Rain on Your Wedding Day: Superstition, Symbolism, and Making the Most of It

I’ve photographed weddings in the rain. More than once. And every single time, without fail, I end up with some of my favourite images of the whole day.

I know that’s not what couples want to hear when they’re checking the forecast for the hundredth time the week before their wedding. The anxiety is real. I’ve had brides message me in tears about clouds. And I get it — you’ve been picturing this day for months, maybe years, and the weather feels like the one thing completely outside your control.

But here’s what I’ve learned from being behind the lens through it all: rain changes the light. It makes everything softer, more cinematic. The colours deepen. Reflections appear in places you wouldn’t expect. And there’s something about sharing an umbrella, laughing at the situation, making the best of it together — that’s actually the stuff of really beautiful photographs.

There’s also this: the couples who lean into it always seem to enjoy their day more than the ones who spend it fighting what they can’t change. I watched a couple in the south of France run through a downpour between the ceremony and dinner, completely soaked, laughing hysterically. Those photos? Incredible. That moment? They still talk about it.

A few things I always tell couples before a rainy wedding day:

Have a plan, but hold it loosely. Good photographers work in all conditions — we know how to find shelter, use natural light through windows, work with what the day gives us. If you’re working with me, we’ll figure it out together.

Bring a beautiful umbrella. Clear acrylic, vintage lace, deep forest green — whatever fits your aesthetic. An umbrella can become a genuine prop, not just a practical fix.

Trust that the emotion of the day doesn’t change. Your people are still there. The food is still good. Your partner is still the person you’re marrying. The weather is honestly the least important part of what happens.

And if you’re superstitious about it — rain on a wedding day is actually considered good luck in several cultures. I’ll let you decide how much weight you want to give that. But I will say that in all my years photographing weddings, the rainy ones tend to be the ones couples remember most vividly.

Which, when I think about it, is kind of the whole point.

If you’re planning a wedding and have questions about how I work in different weather conditions, I’d love to hear from you.