WHAT IF IT RAINS ON MY WEDDING DAY?
After all that meticulous wedding planning, the one thing none of us can control is the great British weather! Here in the UK you can never rely on the weather, even during Summer, so you do need to factor in a wet-weather plan for your day.
Read on for some handy tips for dealing with the possibility of a rainy wedding day.
Hi, I'm Sarah!
I love being able to document the raw emotions and excitement of a wedding day and take pride in delivering stunning images that my couples will cherish for a lifetime.
I create a calm and relaxed atmosphere for my clients, ensuring that they feel at ease and enjoy every moment of their day.
Although I'm based in Hertford, I'm not just a Hertfordshire Wedding Photographer. I can travel all over the UK (and beyond) for your Wedding!
WILL MY WEDDING PHOTOS BE RUINED IF IT RAINS?
Your photos definitely won't be ruined if it rains on your wedding day.
Bright sunny days without a cloud in the sky aren’t actually great from a photographer’s point of view. In the middle of the day when the sun is high in the sky it’s very hard to find nice open shade to create beautiful, evenly lit group photos. It’s harder to find spots where you’re not squinting into the sunshine or to avoid harsh unflattering shadows, so a bit of light cloud cover is actually perfect for incredible photographs.
That being said, there are definitely some things you can do which will make a rainy wedding day easier. So don't worry, if rain is forecast on your wedding day - read my tips and remind yourself that your day can still be beautiful and amazing in every way.
Here are my 6 tips to get the best out of a wet weather wedding.
1.
Don't worry about the rain!
If it rains on your wedding day, don't worry about it! I know this is easier said than done, but there really is nothing you can do about the weather, so just accept it and make the most of the situation. If rain is forecast on your wedding day, instead of checking your weather app hourly in the week leading up to the wedding in fits of panic, just make sure you plan for the worst case scenario so you don't get caught out on the day. And also, if the forecast ends up being better than you first thought, it will feel like a win!
2.
Choose a venue with a back-up plan for rain
When you first book your venue, it's worth asking your venue co-ordinator what their wet weather plan is. You may have your heart set on an outdoor ceremony, but what happens if it rains? Do they have an indoor area you could use, or perhaps you might need to think about hiring a marquee as a back-up.
This couple were hoping for an outdoor ceremony in the stunning grounds at Parklands Quendon Hall, but sadly the weather didn't play ball. Luckily they were able to move the ceremony into a stunning indoor space which we could also use for the confetti moment. We did some couple portraits inside too, but did manage to get outside later in the day for more portraits and group photos when the weather cleared up!
3.
Be prepared
Make sure you have plenty of umbrellas (and some wellies?) to hand. If your venue doesn't offer clear umbrellas (and most don't) it's worth buying some just in case. You can always keep the tags on until the day so you can return them afterwards if you don't end up needing them.
Clear umbrellas are the perfect choice as they let in lots of natural light and obviously you can still see through them! White umbrellas are also a good choice. Dark umbrellas can cast shadows on faces and look a bit more sombre. Brightly coloured umbrellas can create a fun effect in your photos, though might reflect colour back on faces, leaving odd colour castes.
4.
Be flexible
It's pretty rare to have constant heavy rain for the entire duration of your day. While there are usually allocated time slots for group and couple photos factored in to the order of the day, it is worth being flexible with your timetable to take advantage of any breaks in the rain to dash outside for some photos.
5.
Trust your photographer
Any decent photographer will not be phased by a bit of rain and will still be able to create some fantastic images of your day whatever the weather. Your photographer will liaise with your venue to make sure they know the best locations to take photos under shelter or indoors.
Outside photos are still possible in the rain if you can find covered areas - a porch or pergola or even a big tree will provide some shelter if the rain isn't too heavy. I always make sure I carry a couple of large clear brollies in my car to use too.
Some venues really lend themselves to beautiful indoor photos, so I will make sure I use those to get some gorgeous portraits of you inside, even if we manage an outdoor shoot later on. White marquees are actually great for indoor photos too as they are bright and neutral and let in lots of natural light.
I find group photos are often the most challenging part of a rainy wedding day. Even on a lovely day it can be tricky enough to usher a host of champagne-fuelled guests to where the need to be for group photos. Indoors space and lighting can be an issue for large groups, though I always make sure to bring flash equipment with me just in case. The whole wedding party photo can certainly be a challenge if we only have small indoor spaces to work with, and you may need to forego this particular photo. There are other ways to make sure you capture every guest though, if that's important to you - you could perhaps consider a photo dash later on. More on that here!
6.
Embrace the rain!
If you're game, grab an umbrella and some wellies and get out there and enjoy it. After all, it was part of your day, so why not get some great photos to document it.
There are some amazing ways of creatively capturing the beauty of the rain and you could end up with some stunning and unique images from your day. I actually think wet weather portraits can be really romantic. There's something very special about a couple cosying up together under a shared umbrella.
You can create some wonderful effects with rainy weather in your photos, especially after dark!
Finally, if you're forecast a rainy wedding day, try not to stress about it! Some things in life are beyond our control, and the weather is one of them. Whatever will be, will be, and you'll only drive yourself crazy if you spend the two weeks leading up to your big day constantly checking the weather forecast. The best thing to do is to relax, enjoy your day, and not let a bit of bad weather spoil your wedding. Your guests will take their cues from you, and if you remain happy and unconcerned about the weather, then no one else will be bothered by it either!
I hope you have found these tips for a rainy wedding day useful! If you would like to discuss wedding photography or seek advice on weddings in general, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
"We loved having Sarah photograph our wedding and capture the special moments, she made us feel super at ease and relaxed and worked with the weather to get some beautiful images that we will treasure for ever."
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