Elopement Planning Archives - Page 8 of 8 - Babs Boardwell Photography

What If It Rains on Your Elopement Day in Wales? 5 Practical Tips

Planning an outdoor elopement in Wales and wondering what happens if it rains? It’s a fair question :) Particularly if you’re dreaming of exchanging your vows somewhere in the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia), beside a lake or along the Welsh coast. The weather here can be wonderfully unpredictable. You might have sunshine one minute, low cloud drifting through the mountains the next, and a proper downpour before you’ve even finished your coffee.

But rain doesn’t automatically mean your elopement plans are ruined.

I’ve photographed plenty of couples in less-than-perfect weather, and some of my favourite wedding photographs have been taken on grey, misty or rainy days. The important thing is having a little flexibility, being prepared and knowing when to adjust your plans.

Here are five practical tips for making the most of a rainy elopement in Wales.

1. Choose your elopement location with the weather in mind

One of the loveliest things about eloping in Wales is having so many different landscapes to choose from. Mountains, lakes, woodland, waterfalls and beautiful stretches of coastline are often within relatively easy reach of one another. But not every location works equally well in every kind of weather. If you’re planning to exchange private vows somewhere in the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia), for example, an exposed summit might not be the best choice when strong winds, heavy rain or poor visibility are forecast.

A sheltered valley, an accessible lakeside location or somewhere at a lower elevation might be a much more comfortable alternative. And sometimes the weather in one part of Eryri is completely different from the conditions just a short distance away. This is one of the reasons I spend so much time helping my couples choose locations and think through their plans before the day itself. Having a few suitable options means we can make sensible decisions without losing what you loved about the idea of eloping outdoors in the first place.

A little tip: If you’re planning a mountain elopement, think about what matters most to you. Is it reaching a particular summit, or is it having some quiet time together somewhere beautiful? You might find there’s more flexibility than you first thought.

2. Dress for the weather, not just the photographs

If there’s one thing I’d recommend for an outdoor elopement in Wales, it’s being comfortable. You don’t need to spend the entire day in hiking gear, but a few practical extras can make an enormous difference. Think waterproof jackets, comfortable footwear with good grip, warm layers and perhaps a change of clothes waiting in the car. If you’re planning a walk to your chosen vow location, there’s nothing wrong with wearing walking boots and changing into something else once you arrive.

And if your dress gets a little wet along the way? That’s usually much less of a problem than being cold and uncomfortable for hours. Umbrellas can be lovely for a gentle shower, particularly somewhere sheltered, but they’re not especially useful in strong mountain or coastal winds and so I don’t recommend bringing them. What I do recommend is bringing a small towel, a waterproof bag for anything you want to keep dry and something warm to put on afterwards. You can still look and feel lovely on your wedding day while being properly prepared for the conditions.

3. Keep your elopement timeline flexible

One of the biggest advantages of eloping is that your wedding day doesn’t have to follow a rigid schedule. And that can be particularly useful when you’re planning to spend time outdoors in Wales. If there’s a heavy shower forecast for lunchtime but a clearer spell later in the afternoon, we might decide to swap things around. Perhaps you enjoy a slow morning at your accommodation, head out for your private vows a little later or spend some time somewhere sheltered before exploring.

You don’t need to squeeze everything into a particular hour simply because that’s what was originally written on your timeline. Of course, if you’ve booked a legal ceremony at a register office or licensed venue, that appointment still needs to happen at the agreed time. But the rest of your day can often be much more flexible. I always encourage couples to leave a little breathing room in their plans. It’s lovely to have time for an unexpected stop, a warm drink or simply enjoying where you are without constantly checking the clock.

And if you’re still figuring out how everything fits together, my Guide to eloping in Wales is a useful starting point for planning the practical side of your day.

4. Know when to embrace the rain and when to change plans

There’s a big difference between a little Welsh drizzle and weather that makes an outdoor location unsafe. Light rain, low cloud and mist can be beautiful to photograph, and they often bring a lovely quiet atmosphere to the mountains. But heavy rain, strong winds, thunderstorms, flooding and poor visibility need to be taken seriously. Mountain paths can become slippery, streams can rise quickly and exposed locations can be dangerous in severe weather.

