How to Prepare for a Rainy Wedding Day in Boston (Just in Case)
Okay, as a Boston wedding photographer who’s super Type A… I say this lovingly: you can always have a backup plan in case of a rainy wedding day without stressing yourself out about the weather forecast three months in advance. And this blog post? It’s going to show you exactly how to strike that balance.
Rain on your wedding day, honestly, can be really gorgeous if you know how to work with it. So here’s exactly what I tell my couples to do ahead of time, from choosing a solid rain plan to protecting your timeline, your guests, and yes, your wedding photos. These tips will save you a LOT of stress if you wake up to a cloudy morning and a 90% chance of precipitation in Boston on your big day.
How a Rainy Wedding Day Can Actually Be So Incredible
I know that almost no one wants it to rain on their wedding day, but as I said above, rainy weddings can truly be so dreamy. Rain shots, a carefree feeling, a little chill, and something unique to your day? I love it every single time.
At the end of the day, the most important part of your wedding is marrying the love of your life, not what the weather is doing. Your focus should be on staying present in your day and really soaking up the memories that you’re living in, not anything else. And a good plan? That’s how that can come to life. You can browse some of the real wedding days I’ve photographed around Boston and New England here.
Steps to Take to Prepare for a Rainy Wedding Day
If you’re reading this a few months before your wedding just to have a backup plan, welcome (check out my wedding planning checklist while you’re here)!
If you’re here because it’s the week of your wedding and the weather app is showing a 60% chance of rain on your wedding day, first things first, take a deep breath.
Here are some steps to follow to prepare for a rainy wedding day, no matter what stage of wedding planning you’re in:
Book a Venue With a Solid Rain Plan
Still in the stage of venue hunting? I’ll pretty much always recommend choosing a venue that has a built-in rain plan, whether it’s an indoor ceremony space or a tent that they can set up easily. Some of my favorite wedding venues near Boston that rainy weddings go really smoothly at are:
Willowdale Estate, which you can see my whole planning guide for
Build Buffer Time Into Your Rainy Wedding Day Timeline
Since rain can mess with a little bit of the flow, I like building a little breathing room into rainy-day timelines. If moving indoors takes an extra few minutes, or we’re waiting for a shower to pass before portraits, nobody should feel like the whole day is suddenly behind.
Choose the Best Time of Year to Avoid Rain on Your Wedding Day
If you’re really worried about rain on your wedding day, you can always choose the season or month that gets the least average rainfall, but know that Boston weather definitely throws some curveballs sometimes, so this isn’t foolproof by any means.
September is typically the driest month in Boston, so if you’re dreaming of an early fall wedding and crossing all your fingers and toes for no rain… I love that for you. While certain months may historically see less rain than others, Boston weather is unpredictable enough that I’d never choose a wedding date based on rainfall averages alone, though.
See my full guide to the best time of year to get married in Boston, including tons of weather considerations just like this!
Book a Tent if Your Venue is All-Outdoor
For my couples who have already booked a venue and it happens to be fully outdoor, don’t fret; you have options! I always recommend renting a tent to have on hand in case of a rainy wedding day, even if you don’t use it. This means that if you wake up and it’s pouring, you can get it set up super easily to avoid everyone getting wet. And if you wake up and it’s totally sunny, no clouds in the sky, you at least had some peace of mind leading up to your wedding day! And I’ll be the first to say that that’s SO worth it.
Ask your venue early what their rain setup requires. If a tent is part of the backup plan, confirm when it has to be reserved, when the final decision needs to be made, and what’s included. If you need to outsource a tent, check all these boxes with your venue and with the rental company.
Set Out Umbrellas For Guests
Clear umbrellas? Functional and cute. Plus, anything that improves your guests’ experience makes your wedding feel more elevated! Your people knowing that you thought about them makes them feel so nice and makes them settle into the day a little more.
Be Sure to Have Waterproof Makeup (And a Water-Resistant Hairstyle)
Your hair and makeup artists are some of the unsung heroes of your wedding, ESPECIALLY when it comes to rainy wedding days.
