When thinking about what the weather will be like on your wedding day a good rule to follow is: "Hope for the best but plan for the worst". If you have thought about what you will do if the weather is bad in advance you won't worry about it on your wedding day.
Some questions to ask yourself in preparation could be:
Do I or my photographer have a big umbrella that I could use to get in and out of the car that wouldn't be too distracting on the photos i.e. a plain white umbrella?
Does my ceremony venue or reception venue have anywhere indoors where my group pictures could be taken?
Does the ceremony or reception venue have any nice features indoors that the photographer could utilise to take some nice romantic shots? For example, an ornate staircase or a majestic fire place etc.
However, wedding photography isn't only influenced by whether the day is wet or dry. There are other weather considerations that can test the skill of your wedding photographer. Bright sunshine, for example can cause sharp contrasting shadows. As the bride or groom you should not need to worry about these too much as your photographer should know how to handle these eventualities. Still, it may be prudent when choosing your photographer to make sure that you have seen examples of their work covering the following areas of expertise:
Group photography indoors
If you are forced to have any group photographs taken indoors you may need to adjust your expectations of how many people you would like in each group dependant on the capacity of your location.
 | This image shows how a small group can be arranged indoors. In this instance the photographer has also made use of the ornamental features of the room to compliment the photograph. |
This image shows how a medium size group can be arranged indoors. Remember though that this is only possible if the room is large enough. Not only do you need sufficient room for the group, the photographer also needs enough room to get far enough away in order to get everyone in the shot. |  |
 | This image shows that large groups can be arranged indoors. However, most venues would not be able to accommodate a group of this size and even if they can the result may look overcrowded. |
Romantic shots indoors
Romantic shots indoors can be very effective. Look at your photographer's portfolio for examples of these shots and see how he/she effectively uses any features of the venue to compliment the composition of the shot.
 | This particular shot takes advantage of the ornate mirror. The pose adopted not only reveals all of the detail on the back of the dress, it also emphasises their facial expressions in the mirror's reflection.
This pose and use of the mirror creates the overall impression that the bride and groom are enjoying a private romantic moment captured on camera. |
Close crops might be another way to get some lovely shots. This works especially well if you haven't got much space or great surroundings to utilise. |  |
 | This is another example of taking full advantage of any features in your chosen venue. In this case a piano was used to enhance this shot.
This photograph also proves that it is possible to move away from traditional posing and create a more relaxed editorial style of photography even when photographing indoors. |
Sunshine
Most people would agree that when the sun is shining brightly, it is lovely. However, bright sunshine can spell trouble for your photographer. Harsh sunlight can create black shadows and strong contrasts in your photographs. If not skilled in handling these conditions a photographer can easily "blow out" the highlights, losing important details in your image, especially intricate details of the wedding dress.
However, there are also advantages to bright sunshine. When used correctly these lighting conditions can add drama to a photograph and create interesting effects. Don't be surprised though if when shooting your groups your photographer seeks out a shaded area rather than placing you in direct sunlight because diffused lighting will better compliment your family groups.
 | This is an artistic way to use the deep shadows created by strong sunlight. Granted, it's not the sort of shot you want for every photograph but it certainly makes a unique addition to your wedding photo collection. |
Although it works well in this instance, this example shows how strong sunlight can mask the detail of your dress. Notice how the strong sunshine highlights the bride's back so that the dress detail can no longer be seen. Again, you would not want every photo to be like this. |  |
Hopefully this article has helped to inform you just how much the weather can impact on your wedding day. Don't panic though, just remember that if you plan ahead and bear the above points in mind when choosing your wedding venue and photographer, then no matter what the weather on the day you will come away with some beautiful photographs!
Example images courtesy of Inspired Photography.
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