If you’ve found yourself checking the weather forecast rather more often as your wedding approaches, you certainly won’t be the first couple to do so. When you’ve imagined drinks in the gardens or portraits beside a favourite part of your venue, it’s understandable to hope for a dry day.
Rain may change where or when we take some photographs, but there is still so much to enjoy and remember. Your ceremony, the people around you and the excitement of finally being married remain at the centre of the day. A little preparation simply gives us comfortable alternatives, so the weather doesn’t become another job for you to manage.
I’m Emma Lowe, a full-time wedding photographer based in Rugby, Warwickshire, working across the Midlands. I’ve photographed weddings where showers passed quickly and others where plans needed a more substantial change. My approach is to understand the venue, keep the photography flexible and help you feel comfortable with the options.
Having an indoor option you genuinely like
When you visit your venue, it’s worth spending a little time looking at the indoor spaces as well as the grounds. A window, staircase or quiet room may offer a lovely setting for portraits, and knowing those possibilities beforehand can be reassuring.
We’ll think about couple portraits and family groups separately. A small sheltered doorway might work beautifully for the two of you, while a photograph with parents, grandparents and siblings will need more space. Access matters too, particularly if someone would find steps or a long walk difficult.
Your venue team can explain which rooms will actually be available at the relevant time. Some may be prepared for the wedding breakfast or needed by other guests, so it helps to have a realistic plan rather than rely on a space we have only seen in a photograph. My guide to choosing a wedding venue with photography in mind covers these conversations in more detail.
How we adapted at Celine and Samuel’s wedding
At Celine and Samuel’s wedding at Bourton Hall, the weather moved from sunshine to afternoon showers. While it rained, I photographed their immediate family groups on the grand staircase indoors.
After the wedding breakfast, the weather cleared and we went outside for couple portraits. Their photography didn’t need to happen in one uninterrupted session, and using the indoor space earlier meant we could continue with the day rather than wait for conditions to change.
It’s a useful example of how a venue can offer different possibilities within the same celebration. You can see more of the setting on my Bourton Hall wedding photography page.
When an outdoor ceremony moves inside
If you’ve planned an outdoor ceremony, the venue’s alternative arrangement is something to discuss well before the wedding. Understanding where it would take place, how the room would be set out and who makes the weather decision can help that option feel more familiar.
For Rebecca and Simon’s wedding at Ardencote, changeable spring weather meant their planned ceremony on the island moved indoors. The setting changed, but the emotion of their ceremony was still very much there to photograph.
When the rain stopped afterwards, we took the family groups on the patio before exploring the grounds for their portraits. Their day allowed us to use both indoor and outdoor spaces, adapting around the celebration as it unfolded.
Keeping outdoor photographs as an option
If there’s a break in the rain, we may be able to step outside for a short portrait session. That doesn’t always need to mean a long walk across the grounds; somewhere nearby can give us a different setting without taking you away from your guests for too long.
I’ll talk with you about what feels comfortable and how it fits around the meal, speeches and other plans. Some couples are happy to venture out with an umbrella, while others would much rather stay warm and dry. Either preference is completely reasonable.
If the rain continues, we can work with the indoor arrangements. I don’t want you spending the wedding watching a window and feeling that everything depends on one photograph outside. There will still be portraits, conversations, laughter and all the moments happening around you.
Making sense of the forecast
A rain symbol can look rather discouraging when you’re hoping for sunshine, but it doesn’t describe every moment of the day. The Met Office’s guide to its forecasts explains how weather symbols and the chance of rain work together, and why the precise location and timing of showers can be uncertain.
Looking at the forecast for your venue, rather than only the weather at home, helps us prepare. As the date gets closer, we can consider the likely conditions alongside the alternatives already discussed. The forecast informs the plan, and we respond to the actual weather on the day.
A few small comforts can make a difference
If we might be walking outside, a practical pair of shoes can be useful between photographs, especially where paths or grass are wet. A coat or wrap nearby can also make short waits more comfortable without needing to appear in every picture.
Umbrellas can be helpful if you would enjoy using them, although you don’t need to build your photography around one. We’ll consider the wind, the route and how sheltered the location is before heading out. If conditions are unpleasant or unsafe, we can use the indoor plan.
For family photographs, I’m particularly mindful of guests who need warmth, seating or easier access. My guide to wedding group photographs explains how we can organise the combinations around the people involved. For a winter date, it’s also helpful to consider the shorter daylight window alongside the weather, as I discuss in my winter wedding photography guide.
Keeping your wedding at the heart of the photographs
Some of the photographs you love most may have very little to do with the weather: a reassuring hand before the ceremony, a look across the room or your friends laughing together during the speeches. I’m watching for those moments throughout the day.
My approach to wedding photography combines that natural coverage with gentle guidance when we organise portraits. We can prepare thoughtfully without making your wedding feel as though it is being directed by a forecast.
Let’s talk through your plans
If weather is something you’re worried about, you’re very welcome to mention it when we speak. We can look at your venue and talk about the photographs that matter most, bringing the alternatives into your wedding photography plan from the beginning.
I photograph weddings across Warwickshire and the wider Midlands from my base in Rugby. If you would like to discuss your date, send me a message with your venue and plans. I’d love to hear about your day.