And it’s not just the mountains. Coastal paths and beaches can also become unsuitable in strong winds, rough seas or dangerous tidal conditions.

If the forecast suggests that our planned location isn’t safe, we change the plan. That might mean choosing somewhere lower down, visiting a different area or spending more time at your accommodation before heading out when conditions improve. And sometimes it means leaving the outdoor adventure for another time.

Your wedding day should be something you enjoy, not something you have to endure.

My advice: Check the forecast from reliable sources such as the Met Office and pay attention to weather warnings and local conditions. For mountain locations, a specialist mountain forecast is useful too.

5. Remember that your wedding day is about more than the weather

It’s easy to spend the weeks before your elopement checking the forecast and hoping for sunshine. But the weather is only one small part of the day. You might have a lovely quiet morning together, exchange your vows somewhere meaningful, stop for coffee and cake, explore a little and finish with a cosy meal. And none of those things require perfect blue skies.

Some couples love being out in the rain. Others would much rather stay warm and dry until the weather improves. Both are absolutely fine. I photographed H&F’s winter micro wedding at Penarth Fawr on the Llŷn Peninsula, where the weather was anything but sunny. They still chose to head out for a little coastal adventure after their ceremony, before finishing the day with dinner in Abersoch. Their wedding is a lovely reminder that a small celebration can be wonderfully relaxed, even when the Welsh weather has other ideas.

You can read H&F’s winter micro wedding story at Penarth Fawr for a little real wedding inspiration.

What if the weather is too bad for a mountain elopement in Eryri (Snowdonia)?

If you’re planning a mountain elopement in Eryri, it’s worth remembering that you don’t necessarily need to reach a summit to have a beautiful experience. Some of my favourite locations are tucked away in valleys, beside lakes or along quieter walking routes. The mountains are still very much part of the landscape, but you may have more options when the weather changes. That doesn’t mean every lower-level location is automatically safe in bad weather. Conditions still need to be assessed on the day, particularly after prolonged rainfall or during weather warnings.

And if you’ve been dreaming of exchanging private vows outdoors, there may be another suitable location that gives you the sense of space and quiet you’re looking for.

One thing worth knowing is that a private or symbolic vow exchange outdoors is different from a legally recognised wedding ceremony. Legal civil ceremonies in Wales must take place at a register office or approved venue, including permitted outdoor areas within approved premises. This is why some couples choose to complete the legal part separately and then spend time somewhere beautiful exchanging personal vows. It gives you more freedom to choose a location and plan around the weather.

Is rain actually good for elopement photographs?

It certainly can be!

Overcast skies often create soft, even light, while mist and low cloud can give the Welsh mountains a completely different atmosphere. And if you’ve ever watched the clouds moving across the mountains of Eryri after a shower, you’ll know how beautiful that can be. But I wouldn’t tell you that rain is automatically better for photographs. Heavy rain can make photography more difficult, particularly when equipment, visibility and comfort become an issue. For me, it’s about working with the conditions we have rather than trying to force a particular look. The photographs should reflect how your day actually felt, whether that’s a quiet morning in the mist, a walk beside a lake or a lovely sunny afternoon.

Planning an outdoor elopement in Wales?

If you’re dreaming of getting married somewhere in the Welsh landscape, you don’t need to have every detail worked out before getting in touch.

I photograph elopements across North Wales, including Eryri (Snowdonia), the Llŷn Peninsula and Anglesey, and helping couples plan their day is a big part of what I do. From finding suitable locations to putting together a relaxed timeline and thinking through alternative plans, I can help you create a day that feels like you. Because the experience of getting married matters just as much as the photographs you’ll have afterwards.

You can explore my Snowdonia Elopement Photography Page to find out more about how I work, or get in touch and tell me a little about what you’re planning.

Rain or shine, there’s something rather lovely about choosing to get married your own way.