Advice for a Spring Wedding: Embrace the Rain

January 14, 2025

A bride throws her umbrella before the first kiss at a Spring wedding captured by Tags Photography at Meadows at Mossy Creek

Embrace the Rain: How Leaning Into the Weather on Your Spring Wedding Day Can Lead to More Heartfelt Imagery

Listen…as an Atlanta based photographer I know that Georgia’s weather – especially in the Spring – is always a hit or a miss. I also know the appeal of a Spring wedding: the vibrant florals, the punchy green grass, the calm before the Summer heat. Every detail is meticulously planned. You are envisioning exactly what your wedding photos will look like. Then…Mother Nature happens.

But here’s the ting: leaning into the rain on your wedding day, rather than trying to fight it, can actually bring unexpected beauty, reduce stress, and result in some of the most genuine, heartfelt images you’ll cherish forever.

A rainy Spring wedding ceremony captured by Tags Photography at Meadows at Mossy Creek

How to Prepare Ahead of Time for Rain on Your Wedding Day

Obviously we don’t really ever know when it is going to rain and picking your Spring wedding date feels like a coin toss. Here’s my best advice on how to prepare ahead of time:

Picking the right venue: When venue shopping for your Spring wedding, think worst case scenario. You may fall in love with the outdoor ceremony spaces that they have to offer but are you in love with the back-up option as well? Meadows at Mossy Creek in Cleveland, GA is the perfect example for a venue that has a multitude of options for your ceremony. The couple featured in this post, Catherine and Keith, knew that they wanted an outdoor ceremony no matter what. While I may have come in clutch with enough clear umbrellas for the entire wedding party, the venue was able to set-up the chairs for all of their wedding guests under the pavilion that faced the ceremony area. While the wedding party endured getting a little wet, Catherine and Keith’s guests were safely tucked under cover with a gorgeous view.

Speaking of umbrellas: Although you could get lucky with an over-prepared photographer like me, it’s always smart to think about how many clear umbrellas you would need. If you are set on an outdoor ceremony but don’t have a pavilion like Catherine and Keith’s guests did, you can always bite the bullet and get enough clear umbrellas for all of your guests. You can snag them in bulk on Amazon.
Go Ahead and Rent the Tent: If you booked a venue that doesn’t have a good back-up option, it may be worth talking about getting a tent. Some tent rental companies let you put down a deposit on a tent so that you don’t have to pay full price when your wedding week comes and the weather report is calling for clear skies. It’s on the more expensive side of back-up plans, but it is an option.
Prepare HMUA and Dress Back-Ups: Think about how your hair reacts to the rain. If you’re anything like me, the rain causes either drowned-rat vibes or a frizzy mess. Consider a slicked-back updo as a worst-case scenario that’s still chic. With the dress, we got extremely lucky because Meadows at Mossy Creek has turf in their ceremony area instead of real grass so…no mud. However, most venues will leave you with a muddy, wet train. Consider switching into a different dress for the reception so that you feel fresh and ready to keep the party rolling.
Create a More Documentary-esque Timeline: When you build a rigid timeline for your wedding day – down to the minute – you are setting yourself up for a more stressful day. When you have a more general idea of the events that will take place before and after the ceremony, and lean more into the vibes and emotion of the day, you are going to have more authentic photos taken throughout the day. For example, it had been raining off an on all day leading up to the ceremony for Catherine and Keith. It wasn’t until dinner that I saw the skies clear and a rainbow pop up. They leaned into it and we ran away from dinner to grab the most beautiful, authentic couple portraits.

A Spring wedding at Meadows at Mossy Creek captured by Tags Photography

Here’s What Happens When You Lean Into the Rain

When you accept the rain, you remove the stress of trying to control the uncontrollable. Instead of worrying about keeping everything perfect (the dress dry, the venue spotless, the hair intact), you let go and focus on what matters most – each other. That focus on connection leads to more authentic moments and less pressure to perform for the camera.

In fact, embracing the rain may lead to more relaxed and genuine interactions. You’ll likely find yourself laughing and enjoying the moment with your partner rather than stressing about the details. This carefree energy can make for the most beautiful photographs. Honestly, rainy days can be a photographer’s dream. The lighting is often softer, the colors around you seem more saturated, and the rain itself creates an emotional mood that gives your photos a sense of intimacy and drama that’s hard to replicate in dry conditions.

In the end, the weather is just one piece of the puzzle that is your wedding day. What truly matters are the moments you create with your partner, the love you share, and the way you face life’s little (and big) surprises together. So lean into the rain but also make sure you are prepared so that you can truly have a stress-free day. The rain may just give you the gift of the most intimate, genuine, and stunning wedding memories you could ask for. After all, there’s no better way to start a lifelong journey than to weather it all together (too on the nose?).

If you’re looking for a wedding photographer that helps you embrace the planned and unplanned moments, I’d love to chat! You can find my wedding price guide here and set-up a consultation call with me here. Now enjoy some more moments from Catherine and Keith’s stunning Spring wedding at the Meadows at Mossy Creek.

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