What if it rains on my wedding day? Rain. Ugh. The one thing you have NO control over on your wedding day. I have gotten that last minute worried text from my bride the week before her wedding “Ah! The forecast does not look good for next weekend. What do we do?”

At the end of the day, we can not control the weather, so there is no use in getting worked up about it. I have seen forecasts that say 100% thunderstorms the day before a wedding, then the morning comes and it is sunny and 75 ALL day with not a single drop of rain. Although we can not control the weather, we can control how we prepare for it!

Here are my tips on how to prepare for potential poor weather on your wedding day to ensure we are able to get the best photos possible:

1. Clear Umbrellas A rainy forecast surely does not mean we will only take indoor photos! Clear umbrellas have been a life saver for many of my brides and not to mention they are absolutely stunning in photos! I always have a few clear umbrellas on hand but I always suggest my brides to invest in a handful of clear umbrellas too for the wedding party! You can never be too prepared. I suggest these umbrellas from Amazon: CLICK HERE

2. Ceremony/Reception Space: Have a Plan B When booking a venue, I always tell my brides do not avoid the outdoor wedding venue of your dreams due to your fear of rain, instead see what options your venue has as plan B! If you want an outdoor wedding, GO FOR IT! Chances are, you will miss the slight chance of rain. 9 times out 10, wedding venues with outdoor ceremony and receptions spaces will have a Plan B! Sometimes it is a gorgeous white tent, and sometimes it is an indoor space.
Check on this early on when you are touring venues. When you look at the Plan B space, take into account the lighting. Is it a dark room? Are there windows letting in natural light? Do they allow tents on the property to cover a ceremony space? Do they have an indoor space you would like as a backdrop to photos?

3. Allow extra time Anticipate that things might take a bit longer then expected if there is rain on your wedding day! Timelines might shift a bit as it usually takes a few extra minutes to prepare for photos or to round up the bridal party. If the thought of timelines and schedules stress you out, you may want to consider involving a day of coordinator or a wedding planner!

4. Don`t Be Afraid to get a Little Wet (that goes for the bridal party too!) If it rains on your wedding day, chances are the bottom of your dress will get a bit damp. I promise, it will be okay. Pack a pair of shoes you don`t mind getting wet and make sure your MOH or a bridesmaid know where these shoes are. Unless there is a torrential downpour going on outside, I always suggest my couple and the bridal party head outside for a few minutes to grab some portraits! I can promise you that the little bit of rain on your dress wont even be a thought the next day! The photos are so worth it! Prepare you bridal party ahead of time that even if it rains, chances are we will head outside for a few moments for photos.

5. What photos are MOST important to you? Take those first! With rain, comes clouds, and with clouds comes darkness. Light is crucial in getting gorgeous wedding photos. We may need to shift around the photo timeline to ensure the photos that are most important to you, can happen outside in the light! 

6. Trust Your Photographer With weather changes, come photo changes. Maybe that gorgeous willow tree you wanted a photo underneath, just is not going to work on your wedding day due to lighting and rain. Your photographer is the expert in lighting and will never steer you wrong! Trust that they have your best interest in mind and that if they are suggesting a new photo location due to weather/lighting, that it is the best option! NOTE: This also goes for extremely SUNNY days – direct sunlight can ruin a photo! Just keep in mind, your photographers location suggestions for photos are always going to give you the best results on your wedding day. 

7. Stay Positive Rain or shine, your wedding day will be one of the most special days of your life! Don`t stress about the weather or check the forecast every hour, because there is nothing we can do to change it. Prepare for the slight possibility of some rain and stay positive! I can assure you, rain WILL NOT ruin your day. I have witnessed many brides having the time of their life while the rain is pouring down outside. 

*If you are planning to get married in the early spring, fall or winter, the chances of rain are higher (in Michigan), than the summer. Take this into account early on when planning your venue. Make sure the photographer you hire has experience working in all weather conditions and knows how to navigate the different conditions.

I hope these tips are helpful and put you at ease! Some of my favorite photographs of all time have happened on a rainy wedding day, and I can assure you that rain or shine your photos will still turn out great! Most of the time, if it rains on a wedding day it only lasts a few minutes and it ends! No matter what, your day is going to be MAGICAL! 

Check out one of my recent wedding that was on one of the most rainy days of the entire year! You would never even know there was a torrential downpour going on half the day by looking at the photos. Check it out here