What if it rains on the wedding day?

​One of the hardest parts of photographing couples on their wedding day is if one or both of them gets stressed out. 

Stress is an unfortunate part of the wedding day. It's why wedding planners are so awesome!

When you're hosting a small wedding or elopement, a planner may not be in the cards and it's likely you're getting a lot of hands-on help from family and friends. It's wonderful to see family helping you create a beautiful wedding but that alone can cause tension. 

​Things don't go to plan... rain happens, someone forgot the mimosas, a vendor is running late and did I mention rain?

Most of my clients envision an outdoor wedding in the mountains. Rain is most common here in the spring (March-May) and then it's unpredictable the rest of the year.

So what's the plan?

1. When to check the weather: The weather changes like CRAZY here in the mountains. If possible, wait until 24-48 hours out to make the call. 
 
2. It may only sprinkle or you can't wait any longer to decide: You have the decision of what's more important - peace of mind or being outdoors?
Some couples like to wing it and don't mind a little rain. Some couples can't be bothered with not-knowing. No right or wrong answer here, imagine yourself in each situation and choose the one that makes me you feel most at ease.

3. It's gonna rain: Are you going to let rain ruin this special day? Hell nah!
-Reschedule. Some weddings are small enough that it's possible to reschedule the whole thing to the day before or after. It's uncommon but I've had 2 couples go for this option in the past 2 years and I was able to work with the schedule change. You never know!
-Umbrellas. Maybe the rain is coming but it's not a downpour. Maybe you'll be outside on a patio/not a spot that'll get muddy... Worth investing in cute clear umbrellas for all your guests? ​You can buy cheap throwaways or higher quality umbrellas and consider them a favor to guests!
-Indoor venue. Can you move the whole thing indoors at the B&B you're staying at? At a local hotel? Air BnB? Friend's house? Studio space?

These options depend on your budget and number of guests so think it over ahead of time to save yourself stress during the week before the big day!