OMG! The Forecast Calls for Rain on My Wedding Day! What Should I Do?
How a smart bride prepares for the possibility of rain on her wedding day! © Dan Wagner 2023
Here are some creative ways of making the best of a forecast for rain on your wedding day. Even though it’s said that rain is a sign of luck on your wedding day, most brides would trade this potential added luck for sunshine. As a Long Island wedding photographer, I agree with them. The good thing is that it seldom rains all day long. So at worst, a little rain is usually just an inconvenience. Even so, it’s a good idea to be prepared for any weather contingency. This includes having alternate driving routes to avoid roads that usually flood.
Living in Huntington, New York, I know the best flood-free routes from my home to the major turnpikes and highways. Kudos to the bride and her bridesmaids in the photo above for buying beautiful white umbrellas. Even though it' wasn’t raining, the umbrellas made for a pretty photo and are also useful to escape the sun on hot summer days.
What’s the average number of rainy days per month on Long Island?
According to Weather US, the average number of rainy days per month are:
April 9.8, May 9.0, June 9.3, July 9.9, August 9.3, September 6.6, and October 6.3
Remember, this doesn’t mean it will rain all day. These numbers include days where it might only rain at night. I chose the months above because they’re the most popular wedding times.
7 Tips for dealing with rain on your wedding day
Bring pretty umbrellas (clear and white work best) for your wedding party and family members
Pack extra towels and a plastic painter’s drop cloth to protect your wedding gown
See if your wedding venue has any outdoor photography areas that are shielded from rain such as a covered patio or balcony
Local planting gardens and arboretums may have greenhouses available for photography
Some wedding venues have ballrooms with skylights and floor to ceiling windows that are great for taking photos
Wedding pashminas / shawls are great for those cooler rainy days, and will make posing for photos more comfortable
Ask your florist to make an extra bouquet and boutonniere so your photographer can shoot some photos of you and your spouse on the first available sunny day after your honeymoon
The last tip is one of may favorites. Any bride and groom that hires me to photograph their wedding will receive two free hours of local photography if it rains on their wedding day. That’s because every bride and groom deserve great wedding photography!
Stay tuned for more wedding photography tips and advice!
“My friend recommended Dan to my husband and I, and we could not have been happier. Dan is calm, cool, and professional. I have a large Italian Family, and my husband has a large Irish Family. Dan was able to gather all of us for pictures, followed lists we had previously prepared, and did not miss one minute of our special day.”
—Christine and William
Every Bride and Groom Deserve Beautiful Wedding Photos!
Please feel free to share your thoughts on what to do if it rains on your Long Island wedding day in the comment box below. And thanks for visiting my Long Island wedding photographer blog!