Of all the details on your wedding day, weather is the one detail that is entirely out of your control. Of course, you can plan a summer wedding in hopes of a bright, sunny day. Or you can plan a winter wedding in anticipation of rain and fog (hello, Humboldt County). But aside from picking a date, there is not much to be done to predict what the skies will do.

As a photographer, I have a different perspective on how the weather impacts us. The two most recent weddings we have photographed have included rain and wind – and to me, that is equally as perfect as a sunshine filled, blue sky. 

Having rain on your wedding day is just like adding another guest, or another element (literally) to your wedding. It is something that will be part of your unique memory of the day, and it is one of the many things you will look back on and smile. Sure, in the moment you want the dry day you planned on, but really it’s just a small part of your perfect day of pledging your love in front of your friends and family. We are not gathered here today to witness the perfect summer day or sunset, we are here today to celebrate the love between two people. 

A marriage is about getting through life with the person that you love; the ups and downs are inevitable, but it always comes back to how you and your partner weather the storm. When things don’t go as planned, you will lean on your partner to get through it.

The old adage that a rainy wedding day is good luck, I believe is likely because you are starting your marriage with circumstances that are less than ideal. It can be a truly stressful part of your day, which is why I am here to tell you it doesn’t matter. Will your hair get messed up faster? Of course. Will your dress get a little extra dirty? Probably (don’t worry, it washes out). Is it less than ideal? Yes. 

But I would argue that no weather is worse than the other, as long as you are prepared and accepting of whatever that day holds for you. Quite honestly, I would prefer a cloud-filled day over the beating sun, simply because it is more flattering light for portraits. There is always an upside that you can’t always see in the moment, but I will be there to remind you of.

Obviously in Humboldt County we are used to rolling with the punches and the ever-changing weather, but that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. If this is truly something you don’t want to take a chance with, you can choose an indoor venue or plan for a drier, inland location. The point is, if you want a dry summer wedding, you can plan for that, if you want a stormy winter wedding, you can plan for that. But inevitably, mother nature will always have the last laugh and there’s no way to control it. So why not choose to laugh with her if a few drops start falling on your big day?

Bring the umbrellas, bring on the rain. It is all only temporary and part of your unique story that was meant to unfold. It is all equally beautiful and perfect.