Weddings- what do you do if its raining?

ChrisDonnelly

ChrisDonnelly

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How do you plan for a rainy day.
By this i mean, persistant rain all day with no breaks.
What do you look for as alternatives?
 
On the location / venue recce I look for and discuss wet weather alternatives - both with B&G and with the venues and have the 'plan b' established before the big day. I always have the flash guns and artificial lighting gear in the car just in case.

In 60+ weddings, I have never had to execute 'plan b' but I always plan and prep for it.

Spooks
 
This is really only a big issue for the formal groups and bride & groom sessions, everthing else will just carry on as normal, all be it indoors.

I visit every venue with the couple around 4 weeks before the wedding, one of the mains things I do in that time is looks for suitable places for the group shots and the Bride & Groom shots. That includes finding indoor alternatives in case of bad weather.

If there is nowhere big enough for the big groups, then I would tell the couple that in the event of having to do it inside, only smaller groups will be possible, so there is no suprises. If there is nowhere particuarly nice indoors for the couple shots, then you just have to make the best of what there is, you can't transform the inside of a run down leisure center into rolling hills and sunsets.
 
bass_junkie83 said:
This is really only a big issue for the formal groups and bride & groom sessions, everthing else will just carry on as normal, all be it indoors.

I visit every venue with the couple around 4 weeks before the wedding, one of the mains things I do in that time is looks for suitable places for the group shots and the Bride & Groom shots. That includes finding indoor alternatives in case of bad weather.

If there is nowhere big enough for the big groups, then I would tell the couple that in the event of having to do it inside, only smaller groups will be possible, so there is no suprises. If there is nowhere particuarly nice indoors for the couple shots, then you just have to make the best of what there is, you can't transform the inside of a run down leisure center into rolling hills and sunsets.
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:plus1: except after the first couple of weddings I did, I realised that nothing was actually to be gained AFAIC by visiting the venue beforehand. Ref doing groups inside, if your files aren't noisy at ISO1600, all you need is the folks in the group to be as near as possible in the same plane, and a decent flashgun. Beware of wall light antlers though ...
 
I have had to go to plan B on many occasions. however it is important to record that it was a rainy/ snowy day and take a few shots that show the Real situation.
Umbrellas , rain and flash make great shots. If it is snow make sure some one puts some nice wellies in the car as snow shots are great but a day with wet feet is not.

Mostly I knew the venues I went to so I did not need to make a special visit, to day there are far more odd ball places that can hold weddings, so a pre-visit is probably essential.
 
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Serendipitous Sid said:
:plus1: except after the first couple of weddings I did, I realised that nothing was actually to be gained AFAIC by visiting the venue beforehand. Ref doing groups inside, if your files aren't noisy at ISO1600, all you need is the folks in the group to be as near as possible in the same plane, and a decent flashgun. Beware of wall light antlers though ...
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This really. It's not difficult, as long as they realise that the only way they're having a group shot of 80 is with everyone getting wet through.

At our first wedding this year it was the most relentless rain I've ever dealt with, however we did manage to do the massive group shot in a 10 minute break in the rain, it was still bitterly cold but I managed to get them all laughing by complaining I was burning my legs on the radiator under the upstairs window. The number of people sarcastically asking me if my legs were OK for the rest of the day was fun.

But if I hadn't got that shot I wouldn't have cared too much.
 
Thanks for the replys guys, think im worrying too much about this.
 
Same here, it is just about planning and making the couple aware that some things might not be possible, most will be. I always warn brides to have a pair of wellies or 'gardening shoes' available, and most are quite accepting that if needed, umbrellas and silly shoes will get them some fun shots. A big group shot will depend on the venue if the weather is inclement. So far, touch wood, I have never had to execute a full plan B, only ever had the odd shower to deal with, but I know that can't last forever and it will happen. My boot is always loaded with umbrellas and a plastic back picnic blanket, just in case.
Todays couple, funnily enough, wanted their pre-wedding shoot in the bluebells last month - not sure what possessed us to book easter sunday, but suffice to say it was bluebells and umbrellas. Todays forecast looks more positive ;)

ETA - next month I have a venue with antlers...groom wants 'that' shot.... :facepalm::ROFLMAO:
 
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Yv said:
...next month I have a venue with antlers...groom wants 'that' shot.... :facepalm::ROFLMAO:
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Sid's Rule Of Wedding Snapping #71 "If the group shots have to be done indoors, the only room that can be used for them will have wrought iron wall sconces just above head height on three walls, and several very small windows on the fourth."

ETA - one other thing about wet weddings. Unless she's a very unusual bride or wearing a short dress, the star of the show will be paranoid about the bottom of her dress getting wet, so she'll hold it up for the couple shots whilst all the time trying to make it look like she's not doing just that ...
 
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Serendipitous Sid said:
Sid's Rule Of Wedding Snapping #71 "If the group shots have to be done indoors, the only room that can be used for them will have wrought iron wall sconces just above head height on three walls, and several very small windows on the fourth."
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Rules of Wedding Snapping #71, section b - same room will also have a low slung multi-armed central candelabra/chandelier which means your step ladder is also useless, unless you want arty 'through the lights' photos.
 
Yv said:
Rules of Wedding Snapping #71, section b - same room will also have a low slung multi-armed central candelabra/chandelier which means your step ladder is also useless, unless you want arty 'through the lights' photos.
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Indeed. Maybe even one of those shelf things running round the room about 18" below the ceiling, with "curios" or "brassware" on. Pictures carefully hung so that you get flash bounce-back wherever you stand are good too ...
 
My nearest 'OK' venue treat me wonderfully (free drinks and they always find me food whether the B&G have paid or not), the light in the ceremony room is fab, but the reception room is about 20 feet wide with the lights and pictures exactly as this. No matter how carefully I shoot, it wastes me a ton of time in post.
 
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