What to Do if It Rains on Your Elopement Day: 10 Tips to Prepare
Table of Contents:
- What Happens if it Rains On Your Elopement Day?
- Why We Actually LOVE Rain On Elopement Days
- 10 Tips to Prepare for a Rainy Outdoor Elopement
Wondering what happens if it rains on your outdoor elopement day? If you arrive at your ceremony spot after a long hike, only to find yourselves drenched from the rain clouds that have been following you along the entire route?! Well, lucky you: you get to elope in the rain! And tbh, that can be pretty dang magical if you approach it with the right mindset + plan properly in advance.
In this guide, we’ll be walking you through exactly how to prepare for a rainy elopement, and letting you in on why we’re actually obsessed with rain on elopement days 👀 Trust us, you’ll be on board with it by the end!
What Happens if it Rains On Your Elopement Day?
Here’s the thing: your elopement is whatever you make it. And that’s the beauty of eloping, right? The fact that you get to choose exactly what you do, when you do it, and how you do it—without worrying about judgement or unsolicited opinions from (hopefully well-meaning) loved ones.
This also means that YOU are in charge of how you experience your elopement day, and the memories you create together—rain or shine. If you go into your elopement expecting everything to go perfectly, we’ve got a hard truth for ya, friend: you’re going to be disappointed! Even on the most flawlessly-planned days with an immaculately-laid-out timeline, something is bound to go wrong, or at least unexpectedly. It’s inevitable, whether you have 100, 10, or 0 guests attending your wedding. This is why it’s absolutely crucial that you get yourselves into the right mindset before the big day arrives, rather than seeing rain clouds come in from the horizon and be totally thrown off, your day ruined.
Sooo long story short: if it rains on your elopement day, all that happens is, well, you’ll be a little more wet when you exchange your vows! Yeah, your dress might get dirty, and you might have to pivot your plans to account for muddy trails, but it’s ALL part of the adventure you signed up for. We’d argue that rainy elopements might actually make for an even more epic, one-of-a-kind adventure that you’ll never forget 😉
Why We Actually LOVE Rain On Elopement Days
Yes, you read that right. . . we kinda love rainy elopements 🙈
Hear us out:
—It’s a true adventure: You’re planning an adventure elopement, right? What could be more adventurous than experiencing the rugged wilderness of the great outdoors in the middle of a rainstorm, totally powerless to Mother Nature—and loving every bit of it? Going on an adventure means you’re willing to face obstacles, risks, and unknown territory, and turn it into an awesome experience.
—Crowds are smaller: Most people flock indoors when it’s raining, so it’s likely you’ll run into fewer crowds if you’re eloping at a popular destination. Take advantage of the rainy skies and empty trails while you can!
—The skies + lighting are dramatic: Nothing is more epic than massive, dark storm clouds, moody fog, and misty skies—it’s magical in its own way, and provides such a cool backdrop to any elopement.
—Foliage is extra stunning: Let’s be real, doesn’t all foliage look better when it’s rainy? Whether it’s the middle of spring and the trees are bright green, or the end of autumn and leaves display gorgeous shades of red, orange, and yellow—every color looks more vibrant under overcast, gloomy skies.
—It makes for a great story: Clear blue skies, perfect weather, and not a hitch in your plans. . . boringggg! Jk—that sounds beautiful, but doesn’t every good story come with a little bump in the road? 😉
—It’s good luck! Everyone knows the old adage that rain on your wedding day is good luck, right? Take that and run with it!
10 Tips to Prepare for a Rainy Outdoor Elopement
One thing we want to make sure you remember is that weather is completely unpredictable, especially if you’re eloping in the mountains, or anywhere with volatile, quick-changing conditions. Even the best of the best meteorologists can’t say for certain what Mother Nature has in store on any given day, so it’s a good idea to plan for all possible scenarios—no matter how sunny and clear your weather app says it’s going to be.
Now, let’s get into the practical, nitty-gritty aspects of planning for a rainy elopement and ensuring you’re as prepared as you can be!
1. Choose a durable hairstyle
The absolute LAST thing we want is for you to get your hair done up beautifully the morning of your elopement, only for it to be completely ruined by the rain (or even an extra bit of humidity)! If it looks like it might rain on your wedding day, ask your hairstylist for more durable, frizz-free style options that will do better in humidity, rain, and wind. This might look like a braid that keeps your flyaways down, a sleek ponytail that will get those little wisps out of your face in a breeze, or a low bun that will still look gorgeous with rain drizzling down the edges. Opting for an updo will probably make everything a whole lot easier, especially if it’s windy and you’d rather not have hair blowing into your mouth as you say your vows 🤣
P.S. Hairspray will be your BFF on a rainy day. Grab a mini version that you can bring with you on your hike and you’ll be good to go!
2. Wear waterproof makeup
Unless you want to look like you’re rocking heavy, early 2000’s eyeliner all day (in which case, do your thing), waterproof makeup is a must if there’s a chance of rain. You’ll want to make sure your MUA works with waterproof primer, mascara, foundation, etc. as well as a good long-lasting setting spray to keep everything in place. Definitely keep a small bottle of setting spray, as well as extra makeup, on hand for touch-ups as needed throughout the day!
