Every Wedding Needs a Rain Plan
The couples who enjoy their wedding day the most aren’t always the ones with perfect weather but they’re the ones who planned ahead so the day can run smoothly no matter what the forecast says.
We care deeply about our couples actually getting to enjoy their wedding day, and we’ve seen time and time again that a thoughtful rain plan — paired with a good attitude — helps keep the day flexible and far less stressful if the weather shifts.
Here’s a ten point guide to planning ahead and staying grounded so you can enjoy your wedding day no matter what the weather decides to do.
1. The Best Rain Plan Starts With the Right Attitude
Before timelines, umbrellas, or backup locations, the most important part of any rain plan is your mindset.
Wedding days rarely go exactly the way they’re imagined and that’s completely normal!! Weather is one of the few things no one can control, no matter how much planning goes into the day.
The couples who enjoy their wedding the most aren’t the ones with perfect conditions but they’re the ones who stay centered in what the day is really about.
At the end of the day, you’re marrying your person and having your favorite people are all in one place. And the celebration is still happening no matter WHAT the weather is.
Keeping this perspective makes it much easier to embrace whatever the day brings, rain included. A good attitude is honestly the best shield against the bad-weather blues. When couples stay relaxed and present, the entire day tends to follow that energy.
Alyssa + her dad smiling ear-to-ear while running to church in a heavy rain shower!
2. A Planner or Day-Of Coordinator Makes Everything Easier
If your wedding includes a major outdoor element, having a planner or coordinator is incredibly helpful.
If and when rain happens, someone needs to be ready to:
Move ceremony, cocktail or reception locations quickly if needed
Communicate changes with vendors
Adjust the timeline on the fly
Keep guests and vendors informed and organized
Without a coordinator, those decisions often fall on family members, other vendors or the couple themselves which is the last thing you want to deal with on your wedding day. For backyard weddings, tented weddings, or DIY venues, a coordinator is honestly one of the best investments you can make.
3. Your Venue Is Usually the Best Rain Plan for Photos
I’ll be real here, if it rains, the easiest and most stress-free option is usually your venue, hotel, or church.
You don’t lose time and energy traveling
Everyone stays dry and comfortable
The timeline stays intact
This is why we always encourage couples to choose a venue they love inside and out. Even if your dream ceremony or cocktail hour is outside, make sure you love the indoor spaces so you won’t be disappointed if it rains on your wedding day.
It’s also important to confirm that the venue allows enough time before the ceremony for portraits indoors if needed.
And listen, we work with plenty of brides who feel their hotel and venue is functional, but not the aesthetic they want for their wedding photos. We completely get that, so see our next point!
Evie + Dom’s fully indoor wedding photos while a Nor’easter storm blew through the area.
4. If aesthetics are everything for you…consider these Rain Plan locations
If a specific aesthetic is important to you, it can be worth securing a backup indoor/covered location for portraits. Many historic estates and museums in the Philadelphia area offer photography permits that can be used if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Some beautiful indoor options include:
Cairnwood Estate (permit required)
A stunning Gilded Age mansion in Bryn Athyn with dramatic staircases, ornate architecture, and beautiful window light for indoor portraits. Professional photo sessions require a reservation and hourly permit. Cairnwood Estate Photography InformationGlencairn Museum (permit required)
A castle-like historic museum with dramatic stone architecture and cathedral-style interiors. Photography permits are typically required for professional portrait sessions.Philadelphia City Hall (under the arches)
The massive stone archways around City Hall provide beautiful architectural framing and covered areas, making it a great option if rain rolls in while you’re downtown.Headhouse Square
One of Philadelphia’s oldest public markets with cobblestone streets, brick architecture, and covered areas nearby. It’s a great urban portrait spot—just check the event calendar beforehand since markets and festivals often happen there. Website: https://www.theheadhousesquare.com/Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle (permit required)
These historic Bucks County landmarks offer incredibly unique architecture and dramatic interiors. Photography permits are required for professional shoots and can be arranged in advance. Photography Permits at Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle
Additionally, we have seen some brides pull off some fantastic rain back up plans over the years, like securing a local bar with the promise of buying a round of drinks, or using personal ties to get them into indoor spaces.
5. Build Extra Travel Time if You Plan an Off-Site Photo Location
If you plan portraits somewhere other than your venue, weather can complicate things fast.
