Outdoor weddings are magical. Mother Nature must have had weddings in mind when she started painting seascapes and skylines. And when it comes to wedding photos, you can’t beat the outdoors for the natural light and a variety of unique settings.

However, Mother Nature has a sense of humor, and that can show up in the form of rain, wind, or bird droppings, even on your special day. There are a few considerations to keep in mind when it comes to photographing your outdoor wedding.

What Are You Wearing?

When you’re dress shopping months in advance, keep the weather in mind. Choose a light fabric to stay more comfortable on a warm day, and consider what you’re asking everyone else to wear, too. A 10-year-old usher in a tux can be a tough customer in any climate.

However, if you or your bridesmaids are wearing short dresses made of light material, they might be at risk of blowing in the wind. Do a test or two in front of a fan to make sure you won’t have to be on guard all the way through a windy ceremony. We might talk about wanting to capture every moment of the wedding day, but maybe there are some exceptions.

Don’t Forget the Sunscreen!

Even if you’re not prone to sunburn, someone in your wedding party might be, and he or she might be glowing red by the time we finish taking pictures. That might make a funny story a few years down the road, but no one loves looking sunburned in photographs, and it’s going to make that dancing a lot less comfortable.

Secure Your Hair

If it’s a windy day, wearing your hair down could be distracting as it whips across your face, and it will leave you with an unpolished look for photographs. If you like the wind-swept wild look, let’s go for it! But if your gown and the rest of the ceremony are more formal, you will probably want your hair to match. Consider an up-do for your outdoor wedding.

Have a Photo Back-Up Plan

If we’re doing photos before the wedding, we might want to scout an indoor location where we can get a few shots just in case it’s especially windy, cloudy, or rainy.

Let It Rain

Usually, you’ll have a pretty good idea before the wedding whether or not it’s going to rain. You can’t change your date a week before the event if the forecast grows cloudy, so it’s best to have a backup plan. Perhaps your venue has an indoor space where you could hold the ceremony if necessary; for smaller weddings, a large tent or canopy might provide all the shelter you need. You could also move your ceremony to the reception venue.

You might choose to go for it if it’s only a sprinkle. And that downpour (which of course, of course, is not going to happen on your wedding day) would make for some unique photos!

Good-Bye, Bugs

You don’t want to be slapping at mosquitoes during the ceremony, and you definitely don’t want your wedding photos to feature giant red bites on your arms! Consider using a repellent on your body and candles or coils throughout the seating area to protect your guests and the wedding party.

Pack a Make-Up Touch-Up Kit

Your face could get shiny in the heat, so have a bridesmaid carry some powder and blotting papers. And since she’s carrying that (hey, she knew what she was getting into), pack your mascara, eyeliner, and anything else you use in case the rain or the sun causes some smudging.

Keep Your Cool

Arrange your guests in the shade if possible; you might opt for fans, misters, or air conditioners. You’ll stay more comfortable and be less likely to start sweating. Speaking of which:

Watch for Sweat

If it’s a really hot day, that newlywed glow might start to drip down your back. Don’t worry: if you’re sweating, everyone else is, too, and they’re plenty concerned about their own to notice yours. Have tissues on hand for this purpose, particularly when we’re snapping photos.

 

Where’s the Sun?

If possible, set up the aisle and altar so the sun is behind your guests. This will prevent every photo from being a silhouette, and it will be more comfortable for your guests to look at you if the sun’s not right in their eyes.

Though an outdoor wedding does require a little extra care and planning, for our photographic purposes as well as the guest experience, I’m sure you’ll find that it’s worth it. We’ll discuss all of this and more before the wedding so you’re feeling prepared and camera-ready throughout the entire day. At that point, we’ll embrace whatever happens! Your photos will tell your wedding story, rain or shine.