And what if it rains?

Wedding planning can be quite exhausting. You plan the flowers, the decoration, you buy the most beautiful dress and you invite all your friends. And then there is one thing that nobody can plan: The Weather. Even when we photographed a wedding in the South of Spain we were forced with the danger of an upcoming tornado rolling by. But getting married in the North of Europe will influence your choice of location even more than in the South. We cannot plan the summer and we have rain and wind during all seasons. A rainy wedding day is not only the biggest freight for a bride it also is for a wedding photographer. At least that is what I hear all the time. Rain is not a big problem when you have a plan B planned for the reception and the dinner but where will you take your picturesß How to be sure to have great wedding pictures even if it rains? Well booking a good wedding photographer is for sure the first most important step you should have taken. For all wedding photographers out there whose biggest fear is a rainy wedding day here are my three tips for great images.

[list style=“style2″] [li]Educate your client[/li]

Contact your bride a week before the wedding and talk to her about the weather forecast. Tell her that it won’t be likely that you can take all images outside and that you might have to be spontaneous during the wedding day to find the time gap where it doesn’t rain. Also, listen to her carefully if she is freaking out herself. After all, this is her big day. Try to listen between the lines if she would be willing to take the chance to take some images if the rain is just a drizzle or if she is too afraid to ruin her dress. Never, never force or convince her to take images in the rain when you have the feeling she doesn’t like it. There are very brave brides who love to take some adventurous images with rain and wind. Not every bride is that open for adventure though and that is ok too.  But you want a happy bride who loves her images and who is happy after you took the images and doesn’t complain about her ruined her or stains on her dress. Safety first![li]Plan ahead and search for a plan B[/li]

Search for a location that offers the possibility to have a roof, an arch or even just a door for you to take images without your clients getting wet. Make sure you do this work before the wedding day, ask your client if you don’t know the location. But make sure you are prepared to be calm and ready for each weather situation instead of improvisation and stress during the day.

[li]Be prepared and bring umbrellas[/li]

You are the expert so you should tell your client to bring umbrellas or even better: bring them yourself. Just make sure: they are not colored, black or have textures on it. A white or transparent umbrella is the best to avoid ugly color shadows in the face of your clients.

[/list]

If you need any more inspiration for a rainy wedding day check out my „Rainy Day“ guide with many tips, tricks, and ideas on how to take the most beautiful wedding pictures on a rainy wedding day.