Expect the unexpected on your wedding day. Especially when it comes to the weather. Recently I photographed Emma and Jamar’s wedding at the groom’s childhood home, and it poured rain! Everything was outside, so we had to make some adjustments in their timeline, which got me thinking about how well we were able to save the day as vendors while working with the couple. Read on to find out what to do if it rains on your wedding day.
How to Build a Rain Plan
First, if you’re spending any part of your wedding day outdoors, you must have a Plan B for rain or other inclement weather. This applies to any season!
How do you build a rain plan? You need to coordinate a Plan B with your venue first, and then with any vendors you’ve contracted. Many venues already have a rain plan in place. If this is the case for your venue, make sure you ask your day-of coordinator to share those plans with you.
For these two, the wedding was in the backyard! So they got a waterproof tent over the space, and it actually looked amazing.
Build Plans You Love
On another note, you’ve gotta love your rain plans just as much as the “good weather” plan. Every couple has an expectation for how their day will look, and it’s disappointing if things don’t go exactly as envisioned. But if your plan includes a lovely alternate space, you’ll be just as excited for the swap. Build a separate floor plan, use the décor in a fun way, and express yourself just like you would with your plan A.
Allow Wiggle Room in Your Timeline
Couples keep a tight schedule the day of their wedding, because, like I mentioned, they want their day done right, but pro tip: you should ALWAYS plan for wiggle room in your event timeline for hiccups or accidents. In the case of an outdoor venue, having this wiggle room is a must! 15-30 minutes makes a big difference in case weather adjustments need to be made.
Experienced Vendors are Key
In a situation like this, having experienced vendors is key. We’ve seen so many weddings (and we know our stuff so well) that we can pivot on the fly. In fact, as a Baltimore wedding photographer, I can use the weather to my advantage to create incredible photos! If you see those storm clouds rolling in, send a heads up to your vendors. We’ll take care of the rest.
Hopefully you can use these big lessons for what to do if it rains on your wedding day! If you need an expert Baltimore wedding photographer at your side, I’m happy to help out! Let’s talk about your wedding day plans—and your backup plans—so you’re sure to get the photos you’ve dreamed of! Drop me a line here.
