If you’re getting married in Scotland, there’s a good chance you’ve thought about rain on your wedding day. To put it mildly, the weather can be unpredictable here and it’s natural to think about what happens if the clouds roll in.
But have no fear- rain on your wedding day does not mean you can’t get amazing wedding photos! In fact, if you ask any professional wedding photographer, they’ll tell you a cloudy, overcast day is actually ideal for wedding photos. And while rain bucketing down may make outdoor photos challenging, it by no means makes it impossible. Here are five reasons why you should embrace rain on your wedding day (with photos to prove it!):
1. Soft, Flattering Light
Overcast, cloudy skies offer the most flattering light for your wedding photography. If you ask any professional photographer what their ideal outdoor lighting conditions are, they will tell you overcast or cloudy. While we all love a sunny day, sunlight can be very harsh and depending on your venue and location, it can be difficult to find a shady spot for photos. Cloudy skies offer soft, even light that is very flattering for photos of people and from your guests perspective, no one will be too hot or squinting into the sun during family photos. Can you get nice wedding photos on a sunny day? Absolutely! An experienced wedding photographer can work in any lighting conditions, and while a sunny day may be more challenging than an overcast one, they will find the right spot to create the best possible portraits of you and your guests.
2. Fun & Relaxed Atmosphere
Rainy days make for fun and relaxed wedding photos. It’s hard to take things seriously when you’re running around in wellies and a wedding dress, brolly held tight, while the rain is bucketing down around you. Perhaps it’s that childhood love of playing in the puddles that we seem to grow out of, or maybe it’s just the sheer contrast of a formal event in treacherous weather, but either way couples sessions in the rain always result in loads of smiles and genuine laughter- the perfect recipe for relaxed and natural wedding photos.
3. An Excuse to Cuddle
You probably don’t need an excuse to cuddle on your wedding day, but if you’re not the ‘lovey dovey’ type the rain will offer you one! What better way to get in close than trying to stay dry under the same brolly. The patter patter of rain drops is pretty darn romantic, and if you’re a bit camera shy chances are there won’t be many onlookers on a rainy day. It’ll just be the two of you, braving that Scottish weather all for the sake of some freakin awesome wedding photos.
4. Dramatic, One of a Kind Wedding Photos
You will not get moody, dramatic skies on a dry and clear day. Everyone likes a different style when it comes to wedding photography, but if you like a bold and dramatic backdrop and a moodier style of wedding photography then Your wedding photos will be unique, as you just can’t create the same look on a bright and sunny day. And even as a photographer who has shot a lot of weddings in the rain, I can tell you that no two are the same! Sometimes it’s misty, sometimes it’s sun showers, sometimes the skies are dark but the air is clear. No matter what the exact circumstances, I’m willing to bet your rainy day wedding photos won’t look the same as anyone else’s.
5. It’s Good Luck!
Old wives’ tales tell us that rain on your wedding day is actually good luck. So whether you’re superstitious or not, it can’t hurt to believe this one!
I’ve given you five good reasons why not to worry about a wet wedding day, and I could probably come up with more. AS an experienced wedding photographer with somewhere close to 100 weddings now under my belt, I can tell you honestly that the weather on your wedding day does not matter. Whether it’s hot and sunny, cold and rainy or somewhere in between as long as you bring the right attitude (and your favourite pair of wellies) you will have a fabulous wedding day and beautiful wedding photos to remember it by.
You have no control over the weather and neither does your photography, so we might as well embrace it. Can you get beautiful photos on a rainy day? Yup. On a sunny day? Of course. On a gray & overcast day? Yes again. Wipe “weather” off your list of wedding worries because as long as you book an experienced, creative and relaxed photographer you’re all set!
Looking for a relaxed, non traditional wedding photographer in Scotland or abroad? I’m well versed on shooting weddings in all kind of weather, from Scottish rainstorms to Canadian winters and everything in between and I’d love to hear more about your plans! Get in touch to arrange a complimentary meeting over coffee (or facetime/skype if you live abroad): hello@rhiannoneale.com
