Look, rain isn’t ideal. No one’s waking up thinking, “Hope we get a nice steady drizzle during the vows!” But if the weather turns on you, your whole day doesn’t have to fall apart. In fact, some of the best wedding photos and moments I’ve ever seen happened in the middle of a full-on downpour.
Here’s how to plan for rain without spiraling.
1. Build a Weather Plan into Your Timeline
Don’t wait until the day-of to panic. Talk with your photographer and planner (if you have one) about what you’ll do if it rains. That might mean starting portraits earlier or having a nearby backup spot ready.
Buffer time is key. If you’re doing outdoor photos and a storm rolls through, having 15–20 minutes of flex time gives you options instead of having to cut stuff completely.
2. Get a Set of Clear Umbrellas — Seriously
You can grab a few on Amazon or even borrow them from your photographer. They’re cheap, classic, and photograph beautifully. Skip the big red golf umbrella unless you want to look like you’re teeing off during your ceremony.
Bring one for each of you, maybe a few extras for your wedding party. Keep them in the trunk just in case. Even if it doesn’t pour, you’ll be glad to have the option.
3. Pick a Venue With Covered Options Nearby
If you’re still in the planning stage, choose a venue with at least one solid covered space — a porch, gazebo, tented area, or even a spot inside that has good light. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just dry and usable.
Getting ready in a hotel downtown? Check if there’s a parking garage with open sides or a lobby with natural light. Backyard wedding? Pop-up tent, neighbor’s porch, or even inside the house can work.
4. Trust Your Vendors (and Chill a Little)
You hired professionals. We’ve done this before. Rain doesn’t scare us.
Photographers can adapt to weather faster than you’d think — we’ll shift to covered spots, find good lighting, and pivot the plan without making it a big deal. Let go of trying to control the sky and focus on what’s actually happening: you’re getting married. That’s the whole point.
5. Embrace the Mood
Rain changes the energy. In a good way.
The light gets softer. The colors get deeper. People huddle under tents or porches, wrapped in blankets, crying and laughing and dancing barefoot in the grass. I’ve seen couples kiss under umbrellas with thunder rolling in the background like a movie soundtrack. It’s not what they planned. But it feels like something they’ll remember forever.
6. Bring Extra Towels, Shoes, and Maybe a Hair Touch-Up Plan
This is the practical stuff no one tells you. If it’s gonna be wet:
- Have a pair of backup shoes (even if they’re just slides)
- Bring a towel to dry off chairs or yourself
- If you’re worried about hair, have your stylist stay a little later or pack a mini kit with pins and spray
7. Bonus: Rain Photos Look Cool as Hell
We’re talking cozy umbrella kisses. Reflections on pavement. Moody skies instead of washed-out noon sun. If you’re into that cinematic, real-life-feels-like-a-film energy — rain is a win.
Final Word: Weather Isn’t the Main Character. You Are.
Rain doesn’t ruin your wedding unless you let it. Plan for it. Don’t obsess over it. Roll with the chaos a little, and the day will still be everything you hoped for — just with better lighting and a few epic umbrella shots.
