Rain on Your Wedding Day? How to Make the Most of It
If you’re getting married in Washington, there’s a good chance you’ve already considered the possibility of rain. As a wedding photographer who's worked through more damp days than I can count, I can honestly say that some of the most meaningful and visually interesting moments have happened under gray skies. Rain on your wedding day doesn’t have to feel like a setback—it can actually add depth, connection, and a different kind of beauty that sunny days can’t offer.
I’ve seen couples who fully embraced the forecast, ditching umbrellas and dancing barefoot in puddles, and others who found quiet moments under cover, wrapped in each other’s arms as the rain fell softly around them. Both kinds of days are beautiful—not because they’re perfect, but because they’re real.
Let the Weather Be Part of the Story
There’s no need to fight the rain or let it derail your plans. Some of my favorite photos come from the way couples lean into what the day gives them. Rain adds mood, movement, and often, a sense of intimacy. It naturally brings people closer together—literally and emotionally—and that closeness photographs well.
Instead of seeing rain as a problem, think of it as part of your story. Whether it’s your guests laughing under shared umbrellas or the way the water catches light in your hair, these aren’t interruptions—they’re details. They help tell the truth of your day, and that's what photography is meant to do.
Be Ready, Not Rattled
A little preparation can go a long way. I always carry clear umbrellas in my car and recommend that my couples have a few on hand just in case. They keep you dry without blocking light or faces. I also scout covered areas at your venue ahead of time—porches, overhangs, tree cover—so we have options. And honestly, most couples are surprised by how comfortable and fun it actually is once we’re in the moment.
If your venue has both indoor and outdoor spots, we’ll take advantage of the shifting light and textures. And if the rain really starts coming down hard, we adapt. We find a dry patch, wait it out, or shoot through the windows. There’s always a way.
Your People Will Follow Your Lead
One thing I’ve learned: your guests take their emotional cues from you. If you’re relaxed and enjoying yourself, they will be too. I’ve seen entire wedding parties walk through muddy grass with huge grins on their faces just because the couple was having fun. When you roll with it, everyone else does too.
That mindset makes a difference in the photos. Real laughter, spontaneous hugs, friends crowding in under one umbrella—these aren’t things you can plan. They just happen when you let the day unfold as it is.
Some Days, You Just Get Lucky
Here’s the funny thing: rain often comes and goes in waves here in Washington. Some of the most dramatic skies and softest light show up right after a shower. You might have a wet ceremony and then a glowing, dry golden hour. I’ve had entire timelines turn around with a 15-minute break in the rain, and we jump at the chance to run outside and capture something completely unexpected.
These are the moments that can’t be staged. And they often end up being the ones couples remember the most, not because everything went perfectly, but because they made the most of what was real.
Rain on Your Wedding Day Can Still Be Perfectly You
Rain on your wedding day doesn’t mean your photos—or your memories—will be any less meaningful. In fact, they often turn out to be even more honest and emotional. The weather might shift your plans, but it won’t take away from what the day is really about: the two of you, surrounded by people who love you, starting something big together.
As a Washington wedding photographer, I’ve learned to embrace whatever weather shows up. Rain just adds another layer to the story. And honestly? Some of the most genuine, joy-filled images I’ve ever delivered came from soggy shoes, damp hair, and couples who leaned into it all anyway.
So if the forecast calls for rain, let it. You’ll still get married. You’ll still laugh and cry and hug everyone you love. And you’ll still walk away with photos that feel like you. Rain on your wedding day might just be the part you never expected to love most.
KIND WORDS
“Sam and Sola are incredible! They were, by far, the best vendors at our wedding. However, we don’t like to think of them as vendors because we feel like they are now our friends. Our experience with them was completely personalized and our photos turned out so beautiful they brought us to tears.”