A good makeup artist will know the perfect products to use to keep your look set, even if you get wet taking pictures or moving between spaces. The same goes for hair; there are some hairstyles and products that will hold up better against water and humidity, and a good hair stylist will have you set!
Emergency Wedding Kit Essentials for Bad Weather
Okay, if you’re one of my couples in the midst of getting last-minute things together for their wedding, like a day-of emergency kit, here’s what I always recommend throwing in there in case of rain:
Umbrellas, of course
Blotting papers
Hairspray
Towels in case you need to dry anything
A Tide Pen in case of any stains on your dress
Extra shoes (because you don’t want to sink into the ground in your designer heels… Trust me)
Trust Your Vendors
My final tip for preparing for a rainy wedding day is to trust your vendors. Remember, you booked your whole team so that your vision for your day could be carried out smoothly and effortlessly! Let them do what they know to be best.
From a Boston wedding photographer who’s documented more rainy wedding days than I can count, I know that when my couples accept rain, embrace it, and follow my (gentle) guidance, they end up having a day and photos that they’re absolutely in love with. My job? I’m looking at light, covered portrait locations, breaks in the weather, your timeline, and how much you actually want to be outside. You do not need to be checking radar while someone is pinning your veil in. That’s what your vendor team is there for.
I’ll guide you when we need a plan, and I’ll back off when it’s time for you to just enjoy the day.
If you’re still looking for a photographer who you can trust to capture your day, rainy or not, see my wedding services.
When Should You Decide to Use Your Rain Plan?
This is something I’d talk through with your venue and planner before wedding week. Every venue handles the timing differently, but having a decision deadline means you aren’t waking up the morning of your wedding refreshing three weather apps and trying to coordinate vendors yourself. Please let your vendor team do that part for you!
Wedding Photo Ideas for a Rainy Day
Now, let’s get into the fun stuff: wedding photos.
Don’t think that rain is going to ruin your gallery, because sometimes… It makes it even more fun to take pictures. Promise. One thing I’ve learned from photographing plenty of rainy wedding days is that we don’t necessarily have to make one big ‘indoors or outdoors’ decision for photos. If we get a ten-minute break in the rain? You better believe I’m grabbing you two and getting outside. Then we can head right back in and keep enjoying the day.
Portraits on a rainy wedding day totally depend on how you feel about the rain. If you want to get out in the rain for some creative, cinematic shots, know that I’m always open to that.
If you’d prefer to stay inside when it is rainy, that’s totally fine too. I’m no stranger to indoor lighting, architecture, and gentle posing guidance!
When it’s rainy, I love to capture things like:
Portraits through a clear-umbrella
Dancing in the rain
Cozy, snuggled-up indoor shots
Wedding party and family photos inside
Depending on permissions, timing, and your venue location, we can also look at nearby covered or indoor portrait options ahead of time. That’s something I’m happy to help scout before your wedding so we aren’t improvising under pressure!
Real Rainy Wedding Days I’ve Captured That Were Beautiful + SO Fun
These rainy weddings that I’ve captured are the perfect examples of how stunning rain on your wedding can truly be. When my couples have a good backup plan for rainy weather and embrace that their main priority for the day is enjoying every single moment with their new spouse… Things settle. Even if the initial reaction isn’t great.
Sarah and Conor embraced the day so perfectly and were so happy the entire time. They had the most emotional first look under the covered porch, and it’s one I’ll never forget! Ali and Ron’s indoor ceremony was absolutely stunning, and it went so smoothly that it didn’t even feel like a plan B. Margo and Jake took their portraits and wedding party photos in a nearby train station, and they turned out looking like something right off a Pinterest board.
All that being said, know that your day can still be gorgeous, full of love, and completely you, even if it’s rainy.
Ashley Olafsson | Boston Wedding Photographer
So, whether you’re in the early stages of planning or just having an “Oh shoot, what do we do if it rains??” moment, know that having a Boston wedding photographer who knows how to work with and around rain can be a huge part of how you experience your day!
You can inquire about booking me right here.
Xoxo,
Ashley
