One of the downsides of living in the UK - we have a lot of rain. And when you plan your wedding or portrait photo shoot, you picture it with blue skies and sun. In reality we should always plan for rain, just in case!

With location portrait photoshoots we can plan ahead and if absolutely necessary we can reschedule. But if you were booking in during the rainy seasons then opting for a studio or indoor setting would be best!

When it comes to your wedding, of course this can’t be re booked because of the weather. Many couples dread the thought of rain on their wedding day, with visions of damp dresses, muddy venues and chilly guests becoming a focus on the run-up to the big day. We do live in the UK and even if you’re having a Summer wedding then the chances of rain are always likely. But that’s not to say we can’t have fun in the rain! Throw me an umbrella and let’s go for it!

Here I’ve put together some advice for rain during your wedding day or portrait photo shoot.

1 – Be prepared and have plan B

I always plan for A,B & C weather conditions. Hopefully your wedding venue caters to indoor space somewhere (keep this in mind for a festive, field, beach or woodland wedding!) and so I’ll plan for your couples photos and group photos in some really nice areas of your venue that provides cover or shelter. But do bare this in mind when booking your wedding venue. Even if it’s in June, it can still rain! So make sure you pick a venue that can cater to all year round weather conditions.

If you are having an outdoor drinks reception, check that your venue has another area for your guests to mingle should the heavens open and make sure your bridal party, go to helpers and all your on-the-day suppliers know your backup plans so everyone can be prepared if there is a change of plan. Decide very early on what you want to do if it’s raining and stick to it – all professional wedding suppliers will have great ideas about what you can do, so speak to them about it if you’re worried or unsure.

If you’re having an outdoor ceremony then I suggest either check that your venue has an indoor/covered area for you to hold your ceremony or have a marquee on hand.

For example! This couple had their wedding planned for an outdoor reception, couples and guests photos outside with the house as the backdrop. However, it rained ALL day. Thankfully, the venue was gorgeous inside and offered the use of the interior and the staff cleared one of the rooms for us to use to photograph the guest formal photos. These photos wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the rain – imagine not having the chance to not have some of them? See. It isn’t all bad.

More often than not, even if it rains on your wedding day, it won’t rain the whole day and you can still get those lovely outdoor photographs that you were planning on. As a photographer on a rainy wedding day I always keep an eye on the weather so we can nip outside for your couple shots between showers, if I know that’s what’s important to you. Even if it is a bit drizzly, we can find an outdoor location with some cover to have your photos taken under, ensuring you stay dry.

I’ve photographed a few weddings in the rain at the Cornish venue Trevenna Barns and luckily there are areas which are covered so we captured beautiful photographs despite the rain outside. And in these cases – both were during storms!!

2 – Umbrellas at the ready

Have a selection of umbrellas on standby for yourselves, your wedding party and your guests to grab and cover up at short notice, just in case! Search for an umbrella hire company or check if your venue supplies umbrellas too. Store them in some beautiful baskets by the venue door and your guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness if the clouds do roll in.

3 – Grab some wellies!

If your venue is in the countryside or has lots of lovely grounds that you’d like to get photographs in, or if you’re planning a marquee or festival style wedding, then a change of footwear will be a must! Get some wellies and keep them somewhere handy for a quick change if you need them. Some brides even colour-coordinate their wellies to match their wedding colours which is a really nice idea – changed out of your wedding shoes and into some wellies for your couple photographs.

4 – Snuggle up!

Sure it’s raining, but it’s YOUR WEDDING DAY! Take the change in temperature as a great excuse to cuddle up to each other, particularly during your photographs together. In case it is a bit chilly set out some woollen blankets in a basket for you and your guests – they will love that they can wrap up and still enjoy the day as the night draws in, without having to bring a spare jacket!

5 – Embrace the weather!

Embrace the weather! Remember the real reason that you’re getting married – it isn’t because of the weather, it’s because you love each other and want to celebrate that in front of your family and friends. You wear it once - If your dress gets a little muddy then it’s the sign you’ve fully embraced the day. If there’s a storm then it’ll make for a great story to tell over time.

In summary - Trust your photographer, embrace what it is and create some magic.

Lastly what I would say is – none of my couples here look miserable that it’s raining on their wedding day. They all embraced the elements and focused on having a great day together, which is what a wedding day should be about. Enjoy your day, whatever the weather. Let it go and you will have an incredible day!

·       Have a wet weather plan – another part of the venue, a covered tent, a flexible start time. Get as many options as possible.

·       Hire some umbrellas, just in case!

·       Don’t panic! A thunderous downpour can be dramatic and a great part of your story.

·       Enjoy it! You might not realise until you get the photos back, how much it didn’t really bother you and that when you got to the top of the aisle – all that mattered was getting married.

·       The pictures will be epic! The bigger the clouds, the more dramatic the photo!! If you are game then I am game. I’ll be standing out in the rain, balancing a camera, kit, bouquet and brolly. All at the same time managing to get memorable in the moment photos of you.

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