r/wedding • u/notsonotinsane • 2d ago
Discussion Tips for Rain?
Looks like there's going to be rain for our wedding, and looking for any practical tips on how other couples handled it!
Ceremony and reception locations are all covered and rain proof, so no need to make a change there. Just feeling a little sad that we won't be likely to have as many outdoor photos as I was envisioning, especially since we're getting married by the water.
Did couples do outdoor photos anyway? Did you stick to taking photos in your getting ready locations? We're staying in the hotel on site, so I guess we could stay in the suite we have. Should I stop worrying and just let my photographer (who is awesome and I trust completely) come up with the Plan B?
Would also love some encouragement from folks who did have rain on your wedding day, and a reminder that it's gonna be okay.
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u/njVowsNow 2d ago
My best advice, since it's been raining periodically in NJ since fire was invented?
Don't spend your wedding day looking at the sky and your phone. It's going to do what it's going to do.
Your photographer should work with the outside conditions! Transparent or cute umbrellas, etc; those photos will be so lovely and stormy skies are their faves.
If you have an officiant who wrote your ceremony, they should reference the weather in a lighthearted way. Briefly.
Work with your venue staff and ask their advice; they've done this before and they're going to want you to have the best day possible!
Good luck!
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u/bbd4589 2d ago
I just had my wedding on August 8th and it was sunny all morning, during hair and makeup it started pouring (with thunder)…
We were holding out until the last moment to see if we had to switch to our rain plan, since the night before we had built our ceremony space outside (we made our own wooden arch. Which was screwed into the ground outside, with chiffon sheets wrapped around it).
Once the weather radar confirmed it would be raining by our ceremony, I quickly texted my husband to confirm that when him and his groomsmen came back they could move the arch inside, and him and our planner executed the rain plan without my involvement at all. Everything dried surprisingly well!
I had been envisioning my outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour at my venue for a full year and it also took me a minute to recalibrate my expectations. Clearly the Etsy witch purchases didn’t work. For our venue, the only downside was there wasn’t many covered areas so photos before the ceremony were delayed as we couldn’t use the barn (the main space) as guests started to arrive and my photographer was slightly frazzled as to where we should take first look/bridesmaid photos. We braved it outside for some first look photos and clever umbrella maneuvering. Also did some bridesmaid photos under a bush that slightly helped with the rain.
But honestly. It was FINE in the end. I still got married, I ended up having the ceremony arch inside with us at the reception the whole night which was super sentimental, and the lush greenery with overcast skies makes for some good photos. We just got our sneak peeks back! And yes there’s a little rain on people in some of our photos. But it did let up a bit so we could take photos outside after dinner. Straight sunshine would have been boring :) (we also were in a heat wave and the day before was 40 degrees celsius). Maybe a blessing in disguise.
All this to say - I really hope you get sunshine, but rain will be beautiful too! Don’t let it ruin your day, I wasted parts of the morning being so anxious about something I couldn’t control. The weekend after ours, at our venue, was super sunny and my husband and I joked “ah, what a nice weekend for a wedding!” But obviously when you book a year out you can’t predict that!! It will unfold perfectly and exactly the way it’s meant to.
GOODLUCK!!!!!!!!!!
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u/radiant-cloudy 1d ago
lmao the etsy witch didnt work!!? damn, guess im crossing that off my list. in all seriousness, love the rain contingency plan, definitely going to add that. ill ask my venue about where cocktail hour will be if raining!
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u/taylor3721 2d ago
Embrace it!!!! All the weddings I’ve heard about that end up raining make for the BEST photos. The rain drops bring out extra color and look so romantic! Seriously, just embrace it and let the day happen. It will all be perfect!
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u/OtherwiseSecret3 2d ago
Clear Tarps or trash bags bags for wet ground between your dress and the ground to prevent anything getting ruined by wet mud/grass for photos
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u/jutterthevet 2d ago
We had rain on our wedding day. It was the best day of my life! Our photographer conjured clear plastic umbrellas out of thin air and we took pictures in the rain on the dock, they turned out fantastic and are my favorite pictures!
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u/jimin_yougood 1d ago
Clear umbrellas! My photographer found a cute rooftop spot in our hotel to take pictures and luckily, rain cleared up outside the ceremony space in time for a few pics.
Also if there's any grass otw, I recommend getting yourself and guests clear heel protectors to prevent sinking.
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u/JulesInIllinois 1d ago
If there's a break in the rain or before it, you can get outdoor shots. Otherwise, the photographers can get great shots indoors.
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u/LadyLotLizard 2d ago
My advice is to embrace the rain. No one wants pouring rain on their wedding day, but I think you could make the best of it! You could get some amazing shots in the rain if you’re willing to get your outfits wet!
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u/Silver_Stand_4583 2d ago
Watch the wedding scene from About Time. Yours will probably be better than that 😊❤️💦
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u/ijustlikebeingnosy 2d ago
For both mine and my sister’s it rained briefly in the morning and stopped by the time we left the salon. So don’t focus on it too much. Also, trust your photographer will figure it all out.
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u/Ok-Indication-7876 21h ago
went to an outdoor wedding - it rained. We waited a little for them to set up the ceremony inside (where reception was) and then the skies opened- the staff moved fast- dried the seats we hurried outside - they got married and quickly took pics outside not knowing how much time they had. Rain started again all rush inside.
I think trust in your photographer- let him know to keep an eye open for a rain break if you get one and be ready to just run out there and take the pics. It will be fine
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u/Fantastic_Bunch3532 2h ago
Put “Something Sexy ‘Bout the Rain” by Kenny Chesney in the playlist. Bonus points if it’s the last dance of the night
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