Photo by Braedon Flynn Photography
If you’re planning to do a rain dance or bury a bottle of bourbon to try to deter even a single drop from falling on your wedding day, pause to read these brides stories and you might find you want to pack a poncho instead.
“My mother-in-law, ever the planner, checked the weather forecast for our wedding day several days in advance. Once she saw there was a chance of rain, she picked up matching black umbrellas for everyone in the wedding party to have on hand. And when our photographer saw all of us with our umbrellas arriving at our house, the scene of our post-ceremony photos, it gave her an idea. She instructed us to hold up the matching black umbrellas on the front porch of our 1920’s Tudor-style home. The result was one of my favorite photos from the entire wedding: The bridesmaids were all dressed in black dresses, the groomsmen in black suits, me in my white gown, my husband in his black tuxedo and everyone was smiling through the rain while holding our black umbrellas. It’s a stunning black-and-white photo that captures the timelessness we were going for in our wedding decor and photos, and the element of fun we incorporated throughout the big day.” — Lauren
“It poured on our wedding day. Our picture session got cut drastically short as everyone was getting soaked and we were all freezing. I got my dress muddy, and I ruined my hair running from the church to the limo after the ceremony. We had a BBQ dinner planned, as our venue had a huge patio — for which I had painstakingly planned the decor. Needless to say, the patio was closed completely for the duration of the reception, and the BBQ turned into a strange makeshift buffet set up in the venue. And the ambience was somewhat detracted from with the huge yellow ‘wet floor’ signs everywhere. But rain didn’t ruin our day. The thunderstorm was atmospheric in our reception venue, which featured glass walls, and it also made everything dark and cozy, which complemented the candlelight inside. The photos?
Well, I didn’t get many of the outdoor nature shots I’d hoped for, but our photographer captured some awesome candid shots of us all huddled in the limo, the girls wrapped in the men’s’ damp jackets, drinking champagne and laughing. And best of all, the rain kept everyone together. The dance floor was packed and everyone socialized in the reception area, while on a sunny evening, they would have been scattered around the patio and venue gardens.” — Christina
“We were married in September on an island off the coast of Maine. It was an outdoor ceremony and the week leading up to our nuptials was perfect: clear skies, high 70s, and no chance of rain. The morning before our wedding, it was beautiful out. It wasn’t until I was dressed and ready to go that the skies started to darken. The rain held out until we said, ‘I do.’ Moments later, it started to drizzle and we all moved under the tent. Thankfully we had one. Like all true island weddings in Maine, however, the ground was just grass so as the rain started to pour, everyone kicked off their wedding shoes and danced in the mud. Our photos were absolutely gorgeous. In the background you can see huge clouds rolling in and the sky darkening. I don’t think our photos would have been half as magical had there been clear skies. And while my wedding dress got stained all across the hem with mud, I didn’t get upset. I kicked off my sandals and danced in it. Afterward, I never got my dress professionally cleaned. Now every time I see that mud stain on the bottom, I’m reminded of how beautiful that day was. I’m also reminded that sometimes when things go wrong in life, it’s best to just embrace the storm and ride it out. Something amazing can come out of it.” — Laura
“I was married two years ago in what can only be described as a monsoon in Florida. Our wedding was all outdoors; we were promised the venue had never had a wash out. Well, we set the record. It rained sideways for hours. The venue was flooded up to the mid-calf level. The cake was sitting in an un-air conditioned garage — which doubled as the groom’s quarters — sweating. But somehow the rain only delayed our wedding 30 minutes. I told my bridesmaids to bustle me up — the rain was over, but the mud was there to stay — and to get everyone in line. Our friends and family scrabbled to get the chairs dry and the decorations out. A few items had to be ditched, but no one noticed. I was never once anxious, which isn’t like me at all. All I can remember is my groom telling me no matter what he would marry me. And we did — we got married. Because of the storm, the sunset was so stunning it made our photos magical. You would never know it was the wedding that almost wasn’t. The real kicker is my new sisters-in-law carrying the sweating cake to its home through a gate and winding path and a tiny wooden bridge. It was the most magical day of my life.” — Michelle
See More: 6 Ways to Prepare for Rain on Wedding Day
“My husband and I chose our wedding venue because of all the outdoor photo-ops. A barn, lake and an apple orchard sealed the deal. We planned our ceremony in the apple orchard. I had ornate vintage details like gold frames and paper fans ready to hang on trees. We had a special arch made out of branches for the alter. And we splurged for a hot apple cider station to warm up guests on our fall morning affair. Then, it rained and everything was wet. We could have still held the wedding outside, but I didn’t want our hair to get frizzy. So we moved it inside and actually scored big. Our guests were going to stand outside for our quick vow exchange since the venue charged an absurd amount for chairs. But inside, the chairs we free! And I got great photos using pretty white umbrellas as photo props.” — Joelle
“We had a backyard wedding at my best friend’s home outside of Chicago. It was in the 80s and humid, and right as we said our vows, the ominous clouds erupted into thunder. We all kind of giggled — small wedding, 60-some guests. As we walked down the aisle as man and wife, it started to sprinkle, then it rained harder. Everyone scrambled to the tent where the reception was to be held. It only rained for about 20 minutes, and then a gorgeous rainbow came out, the temperature dropped ,and humidity broke. It was like God orchestrated the timing on the whole thing. And I have the pictures to prove it.” — Susan
“There were multiple road and bridge closures in the area that affected our guests’ ability to get to the church on time. Then, our reception hall’s basement flooded, knocking out the facility’s furnace. So, we had an unheated reception in Illinois in February. Our guests wore winter coats over their finery while eating. And after the reception, on the way to our wedding night accommodations, we navigated flooded roads in an unrelenting rain storm. But rain did not ruin our wedding day. The goal of a wedding is to get married — and that was accomplished. As long as the bride, groom, and officiant show up, isn’t that what matters? Plus, my husband and I were both old enough at the time of our wedding to know there is no such thing as a perfect day. Things happen. Weather happens. Wardrobe malfunctions happen. Events don’t always go according to plan. You just roll with whatever life throws you and consider it an adventure.” — Leigh
“Having in August wedding in Florida meant a few sprinkles as the ceremony ended. Several guests had walked from the hotel to the ceremony, so I felt terrible that my guests would get wet! It was a struggle for me and my new husband to get into our limo without getting soaked. But, this was the perfect occasion for the guys attending to show how great of gentlemen they were. They held doors and helped people in and out of cars as we went from the ceremony at a local church to the reception at the hotel. The rain actually helped cool the temperature too.” — Theresa