3. Make a backup plan (or two)
If you’re planning to hike, and think that rainy conditions might impact your ability to take the trail you planned, definitely have at least one backup plan in place. We don’t want to arrive at a trailhead only to find out that it’s closed due to stormy conditions, or that it might be unsafe (or just plain difficult) to do in those conditions. So when we help you build your timeline, we’ll be sure to add in a backup location or two that involve a shorter hike, have a sheltered spot, or are at a totally different location where it might not be raining. Easily-accessible overlooks and viewpoints are great ceremony options on rainy days, where you can simply park, get out of your car, and tie the knot without having to hike in the rain! Wooded areas are also an awesome option for a little extra shelter, if you still want to stay outside.
4. Pack a change of clothes
Hiking to your ceremony location in the rain? Make sure to keep an extra change of clothes in the car for when you’re done—you’ll probably want to get out of your wet wedding attire for at least a little bit, and into something comfier! You can always hang your clothes up to dry when you get back to your Airbnb, hotel, etc. and put ‘em back on later in the day for more portraits.
5. Bring clear umbrellas
Clear umbrellas are the way to go if you want a little protection while you’re out in the rain, AND still look super cute for photos. Not only are they much less distracting than colorful or patterned umbrellas, they also allow us to be able to see you through your umbrella in photos! There’s nothing more romantic than an up-close shot of the two of you sharing a kiss or a laugh, through the misty lens of your umbrella, with rain dripping down the sides. . . the drama of it is to die for. You’ll feel like you’re starring in your very own version of the Notebook! (although for that scene, I guess you wouldn’t want umbrellas so you could be fully drenched in the rain, lol)
6. Carry your attire while you hike
Instead of wearing your elopement attire while you hike, carrying it will probably be much easier if it’s raining. If it’s a short hike, you might be able to get away with wearing your dress/suit/etc. along the way, but we’d rather you be comfortable during your hike and wear flexible hiking attire, rain coats, and sturdy shoes than try to climb over slippery rocks while keeping your outfit clean. There are tons of options for compact garment bags you can hang on the side of your backpack, as well as ways you can fold your attire and pack it directly in your backpack without getting it too wrinkled!
Keep in mind also that if your dress is made up of a heavier fabric, it will get even heavier in the rain—another reason to hike in regular clothes that don’t weigh you down.
7. Pack way too many layers
Seriously, we want you to pack TOO many layers. More than you think you’ll need. We’d rather you be safe, warm, and cozy than freezing and drenched in cold water because you didn’t think you’d need another jacket. You’ll want to have a solid underlayer that keeps the surface of your skin nice and warm + dry, a good rain coat (or two, if you want multiple options or thin/thick materials to choose from), a windbreaker, etc. . . anything that will make sure your teeth aren’t chattering if it’s cool, windy, and wet. You can always strip layers off as needed—definitely make sure there’s a little extra room in your backpack for layers if you end up removing them along the way.
8. Rely on your photographer
When in doubt, rely on your photographer (and videographer, of course) to give you the support and guidance you need! They’re the experts and have most likely been through this scenario MANY times, with many couples. Trust that they’ll help you plan for every possible situation, provide tips and recommendations for backup locations, and be the people you can rely on if you feel stressed day-of. They’ll take care of the hard stuff for you, and should make your day feel like a total breeze. . . no matter the breeze or rain you find yourselves in.
And if you’re still trying to find a perfect photo + video duo for you, we’ve got plenty of tips on what you should be looking for! We also happen to know a pretty killer pair ourselves 😉
9. Expect your outfit to get dirty
Hate to break it to you, but if you’re wearing a dress to your outdoor elopement, it WILL get dirty—especially if it’s rainy, muddy, etc. And that’s okay! It’s all part of the adventure, and truthfully, you just have to accept + embrace it. You can always get it dry cleaned afterward, and sometimes dirt can even create a kinda cool ombre effect to the bottom of a dress😆
10. Be ready to go with the flow
And lastly, you just gotta be ready to go with the flow—literally. This is key to any type of wedding day, but especially for adventure elopements that take place outdoors, where no matter how carefully we plan, we can’t really control what happens. If you can get your mindset right beforehand and prepare yourselves to make the most out of whatever happens, you’re guaranteed to have an incredible day no matter what the skies pour (or don’t pour) down on ya!
We hope you’re feeling more prepared to embrace bad weather on your elopement day, now that we’ve shared our top 10 tips + all the reasons why we LOVE rainy elopements. As an elopement photography + videography duo who has documented more than 250 elopements all over the world, we’ve got years of experience to help support you in crafting a once-in-a-lifetime elopement experience, rain or shine. If that sounds rad to you, we’d love to chat and hear all about the adventure you’re dreaming up!
Want to continue down the elopement planning rabbit hole? More guides + resources comin’ right up:
