Let’s get the honest part out of the way first.
I’ve never had a couple look out the window on their wedding day, see rain, and be happy about it. Not once. And that’s okay. You’ve put so much time and thought into this day, and you probably pictured it sunny. You’re allowed to be bummed.
So I’m not going to tell you rain on your wedding day is secretly magical. What I will tell you is this: rain doesn’t get to ruin your day unless you let it. And most of what keeps it from ruining your day is stuff you’ll never have to think about… because it’s already packed in my car.
The dreaded all-day drizzle
In PA, the weather can be finicky. We usually get lucky and the rain comes and goes. When that happens, we just time it and sneak outside when it stops.
But sometimes you get the dreaded drizzle that lasts all day long. Not a quick storm that blows through and clears up for golden hour. Just drizzle, start to finish.
Not ideal, I know. But the day still happens, it’s still beautiful, and we still get the photos.
Here’s how.
Clear umbrellas for the whole bridal party
I bring clear umbrellas to every wedding. Not one or two… enough for your entire bridal party. (I have more than 20 of them… so yes, even the big bridal parties are covered.)
And they have to be clear. A regular umbrella throws a shadow right across your face. Clear ones let the light through, so everyone stays dry and nobody disappears into the shade.
So if the rain isn’t too heavy, we can still get outside for photos while keeping everyone’s hair dry. And honestly? The umbrella photos are cute.
A shower curtain (yes, really)
The umbrellas probably seem obvious. A shower curtain? Not so much.
When the ground is wet, I lay a white shower curtain down, you stand on it, and we tuck it in around your dress so it doesn’t show in the photo. Your dress stays dry, no mud, and nobody can tell it’s there.
I bring the umbrellas and the shower curtain to every single wedding, whether the forecast says rain or not.
A venue with a real rain plan
This part is on you, and it’s worth asking about when you tour venues. What happens if it rains? Where does the ceremony go? Where can we take photos and stay dry?
Having a backup plan probably isn’t the fun part to think about when you’re dreaming up a beautiful outdoor ceremony. But if the weather turns sour, you’ll be really glad you have one.
A first look on the porch
This is where a venue with good covered spots really pays off. Sarah and Zach got that all-day drizzle, so they did their first look on the porch at Riverdale Manor. They stayed covered and dry, and still got that moment together.
From there, we used everything the day gave us. The porch, the covered spots, the umbrellas, the rooms inside. Different spots, different light, and a gallery with real variety instead of the same corner over and over. On a day like that, adapting is everything.
I tell this to every couple when they’re booking their wedding day team: “Anyone can pull off a wedding when everything goes right. But you hire experienced professionals because they know what to do when things don’t go according to plan.” And rain is a big one.
The wedding where it poured
Christi looked at me super sad when I walked in, rain coming down hard, and just said, “Can you work with this?”
“I got you girl.”
Just like Sarah and Zach, we were able to use the porch at Bentley Farms for their first look and private vow readings. Kalie and I got soaked, but that’s okay. Our gear is weather sealed, so the rain doesn’t slow us down.
But this wasn’t umbrella weather. It was raining so hard that outdoor portraits, even with umbrellas, just weren’t an option. So we pivoted and moved portraits inside.
Our planner that day, Alyssa from Miss Lyss Planning (SHE’S A ROCKSTAR), moved fast. Per our request, she repositioned the sweetheart table and a couple of reception tables in front of the fireplace in the main reception room, which gave us a real spot for portraits.
That fireplace became our go-to spot. We did the wedding party photos there, and moved the family portraits there too, instead of outside where we’d originally planned.
During the reception, Alyssa gave me one of my favorite compliments ever: she thanked me for not having to babysit me all day. It meant she could trust me to keep the couple on track with the timeline while she handled all the rain logistics. That’s what a real team looks like when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
I may be biased, so judge for yourself, but I think we freaking crushed it.
And after I sent Christi her sneak peek, she texted me this: “Joel… I have no words. Even with that sneak peek you already exceeded every expectation. I’m in love.”
Natural Light is my favorite, but it’s not the only thing I can do.
I’m a natural light photographer. It’s my favorite way to shoot, and it’s most of what you’ll see in my portfolio.
But sometimes natural light just isn’t there, and that’s where flash comes in.
At Sarah and Zach’s wedding, we were limited outside with the rain, so we did some of their portraits inside with flash.
And that fireplace wedding party photo above from Christi and Zeke’s? Flash too.
Being ready for every kind of light is part of the job. Your wedding isn’t going to reschedule around the weather, so your photographer has to be ready for whatever the day hands you. It’s the same reason I told you to make sure your photographer knows how to use flash when you’re vetting them.
What you can actually do about rain on your wedding day
Honestly? Not much, and that’s the good news.
Ask your venue about their rain plan. Ask your photographer if they’re comfortable shooting with flash… or better yet, ask to see a full gallery from a rainy wedding. A bride asked me that once, and it was probably one of the smartest questions I’ve ever gotten.
Then let it go. Be bummed for a minute if you need to, and then let the day be the day.
Rain doesn’t get to ruin your wedding. The umbrellas are already packed.
Planning a central PA wedding and already checking the forecast? Send me a note and let’s talk it through 🙂