Rain means:
slower traffic
loading umbrellas and rain gear
moving people in and out of vehicles
If you’re doing off-site photos, padding the timeline a little bit makes everything smoother if weather becomes a factor. This is another place where planners and photographers usually work together to keep things organized!
Ana rolling up to the church in sneakers and covered with umbrellas and a giant plastic bag. She was laughing up the whole time!
6. Logistically, a First Look Gives the Timeline Breathing Room
One of the biggest advantages of doing a first look is flexibility.
When couples see each other before the ceremony, we’re able to complete most of the important portraits earlier in the day. That means if weather becomes an issue, we can:
move photos earlier or later
wait out a passing storm
Find a covered location without rushing
Use inside the venue without conflicting with the staff & guests moving about during cocktail hour
Objectively, a first look creates breathing room and flexibility in the timeline, which makes the entire day feel calmer ESPECIALLY if it rains. When we have a first look, we can usually move things up or down in the timeline to work around weather.
7. Clear Umbrellas Are Worth Having on Hand
Rain doesn’t always mean you have to stay completely inside. Some of the most fun photos happen in light rain with umbrellas!
Clear umbrellas work best because:
they let light through
they don’t block faces
they look clean and timeless in photos
It’s a small detail, but having clear umbrellas ready means you still have options even if the weather isn’t perfect. Pro-tip: they’re cheap on Amazon and you can return them if they don’t get used. If they do get used, you could sell them on a local bride group or Facebook Marketplace.
…and listen. You don’t need our permission to toss the umbrellas aside and fully embrace the rain ;)
Olivia + Greg smiling through a random mid-ceremony rain shower!
8. Weather Apps Change… A Lot
Couples sometimes panic because the forecast says rain 10 days out. The reality is forecasts shift constantly.
We’ve seen weddings that showed 80% rain all week and ended up completely sunny, and others that showed clear skies until the morning of.
The best approach is:
make a solid rain plan
trust your vendor team
stay flexible
Once a plan exists, the weather stops feeling so stressful.
9. A Few Simple Items Can Make Rain Much More Comfortable
If rain is in the forecast, a “rain kit” can go a long way in helping you stay comfortable in those transition moments when you need to walk outside.
A few helpful things to bring:
Umbrellas
Outside of the cute clear umbrellas you’ll want for outdoor photos, you’ll want large functional umbrellas to help keep yourselves dry in between locations.Change of shoes
Having a pair of flats, boots, or sandals to walk between locations can be incredibly helpful when it’s muddy and wet. You can always change back into your wedding shoes for your more formal moments.Ponchos or garment protection
Lightweight ponchos or plastic garment covers can help protect dresses and suits while moving between buildings or vehicles on those torentially rainy days.Hair and makeup touch-up kit
A small kit with blotting papers, powder, lipstick, bobby pins, flat iton and hairspray can quickly fix any rain-related touch ups.Extra towels or paper towels
Simple but useful for drying hands, bouquets, or the bottom of a dress if things get a little wet.
Being prepared makes a big difference in helping everyone stay comfortable and keep the day moving smoothly.
LoveStruck’s Inbox Queen, Natale, owned the rain on her wedding day. The girls looked so cute with their umbrellas, and honestly, we really dig the skies and lighting they had that day!
10. Rain Doesn’t Ruin Photos but Mindset Matters
Rain doesn’t automatically make photos better or worse. But when couples stay relaxed and open to the moment, rainy wedding days can create some really beautiful and memorable images.
Rain often brings:
softer natural light
cozy indoor moments with the people closest to you
dramatic skies once the storm passes
a slower, more intimate energy to the day
The biggest difference usually isn’t the weather, it’s the attitude! When couples stay flexible and embrace whatever the day brings, the photos naturally reflect that energy.
Some of our favorite wedding moments have happened on days where couples simply shrugged and said: "Well… it’s raining. Let’s enjoy the day anyway." And that mindset almost always leads to photos that feel genuine, joyful, and completely true to the day.
After an entire day of pouring rain, Joe + Taylor decided to step outside at the end of the night for some photos in the rain!
Truthfully, EVERYONE needs a rain plan and it’s something you should think about ahead of time. A rain plans give you the freedom to enjoy your wedding day no matter what the weather decides to do and thinking about it ahead of time prepares you so you aren’t in a crunch trying to figure something out the week of your wedding.
When the logistics are thought through ahead of time, you’re able to stay present, trust your team, and focus on what actually matters which is celebrating with the people you love.
And whether the day brings sunshine, clouds, or a little rain, the moments that matter most will still be there.
