Rains at your wedding / Rainy wedding day / What I do as your wedding photographer // Olympic Peninsula Wedding Photographer
Rain forecasted? The question you might be thinking, “Do I want this person (Jamie Tobin) beside me when I’m standing on a mountain and everything goes differently than we planned?”
Okay here is what I do as your photographer if rain happens on your wedding day or your elopement day (because hi I do both adventure elopements around the Olympic Peninsula and intimate wedding days throughout Washington state).
Also, I have so many guides, tips, and tricks throughout my blog so make sure you check out more of my ideas to get you excited to work together!
Rains at your Wedding: First I don’t panic
No really, I don’t panic. Weather is just another part of your story and congrats you’re still marrying your person today!!
I do always check the weather and what could happen the whole week of your event, so if it is something really bad of course I will help come up with a plan B prior to your event.
Like will it be super sunny and gorgeous the night before? Let’s do your family photos that day in the garden you dreamed of. Let’s do your portraits the day before! You can still celebrate inside with all of your guests but you don’t have to sacrifice your dream wedding portrait moments if we have the flexibility and amazing vendor team to pull it off.
One of my Real life bad weather Wedding pivots:
I had a tented backyard wedding on my calendar for a Saturday in June. A really bad thunderstorm (possibly a Derecho) was predicted to come through that Saturday.. but Friday.. oh she was going to be gorgeous.
You know what we did? We moved the whole damn wedding to Friday! The bride’s sister texted me early morning and said hey, we’re debating moving the wedding you in? HELL YES I AM.
And we truly did pull it off, they had a gorgoeus sunset, and as predicted Saturday was SHIT. It would not have worked for a tented outdoor wedding.
All their guests still showed up, only one vendor couldn’t make it and we got a replacement!
We can make magic, it’s in the service beauty of wedding vendors. We live for this.
Rainy Pivots to consider if we have enough time
Can we move portraits to the day before or after?
What if we did portraits inside, is your venue big enough where it’s not a big deal?
Will you feel a certain way if you didn’t get outside?
What if we had a full on Notebook moment in the downpour?
Do we need to consider plan B for a different venue if it doesn’t allow indoor?
These are the big questions that yes you should ask before planning an outdoor wedding, but we are thinking about them again now!
I do always come prepared with my flash gear so working inside isn’t a problem for me, my goal is to make sure you’re happy and love your gallery!
Rain forecasted for your Adventure Elopement in Washington
Now the joy of an elopement is we generally have a lot more flexiblity because we’re not working with a huge guest list to consider. My people pleasers stand up 😉
If we have the ability to move your elopement within a day or two let’s do it!
OR
We can lean into the weather and have it be all apart of your adventure. Washington does rain a lot certain times of the year and you may be into that moody misty vibe.
Timeline ideas for rainy elopement pivots
A rainy elopement timeline does not mean we are giving up on photos or spending the whole day standing outside soaked and sad. It means we build in a little more flexibility. Maybe we start the day slow at your cabin while we watch the forecast. Maybe you share private vows somewhere cozy and covered. Maybe we wait for a break in the rain to head outside, or maybe we use the mist and fog as part of the whole experience. A rainy-day elopement timeline could look something like this:
- Slow morning at your cabin, coffee, getting ready, and details
- Private vows somewhere dry, cozy, or covered
- A little time to wait out the heaviest rain if the forecast gives us a window
- Ceremony during a lighter-rain break, or fully embracing a misty ceremony if that is the vibe
- Portraits outside with clear umbrellas, jackets, layers, and a willingness to get a little wet
- A warm-up break with food, dry socks, coffee, or a change of clothes
- Sunset photos if the clouds break or the forecast gives us another opening
- A cozy end to the night back at your cabin, Airbnb, or dinner spot
The biggest thing is that we do not need to make every moment happen outside just because it was the original plan. Your elopement can still have a slow morning, meaningful vows, good food, time together, and really beautiful photos. We just make choices based on what the day is actually giving us.
Want me to be on your vendor team incase it Rains at your Wedding? Reach out!
Rain does not have to mean panic, disappointment, or pretending you are totally fine while refreshing the weather app every eight minutes.
Whether you are planning an intimate Washington wedding, a backyard celebration, or an Olympic Peninsula elopement, I help you think through the actual experience of the day. That includes timeline flexibility, portrait options, indoor plans, weather backups, and making sure you still have room to be present with your people.
Sometimes we get lucky and move portraits around a little. Sometimes we get a rainy Notebook moment. Sometimes we change the whole damn plan and pull off something even better.
Either way, I am not going to panic. We will make a plan, take care of what we can, and make sure your day still feels like your day.
Reach out to me and tell me what you’re planning!
Rains at your wedding // Rainier Elopement Photographer // Olympic Peninsula Elopement Photographer // @ JamieTobinPhoto on Instagram // Seattle, WA // Poulsbo, Washington Photographer
