How to Deal with Rain on Your Proposal Day
I have been photographing surprise proposals for the last ten years. I have learned a thing or two about being prepared for very possibility that might occur on your engagement day. The main concern many clients have is inclement weather. As you know, the weather is often unpredictable here in North Eastern Florida. This is especially true at sunset time. One minute it can be sunny and beautiful and the next it is raining. The last thing you want to do is let a little rain ruin your special day. So, what can you do to prepare for rain on the day of your engagement session? I have compiled a list of some ideas to help you prepare for this situation.
Find an ALternate Covered Location
While you may have had intentions of proposing outdoors, if the rain doesn’t allow you to do so, a switch of locations might be an option.
Ideas for alternate locations:
a park with a covered awning or gazebo. Downtown St Augustine would be a great alternate location, the fort or even the lighthouse would provide some covered options.
a scenic rooftop with a covered area
a restaurant or building with large expansive window to emulate an outdoor proposal
a hotel lobby
a covered carousel
a scenic airbnb
Choose a Rain Date or Adjust the Start Time
I will always build in a rain date for clients upon request. Some clients want the specific outdoor location and are willing to wait a day or two for the weather to clear. I am happy to accomodate. Sometimes, we can even work around the inclement weather simply by adjusting the start time. This may mean switching to a morning session or afternoon session instead of golden hour. Every session is different and being flexible is key. I always discuss this with my clients ahead of time to ensure that I have flexibility in my calendar for their session.
Embrace The Rain
Many clients can not switch the date because they have plans for after the proposal, such as a party or dinner. Some do not want to switch the location because the place is significant or it would be too difficult to maintain that element of surprise with a location switch. For those clients, we will go for it and we may adjust the time slightly if need be. If there is no gap in the rain, then we just stick to the plan and make “lemonade out of lemons”. There are some things you can do to make the day special and your images beautiful.
Wear bright pops of color. While you may not be able to control what your significant other is wearing, you can choose a colorful ensemble for yourself. This will brighten your images and add visual interest,
Bring along clear or fun colored umbrellas. Not only will the umbrellas keep you dry, but they will add some fun to your images
Have fun in the rain…jump in puddles dance in the rain..make the most of it. Rain can be ultra romantic and moody, so if you just roll with it and enjoy it, not only will the day be memorable, but your images will show this joy.
Be prepared to get wet. Bring along some rain boots and a change of clothes. Enlist the help of your significant other’s family members to gather these items for her. This is especially important if you have plans for after the session.
Odds are your photographer has shot in the rain before and will know poses and backdrops that will maximize your images.
Other Tips to keep in mind
The most important aspect to a surprise proposal is maintaining the element of surprise. So, even if the weather report looks ominous, do your best to remain calm and not freak out. Doing so, will only make your partner suspicious. I know you had a vision of the perfect golden sunny glow, but the focus of the images is not the backdrop, it is your love for one another and this very special moment in time.
Plan Ahead
I can not stress this enough. You must plan for the possibility of rain ahead of time and have a backup plan in place. Many times here in the Jacksonville, Florida area, inclement weather comes up quickly and without much notice, so knowing ahead of time what you will do in this situation eliminates a large amount of stress. Talk to your photographer ahead of time and come up with a plan b s that you are not scrambling at the last minute.
Contact Me
If you want a photographer who is well versed in proposal planning, contact me and I can help you plan your perfect day.