In Our Experience: Navigating A Rainy Wedding Day
Rain only enhanced the beauty of Canandaigua Lake, with the plants looking especially lush at The Lake House after a steady downpour on Aly and Seth’s day.
As you plan your wedding day, you probably envision a vibrant day filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. But what happens when Mother Nature decides to throw a curveball and delivers rain instead? While it might not have been part of your dream wedding scenario, a rainy day can still be beautiful and memorable with a little bit of preparation and the right mindset. Here are some tips for navigating the rain and making the most of your day! If you’re getting married in the Finger Lakes, be sure to read more about our wedding offerings to see if it’s the perfect fit.
1. Have a Backup Plan: Whether it's renting a tent, securing a venue with an indoor space, or arranging for umbrellas for you and your guests, having a plan B will give you peace of mind and ensure that your day can proceed smoothly regardless of the weather. Before you run out and buy a set of umbrellas, consult your planner, photographer, or venue- some come to each wedding prepared with a set (Hi! It’s us!) of enough umbrellas to cover at least your wedding party. When creating your backup plan, be sure to account for what happens with details like florals and signage, which may not be able to be installed the same indoor as out. If you do need to switch to an indoor ceremony at the spur of the moment, consult your vendor team for assistance. Your photographer would likely suggest any option that results in good light, especially on you, and may need time to adjust equipment, so it’s imperative to make them part of that conversation with any planner or venue coordinator. If you’re still searching for vendors, read the questions we suggest asking wedding photographers here!
It rained Shannon and Zach’s entire wedding day. Luckily, the plan A for their ceremony was indoors, and we were able to do all of their photos inside instead of outside as originally planned. Cheers to The Arbor Loft in downtown Rochester for their awesome space!
2. Embrace the Rain: There's something undeniably romantic about a rainy wedding day. If you simply can’t imagine abandoning your outdoor ceremony plans, embrace the weather and stick with your plan A! This obviously only works if you have guests who are willing to sit/stand in the rain for you, but in our experience, a little drizzle doesn’t bother anyone. We’ve even seen guests cheerfully gather in the pouring rain to witness their loved ones exchanging vows, as well as boogie in the muddy lawn when the dancefloor, flooded by overnight rains in a meticulously set-up tent, was rendered useless. If you think you’ll go this route, be sure to consider anyone who may NOT be able to be out in the rain - like some floral arrangements, musicians, DJ equipment, etc. Chatting with those vendors can help you determine the best course of action. Perhaps you can keep a pop-up canopy nearby in case of rain or have a DJ or musician perform from a gazebo or under an awning, or maybe your floral installment can be designed indoors and carried outside so it only sustains a few minutes of rain. Before the next tip, here are a few favorite photos we have from couples who have embraced the rain.
Jess and Zach were another couple who experienced an entire day of rain, start to finish, for their wedding. They embraced it fully by having their ceremony in the original spot, with guests happily holding umbrellas and leaning into the rainy day experience. We did all of their couple’s portraits in the rain, and we were all absolutely drenched and happy as could be afterward. Timber Trails Forest Farm, in Naples, NY was super accommodating for these rainy day plans!
For family photos, we used a wide overhang to make the most of natural light while keeping family members dry. It wasn’t the spot the couple originally had in mind, but everyone made the best of it!
Nothing stood in the way of dancing to the live band at this wedding! Formal dances took place on the flooded dancefloor, which quickly turned too muddy to be safe, so everyone took to the lawn to continue the party overlooking Skaneateles Lake.
Portraits were completed on the deck, the ceremony was moved under a tent, and as soon as the formalities were over, Beth decided to stop dragging the weight of her muddy dress around. Hannah helped her cut off the train, and several guests even followed suit!
3. Be Flexible: There’s a big difference between a passing shower on your wedding day and a total washout. Using resources like local weather forecasts and radar, you can often get an accurate idea of when there might be a break in the rain. With some flexibility, you can use these dry-sky moments to get outdoor portraits and even have an outdoor ceremony without the rain! Some timelines can even accommodate a slight timing shift, like serving a cocktail to guests before the ceremony while waiting for rain to clear and starting the nuptials a few minutes later than planned.
Guests arrived in a downpour to celebrate Aly and Seth, and mingled indoors while their planner executed a short rain delay plan, allowing them to still have their outdoor ceremony and even make it out for a quick rainy boat excursion on Canandaigua Lake.
4. Accept Help: You might envision treating your guests to a relaxing day where they don’t have a care in the world, resulting in inner turmoil at the thought of asking for assistance. However, many of them WANT to help and will be on the lookout all day for little things you might need! In the case of a rainy forecast, lean into this! Maybe a handful of guests wouldn’t mind wiping down the chairs that just got rained on, moving paper signage under cover, or handing out umbrellas as other guests arrive.
Heavy rain moved across the Canandaigua Lake, and as soon as it cleared, employees, the planning team, and some family members quickly dried off all the seats so the ceremony could take place outdoors.
5. Keep People Comfortable: When you’re planning your wedding experience, comfort for all should be a top priority. From the perspective of a rainy wedding day, that can mean looping guests in on your plans. For instance, if you’re asking guests to embrace a rainy outdoor ceremony, be sure to offer an umbrella or some sort of coverage to everyone by having a point person distribute them or calling attention to where guests may help themselves to one. If it’s really a downpour, give thought to the length of your ceremony and how long you’re asking people to be out in the elements. Consider slippery or muddy surfaces, and address them with your guests in mind. If you suspect guests will get quite muddy, perhaps a method of cleaning feet or shoes could be offered before people get in their cars at the end of the night. Try to imagine the experience from their perspective, and prepare accordingly.
Rain moved through this wedding day several times, but these two went with the flow, ducking out for photos during dry moments and pulling out the umbrellas when needed!
6. Trust Your Vendors: Your wedding vendors are experienced professionals who have likely encountered their fair share of rainy wedding days. The past few summers, it seems like every single summer Saturday has been full of rain! Trust in their expertise and let them guide you through any last-minute adjustments or changes that need to be made due to the weather. Whether it's rearranging seating arrangements, adjusting the timeline, or finding creative solutions to keep your guests comfortable, your vendors are there to ensure that your day runs smoothly, rain or shine.
NOT PICTURED: Us, looking like drowned rats after frolicking around in the rain all day!
While a rainy wedding day might not be what you originally envisioned, it can still be a beautiful and memorable celebration with the right attitude and preparation. Embrace the romance of the rain, get creative with your photos, and focus on the love and joy that surrounds you. By staying positive, trusting your vendors, and keeping an open mind, you can turn a rainy day into a truly magical and unforgettable wedding experience. Think we might be the perfect fit for your wedding day? Send us a message here!