It certainly ranks highly in many bride-to-be’s worst nightmare scenario to wake up to driving rain on her wedding day. If this strikes a chord of terror in you, remember a few things. First, there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it from raining. Begging, pleading, crying and ritual dancing is fruitless. Second, [...]

It certainly ranks highly in many bride-to-be’s worst nightmare scenario to wake up to driving rain on her wedding day. If this strikes a chord of terror in you, remember a few things. First, there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it from raining. Begging, pleading, crying and ritual dancing is fruitless. Second, there is the slight chance that the rain could stop during the day, and you should be optimistic (to a realistic degree). Third, rainy days can actually be quite romantic as they evoke images of snuggling up together and drinking hot chocolate on the sofa. So, remember that the weather may actually help you to create an ambience of romance.

You may be concerned about the quality of your wedding photographs in the rain. Prepare for any eventuality by establishing good lines of communication with your photographer well before the event. Discuss alternatives in case of rain in terms of the location, setting and nature of your photographs. This allows you to control the situation to a certain degree and enjoy peace of mind.

A drizzle or a downpour provide remarkable lighting opportunities for the photographer, and leave the air smelling, looking and feeling clean and fresh. Such qualities create a sense of new life (whether natural or symbolic of your marriage). They also give your photographer an opportunity to play around with lighting, wet surfaces that act as mirrors, grey landscapes and other effects that may not have worked as well in the sunshine. In addition, being outdoors in the rain gives you, as the wedding couple, the perfect chance to experiment with various props, ensuring that your photographs are fun and unique. These may include an umbrella, wellingtons, a waterproof hat, fleecy blankets, and so on.

It also means that the two of you will have to get closer together, cuddling under a protective arch or getting cosy in the backseat of your car as you escape the downpour outside.

Here are some great ideas for rainy day wedding photographs:

• Pull on some colourful wellingtons and splash around in the puddles of rain with your new spouse, bridesmaids, groomsmen and flower girl.
• Pull your gown above your knees and tiptoe around the puddles. For a fun dimension, have your bridesmaids doing the same as they follow you in a straight line.
• Capture the bride and groom huddling under an umbrella, kissing, laughing or frowning at the rain.
• Have the groom and his entourage acting like true gentlemen as they escort the ladies through the rain, holding their jackets over the girls’ heads to protect them.
• Kiss in the rain or enjoy a romantic dance for two while the drops fall around you in celebration.
• Of course, there are some risks involved when the rain starts falling. Make-up could run, hair could curl, dresses could get wet or dirty. Have back-up plans to handle these issues. Pack an emergency kit that includes your make-up, hairspray, clips, wet wipes, etc… The most important factor to your wedding photographs being spectacular is that you both look happy, relaxed and in love.

Photo Credit: KH Photography