Rainy Wedding Day... How to Deal
With all the rainy weather we’ve been having lately, we wanted to dive into ways to handle a rainy wedding day. Since we are in Ohio, many of you know that rain can come out of nowhere before a big event. The key to handling this is to simply prepare for the worst, hope for the best, but enjoy it no matter what happens. Since we have experience with working rainy weddings days both as a photographer and a day of coordinator continually, we wanted to share our advice. OKOTA has a few ways on how you can deal with a rainy wedding day so that your wedding isn’t ruined no matter what Mother Nature has in store!
MONTHS BEFORE
One way to avoid a bad rainstorm is to consider planning your wedding in a less rainy season, such as fall or winter. Although you cannot guarantee the weather, it is less likely to occur during those seasons. As you’re choosing your venue, ask them if they have a backup set or location in case inclement weather arises. If this is not an option for them or you want to keep the ceremony outdoors, it’s always a good idea to look into renting just to be safe. You may be able to get through the outdoor ceremony in a light drizzle, but a downpour calls for different action! Keep in mind how water can make things messy with mud, so consider flooring and heaters to keep everyone clean and comfortable.
OKOTA always recommends that you choose vendors who are confident with weather unpredictability and have experience with it since they will know what to do if a rainy situation does occur. This way, you know everything will be covered (no pun intended) in case a storm or casual shower comes along.
DAYS BEFORE
First things first, OKOTA always reminds brides to not worry about the forecast so much. Especially since Cincinnati weather can change by the minute, you can’t control it! The best thing you can do is prepare just in case! We recommend having clear umbrellas, waterproof makeup, rain boots (trust us it can be cute), and staying in contact with your photographer. OKOTA always has a backup plan regarding rain, such as rain proofing items for equipment, indoor locations or outdoor covered locations, and creative solutions to help things run smoothly.
Another thing to keep in mind while keeping an eye on the weather is to keep your guests and wedding party informed too. If you let everyone know there might be a shower or rain, they can come better equipped to prepare for it. Whether it’s with a change of ceremony location at the venue or coming with their own umbrellas, they will be more prepared and enjoy your wedding as much as you will!
DAY OF
If it does rain, don’t let it put a damper on your day! Be positive, you’ve done everything you can to prepare for it, so now you can just roll with the punches. Although you may not think of it, a rainy wedding day is a unique experience and your photographer can get some cool photos that would otherwise be impossible without rain.
Many cultures believe that rain on a wedding day means good luck! For example, in Hindu tradition, rain foretells a strong marriage, with the belief being a wet knot is more difficult to untie than a dry one, indicating a long and happy marriage. In general, rain itself has many connotations such as cleansing, a washing away of dirt, and a clean slate to start anew.