Rainy Day Wedding Inspo | Molly and Andrew in Chicago

Save this for your rainy day wedding inspo. Trust me.

Picture this: It is your wedding week. The weather has looked iffy for the last seven days, but it’s now 4 days out and it looks clear. It is a HOT summer weekend in Chicago, and you have perfect weather for your rehearsal dinner. The morning of your wedding is hot and hazy, but all looks well. Until it doesn’t. Severe weather is scheduled to hit 30 minutes prior to your outdoor ceremony start. You don’t have a plan B. Guests are ushered indoors as it starts to rain heavily. It is 30 minutes past your scheduled ceremony start time and it is still raining. So, you ask your photographer “how should we proceed?”

That is exactly what happened on Molly and Andrew’s wedding day. My response? “We’re already here. If you’re okay getting a little wet, let’s do it.” The couple agrees, the planning team makes the announcement and guests grab umbrellas and head outside. The rain continued, but so did we. And an absolutely unforgettable wedding followed.

Rainy Day Wedding Tips

You can’t control the weather. Don’t stress over it.
Have a Plan B – you don’t HAVE to get married in the rain.
If you choose to get married in the rain, embrace it. You can touch up hair and makeup after.
Along with tip three, have plenty of umbrellas and towels on hand for guests.

Tip number one is my biggest piece of advice for my couples. The weather is quite literally the one thing you have no control over on your wedding day. You have to roll with whatever the day gives you, and if you want those outdoor portraits, don’t be afraid of a little rain. Ask your hair and makeup team if they can stay for touch-ups, or leave you with a solid touch-up kit. If you don’t want to get wet, that is also okay. Just make sure you hire someone who can help navigate you through either scenario.

rainy day wedding shot on film in chicago, illinois

By the time we got guests outside for the ceremony, the skies were DARK and the film loaded in my camera was for a sunnier sky. So I embraced the blur and thus created one of my favorite photos from their day. An image that truly makes me feel like I am right there, getting poured on, as Molly and Andrew run down the aisle and to the car waiting to take them to their reception.

If this post doesn’t make you at peace with a rainy day wedding in your future, shoot me an email and I will give you the pep talk you need to assure you it will be okay. 🤍 Scroll to see some of my favorites from Molly and Andrew’s day.