When Brian and I were planning our wedding, I prayed for clear and sunny skies! Clouds would have been totally okay, but rain seemed like a nightmare! I even researched which months of the year were the rainiest before confirming our date! I think it’s normal to dream of beautiful sunny weather on your wedding day! After all, most fairytales don’t mention rain! Over the years, I’ve learned that you can’t predict Mother Nature! You truly never know what to expect on your wedding day! Rain happens, but that doesn’t mean that your day is ruined! We recently photographed a gorgeous wedding in the mountains of Boone, NC! We watched the weather everyday leading up to the wedding and the rain percentages were 80% and higher! Anytime that the forecast has 40% or higher, I tend to get a little worried! I love natural lit photographs and clear skies are a huge plus! Just in case the forecast calls for rain on your day, I’ve put together a few tips to help you survive rain on your wedding day while still having amazing photos and lots of fun!

Don’t Be Afraid to Get Wet

Don’t be afraid to get a little wet! I totally understand hair and makeup, but I promise you that you won’t regret getting your dress or toes a little wet when you look back at your photos! Rainy day photos can be fun. I love when our couples embrace the weather, even if it’s not what they’ve hoped for!

Cute Rain Boots

If the forecast calls for rain, I highly suggest packing a cute pair of rain boots! My favorites are Hunter rain boots as they come in all different colors and can be coordinated to match your wedding colors! I have a black pair of Hunter boots that I love wearing whenever the forecast calls for rain! I’ve seen brides wear bright yellow, pink or mint ones with their wedding dresses and they look amazing!

Clear Umbrellas

I recommend picking up several clear umbrellas. They’re completely clear and shaped like a bucket that blocks out the rain! I used one at a recent wedding and it was perfect for covering my cameras. The bride and groom also had two over their heads during the ceremony and it was perfect! Clear umbrellas are great letting light in so that you avoid having shadows on your face! I’ve also seen couples coordinate umbrellas in their wedding colors for fun wedding party or couple portraits! You really can’t go wrong with umbrellas!

Have a Backup Plan

A backup plan is probably the most important tip! I love outdoor ceremonies and receptions, but I believe that an awesome wedding venue will offer a great backup option! In the Raleigh area, I really like The Hall and Gardens at Landmark as they have an outdoor space for your ceremony, but the ballroom doubles as a gorgeous ceremony location in the case of rain! I definitely suggest asking your venue if they have a backup rain plan! We always keep our fingers crossed for beautiful wedding, but just in case!

I hope that these tips help when it comes to dealing with rain on your wedding day!