the weddings I capture are outdoorsy, wedfest style weddings, and I have learnt through many years of capturing these types of weddings that a change (or 2) of shoes is critical! Of course I learnt the hard way, and after spending an entire wedding day in wet shoes I am never without a spare pair in the boot of my car.
I have even learnt the art of wedging an umbrella under my neck whilst photographing! So if you’re up for grabbing an umbrella and heading out, I'm right there with ya!
What about the confetti photos?
Just do it! As you will see from some of the below images, a bit of rain shouldn't stop you or your guests from enjoying this moment. Your guests will know the weather forecast and be prepared, and more than that, they will want to do it for you! If this isn't an option though, then many venues do allow confetti indoors, which always works well as you walk down the aisle together after the ceremony. I'm well used to a quick change of plan on a wedding day, and have been in this exact situation many times. Ive even captured a wedding that was planned to be outdoors and with seconds to go the heavens opened and everyone pulled together to bring all the chairs inside the village hall, creating one of the most memorable moments at a wedding I have ever shot.
