One question that always arises with brides is, “What if it happens to rain on my wedding day?” If there’s always one concern that bride’s have when it comes to planning their Wedding Day, you can bet that it usually involves the weather. Let’s face it, Mother Nature isn’t always so kind to us. If you’re used to Northern Virginia weather then you also know how it can be 30 degrees one day & 60 degrees the next, lol. So what happens if it rains on your wedding day? Can you still have pretty photographs on a dreary, rainy day? The answer is, YES! So how do you handle rain on your wedding day?

Prepare for it. Embrace it. Own it.

I must say, what it really comes down to is your attitude 😉

1) Prepare For It

One way to handle rain on your wedding day is to make sure you prepare ahead of time. This is an excellent point for brides who are newly engaged and in the fresh stages of planning their wedding, especially when it comes to searching for a venue. If it is your desire, think hard about if you really want to have an outdoor wedding. If so think about if you would have any other options as to where to move your ceremony or even your reception if it were to rain. Would the location be as pretty? Would there be as much space? Does the venue have a “rain plan?”, would you need to order tents at the last minute (which can be very hard to do during peak wedding season) ? All of these are very important things to factor in, especially if you are a bride who has a certain vision for her special day. If some of these factors are questionable & of importance to you, then you may want to consider a different venue.

As much as we wish to have that gorgeous day for our wedding, it’s always a possibility that it may not happen. What I am about to say is not about being a negative, but has more to do with being realistic in preparing yourself that the weather may not be ideal (and this can also be true of days where it feels like 110 outside). You will find that if you are mentally prepared for the possibility of rain, that it won’t be as much of a disappointment or shock to you when you see those rain clouds roll in.

Think about what you might want to incorporate into your photos if it happens to rain. A really cute pair of rain boots? (which btw, I have hot pink ones that I DO shoot in!) Customized umbrellas? Maybe you could even ask the bridesmaids to each bring their own umbrella for some cute bridal party portraits! Definitely not required, but just an option depending on your style & taste. Prepare, prepare, prepare!

2) Embrace It.

Another way to handle rain on your wedding day? Embrace it. Ok, I get it. No one actually wants rain on their wedding day. But in order to make the most of the situation which also means making the most of your pictures (in which you made a point to invest in), it is all about your attitude. You must embrace the rain & dreary conditions! Embrace the nasty weather with open arms 😉 You will find that a positive attitude will go a long way. Besides, you don’t want to look disappointed in your wedding photos. You just got married to the love of your life! Enjoy the moment, & trust in your photographer that he/she will capture the very essence of what lies in front of the lens.

Just a side note, even if it’s a really rainy day do everything you can to have your portraits taken outside. I PROMISE you that you will be so much happier with the results rather than settling for somewhere inside where flash may be needed. Although certain flash techniques can create a beautiful portrait, natural light is going to give you a more natural & romantic glow (even if it is overcast outside.) Plus, odds are that the inside of the venue will be extremely crowded with family & guests making it hard to have that privacy that you deserve during portrait time. No one wants to have romantic portraits taken with hundreds of eyeballs staring at them 😉

Lastly, I will do my best to scout out locations before hand when it comes to where to place you for your portraits. Obviously I will aim for a covered porch, balcony, or even a covered entry way to keep you out of the rain. This will also help add variety to your photos so that you aren’t holding an umbrella over your heads for every shot. Just give me a few feet of covered space, & I can make it work!

3.) Own It

Lastly, own it. What I really mean by this is, rock the shot! This may go hand in hand a little bit with my point above about embracing the weather, but I want you to feel confident with the given weather situation. Remember to stay positive, & think about using the rain to your advantage. Yes, to your advantage. I bet you will have some of the most unique wedding photos due to the damp weather. I will always guide you when it comes to being creative with posing, but maybe you want to be a bit adventurous and jump in a rain puddle? Maybe you just want those romantic umbrella shots? Maybe you want to wear a really cute pair of rain boots, in a color that matches your wedding theme? Or maybe neither one of you care about getting wet, & want to go play in the rain! Get creative & own it.

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