Rain On Your Wedding Day
This wedding gets a lot of love, but I think after all this couple went through, it’s well-deserved. Plus, it truly took the cake. It was one of the most stand-out weddings I was a part of last year and I think it will forever be remembered.
There are a few reasons for this. The first is that it’s not every day that an entire wedding is completely changed on the spot after rain totally ruins all their plans. And also, because this couple and their people all had such big, supportive, loving hearts. I’ve never in my career seen everyone at a wedding rally together, with their entire beings, like they did that day. They all made sure there was not a beat missed in making this wonderful couple’s day nothing but full of freaking HEART (and celebration… no matter what!!).
I’m putting together an upcoming newsletter that covers all the tips and tricks on how to handle unexpected things on your wedding day (such as torrential downpour rain and hurricane winds!) and I reached out to a few wedding coordinators for some sage advice. One of those coordinators is Alex from Blush & Bowties, who was the coordinator at this particular wedding. I’m sure you’ve definitely seen it by now if you follow my photo career because a) I’m obsessed with this day and everything I captured, b) their “I do” kiss in the rain image made it onto Junebug’s Top 50 Weddings of the Year, and c) Anti-Bride just featured the wedding. Click here to see it in all its glory if you’ve missed it till now!
Alex shared with me her own story about the day and I just love what she said so much that I wanted it to have a special place here on my blog and not just in my newsletter. (Although, if you are signed up for that then you’ll see it there too, along with some other amazing other tips and intros to some of the best wedding coordinators around IMO!) Adding the story from her perspective along with this set of unforgettable images really evokes the feeling of what happened as the rain started to come on down on them on what was supposed to be a sunny, beautiful August day.
“This isn’t your typical wedding day story. In fact, pretty much nothing went to plan.. .but let me start at the beginning. I had been looking forward to Danielle and Stratt's wedding for months and months. Private estate weddings are very complex, but they also offer a truly unique opportunity for decor and design. The wedding was to take place on Stratt’s family property—a beautiful modern stone home set in the lush countryside, surrounded by rolling hills. Danielle and I had been planning the most spectacular event, and after many site visits and tweaks, we were ready. Much of the day was planned to be outdoors, including a spectacular alfresco dinner in a field on the property (a distance away from the rest of the event and tent). Danielle and I had worked closely with the amazing Jordana from White Oak Florals to design a candlelit dinner with soft growing florals in unique variety and tones.
The weather looked good; it had been spotty all week, but the chance of rain was at a low percentage across multiple apps (note to self: don’t trust weather apps). The amazing team of vendors for the day were almost done setting the beautiful dinner for 100 guests, when suddenly everything switched on all weather radars. A serious storm was coming our way and it wasn’t any regular old sprinkle; this was a hurricane force storm that ripped down trees with hail the size of golf balls. Our beautiful dinner setting was quite literally destroyed, and we had to pivot like never before. We set up a standing ceremony close to the sailcloth tent during a small break in the rain. The skies were growing dark again as Danielle emerged from the home for the ceremony to be greeted by the smiling faces of her guests. As vows were being exchanged, the sky opened up again with a monsoon of rain. Did the guests get wet? Absolutely. But there was not one grumpy soul in sight, simply hoots and hollers of love and support. The couple handled every second with such grace and calm. Not only were they so chill, but they were present, loving, compassionate, kind, and enjoyed the—excuse my french—fuck out of their day.
Despite seeing days of setup and months of planning blown away (literally), I have never witnessed a group of humans rally together like I did this day. 7 strapping groomsmen were literally carrying 50 pound benches over their heads soaking wet, yelling passionately "WE'RE HAVING A WEDDING, WE'RE HAVING A WEDDING!" The couple and guests partied their hearts out, despite very wet and muddy conditions under the tent. Scarlet O’Neill captured the true essence of the day and I can say with confidence that in over 10 years of planning I’ve never been so moved by a wedding gallery or wedding day.
The advice I would share in regards to literally and metaphorically weathering the storm when something doesn't go to plan on a wedding day is that there is no "perfect" wedding day. When couples put that expectation on having the "perfect" wedding, they are bound to be disappointed or let a small detail deter their experience. Life isn’t perfect. A marriage isn’t perfect. Weddings, even with hundreds of hours of planning and thinking about every minute detail, still won’t be perfect. Danielle and Stratt’s wedding will go down as one of the most heartfelt, real, raw, exceptional celebrations I’ve ever had the pleasure to be a part of. We all learned that sometimes the most amazing moments in life are indeed perfectly imperfect." - Alex of Blush and Bowties
And there is a story that will never ever leave my memory along with the photos that will forever live in my heart. There are not enough good words to say about Danielle, Stratton and their friends & family. These people are literally the GOAT.
