Rainy Vancouver Weddings and Saying I Do Under an Umbrella

April 9, 2008 |

Brent and Mary, hiding from the rain. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

Vancouver weather can threaten to dampen even the most special occasion but that doesn’t mean you still won’t love your wedding day or manage to make it an even more memorable experience. With the right planning, your wedding photographer will ensure your pictures will be just as special as if they were taken in glorious sunshine. How can that be?

Well, experience is one factor. Photographers have worked in a multitude of situations, as their portfolios demonstrate. They’re used to challenges and will adjust accordingly. With rain, in particular, there are a few reliable options that can create a romantic portrait of any bride and groom.

The under-the-umbrella photograph is beautiful for many reasons. It evokes intimacy with its beneath-the-covers sentiment and also togetherness in difficult times because it attempts to block out the world. It represents chivalry, of husband protecting wife. And from an aesthetic perspective, it is an elegant object that brings a sense of softness with its rounded shape. Props can add uniqueness and personality to a photograph and the functional umbrella is one of the best at doing so.

When I’m photographing in the rain (or in sunshine, for that matter), I want to focus on the emotion of the moment. Close-ups and candid reportage can brighten the day simply because you, your family and guests are just happy to be together celebrating your wedding. But rainy days do have a dramatic element to them that can be irresistible to photograph. With enough light, which can be delivered with remote-controlled studio strobes, the clouds and skies can be rendered to create an unforgettable image behind the couple or their bridal party.

If it’s too wet, though, you will want to stay indoors. So prior to the wedding day you and your photographer should devise a contingency plan if rain does arrive. No matter what, you and your vendors will not only make the best of the situation, you will make it better than the way you imagined!