When it rains on your elopement

Getting married in the great outdoors always carries a risk of bad weather. In places like the Pacific Northwest that risk can be pretty high. But you don’t have to let it ruin your wedding! The right gear, mindset, and a flexible photographer makes all the difference.

When we arrived at Artist point on it was a far cry from the sunny idialic mountain views I had the day before. Fog kept visibility to just a few feet and a light rain pitter pattered off our cars. It didn’t seem like it was going to let up anytime soon so we made the decision to hit the trail. Umbrellas' and a good rain jacket come in really handy here, keeping the worst of the rain off you until it’s time to say I do. While some might think this as not an ideal situation, this was all part of the adventure this couple wanted. A crucial mindset to have when eloping. The rain didn’t ruin their vows, or their love for one another. It was simply another crazy moment in their lives together. And it made for an unforgettable ceremony. After, we ran inside to the ranger station to warm up by the fire before heading out for a few more photos.

While you don’t want to let the rain cancel your wedding, you don’t have to stay out in it all day. With some excellent photos in hand we headed down the mountain to the rainforests below. Now while a name like Rainforest doesn’t sound like a dry space, the thick tree cover provides an excellent shield from the rain. Despite the constant downpour a few miles away here we were nice and dry. And this is the case for many places in the Northwest, you can often travel a little ways and find another microbiome where the weather is a little better.

After more than 200 elopements across the country I’ve come to expect the unexpected. So I try to be as flexible as possible for my couples. So looking at the weather report we saw the following day was set to be nice and sunny up on the mountain. Instead of continuing our rainy shoot we made a plane to meet up again the following day. And that was the right move. The next day was just perfect and we were able to get those mountain views and stunning sunset. Flexibility really paid off.