What to do if it rains on your wedding day!

It’s the rainy season here in Northern California which brings up a great topic of what to do if it rains on your wedding day!!

Now, I’m pretty sure most brides and grooms do not wish for a rainy day wedding but if it does happen to rain on your big day and your prepared, it does not have to be a horrible thing.

Bridget and Brad got married at the lovely Pelican Inn in Muir Woods California. It was a Spring wedding and Spring can be a rainy season in most places. But Bridget and Brad did not let the rain ruin their mood, first look or their portraits! Why, because they were prepared and below are the ways you can be prepared too!

1) Location, location, location! If you know you’re getting married in a location or during a season where rain is likely,  one of the best things you can do is chose a venue that is pretty not only on the outside but the inside too. Ask yourself, if I have to take my wedding portraits inside, will the indoors of that location lend itself to making pretty pictures? Also in this case, Bridget and Brad were able to pop outside but we could not go far. The grounds of The Pelican Inn made for a lovely backdrop!

2) Umbrellas!! Bring umbrellas that match the style of your wedding. For Bridget and Brad’s wedding, I brought classic black umbrellas.  I knew Brad was wearing a tuxedo and I felt classic black umbrellas best match the style of their wedding. Other options can be clear dome umbrellas or even fun colored umbrellas.  Now, a tip about colored umbrellas, they will cast the color of that umbrellas on to your face.  For example- while a yellow umbrella might be a really fun pop of color, your skin will have a yellow cast on it. A blue umbrella will cast a bluish shade on to your face. Depending on your complexion this might be a good thing or a bad thing. Think about your skin tones and what would work best.3) Rain boots!! Bring some fun rain boots! Bridget rocked her Hunter boots with her Monique Lhuillier gown and it looked awesome!  For men, Brad brought a pair of shoes for being outside and another pair in case those got really wet. 4) Flash Photography! Hire a photographer that knows how to take pictures inside with flashes. Many photographers call themselves a “natural light” photographer, meaning they don’t use equipment such as flashes to add light to the scene.  While we all dream of not having to use a flash and only using the beautiful light created by the sun, it’s not always possible. If your wedding has to be moved indoors, be sure your photographer and videographer know how to handle those lighting conditions. Ask them to send you examples of that kind of photography.5) This might just be the most important! Bring your great attitude. One of the best things about Bridget and Brad is that they did not let the rain affect their wedding day enthusiasm.  There is nothing you can do to control Mother Nature but a great attitude about the weather happening can help you make the most of it.

So if it happens to rain on your wedding day, have a little cry but then dry your eyes, take a deep breath, smile- then grab those cute boots and umbrellas and go enjoy it!

 

Venue and catering: The Pelican Inn

Hair and Makeup: Dreamcatcher Artistry

Bridget’s Dress: Monique Lhuillier 

Brad’s suit: Andreas Gorges

Florist: My Friend Ingrid

Boots: Hunter

Photographer: Susannah Gill Photography

If you are interested in having Susannah Gill photograph your wedding or event, feel free to contact me so we can discuss the details!

You can reach me using the contact page, email me at: susannah@susannahgill.com or call/text me at 1-916-936-7363

Susannah Gill Photography specializes in creating timeless images that tell the stories of your life! She photographs weddings, maternity and family photography. She is works in San Francisco, Tahoe, Santa Cruz, Carmel, Big Sur, Monterey, El Dorado Hills region, Placerville and Sacramento.