What to do if it rains on your wedding day
When it comes to your wedding day, one of the few things you can’t control is the weather. Yes, you can choose the month you get married in. But sometimes, the universe has other plans and it looks like rain is in the forecast. And while this may not be ideal or what you’ve always dreamed for your special day, it doesn’t have to ruin everything. In fact, some of the most romantic weddings I’ve photographed have been on rainy days! There’s something innately cozy and intimate about cuddled up guests during a ceremony and the pitter patter of rain during a reception. It all makes for truly unique and beautiful wedding photos and memories.
That said, if it looks like it’s going to rain on your wedding day, don’t let it get you down. It’s going to be okay!
Remember: Your love is rain or shine.
3 ways you can prepare for rain on your wedding day
With proper planning, coordination, and communication, your wedding can still be absolutely perfect! Here are 3 ways you, your guests, and your vendors can prepare for a rainy wedding day:
Talk to your venue and wedding planner
First and foremost: Reach out to your venue and wedding planner (if you have one)! You’re going to want to bring the team together to brainstorm and prepare for all possibilities. Your vendors have likely experienced rainy wedding days in the past.
Your venue should be prepared with a Plan B—whether it’s a tent for an outdoor reception or an alternative indoor ceremony site—they’ll have options and resources for you. You’ll want to connect with them and learn your pricing options, how long it takes to convert a space, and all of the other small details and resources that will be unique to your venue.
You’ll also want to chat with your wedding planner. They will be able to help navigate conversations with your venue, share their tips and tricks on wedding days, and help you source supplies for the day. If you don’t have a wedding planner, your venue may have a day-of coordinator who can be just as helpful when it comes to tips and tricks and preparing for rain at your venue.
Bottom line: You’ll want to communicate and bring everyone together—it’s time to get prepared!
Purchase rainy-day supplies
With the help of your wedding planner, the internet (including this blog!), and your venue, you’ll want to purchase some supplies that will help you, your guests, and your vendors truly enjoy the day! From items that will help keep you dry to customized signage, you can fully embrace the rain on your wedding day and make it a truly cozy experience. Of course, some rainy-day supplies can be bulky or offensive to the eyes, and you may be concerned with how your pictures will look with them in it. Don’t worry! Here are some items I recommend for every rainy wedding that will still look lovely on the day:
Bubble umbrellas: Clear umbrellas look clean and classy in photos.
Blankets or pashminas: Avoid patterns and vibrant colors unless they match your wedding palette and theme. Otherwise, I strongly recommend light colored neutrals or black.
Rain boots: Get some cute bridal rain boots that are both waterproof and stylish to really embrace your day!
Heat lamps: To keep you and your guests cozy as your party into the night.
Coffee/Tea/Cider/Hot cocoa: Warm drinks help create a cozy and intimate atmosphere for your guests while you two share your vows.
Custom signage: Let your guests know your love is rain or shine and offer them umbrellas, blankets, and other cute items to help them stay warm and dry.
Embrace it and have fun!
Overall, the best thing you can do is just embrace it. Your day isn’t dependent on how golden the sunset is or how perfect your hair looks. What really matters is your love and celebrating that love surrounded by your closest friends and family. Weddings are stressful enough without worrying about something you quite literally can’t control. The weather will be what it is. Prepare as best you can and show up to have a good time! Thirty years down the road, you won’t remember the rain, but you will remember the love and laughs you all shared.
So let’s throw on some rain boots and go find some puddles for you two to splash around in for your bridal portraits and have some fun!
Rain or shine, your love is mine
Rain doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Not only is it good for the planet, and especially needed in California, it’s absolutely beautiful. As I always say, wedding planning is stressful, and you’ve just got to roll with the punches. Odds are something will go wrong on your wedding day, and that’s okay! We put far too much pressure on ourselves to plan the perfect day and sometimes we can lose sight of why we’re planning a wedding in the first place. The most important thing you can do when planning your wedding is remembering why you want to get married! It’s not for the most perfect golden hour photos in your wedding dress, the delicious catered meal, or dancing the night away—though, those are certainly bonuses to having a wedding! Focus on your love and being together surrounded by all of your dearest friends and family, and everything else will fall into place—and if anything goes wrong, it won’t matter.
Disclaimer: Images featured in this blog post were captured second shooting for The Poffs.
