Let’s be honest: it’s Ireland, and it might rain. Couples often worry about the weather more than anything else in the run-up to the day, especially if they’re flying in from somewhere sunnier. After years of filming weddings here, my take is this: rain doesn’t ruin a wedding. It just changes the story.
Why I secretly like a bit of weather
Rain brings people together. Everyone huddles under umbrellas, someone holds a coat over the bride’s head, a groomsman sprints to the car. Those moments are real, and they’re the kind of thing you’ll laugh about for years. Overcast light is soft and even, too, which is flattering for everyone and gives a film a lovely moody feel. And the rainbows here are something else.
How to plan for it
Choose a venue with a wet-weather plan you genuinely like: a conservatory, a covered courtyard or a barn with big doors.
Buy a few clear or plain umbrellas. They look great in photos, and far better than a pile of mismatched golf umbrellas.
Have a coat or wrap you love, so you’re warm and happy for it to be in the pictures.
Keep the timeline flexible. If the sky clears for ten minutes, we’ll be out the door for portraits.
Bring a second pair of shoes, or embrace the wellies.
What I do on the day
I keep an eye on the sky all day so we can grab portraits in the breaks between showers. I know the covered spots and doorways at most venues in Cork and Kerry, and I’d much rather film you laughing in the rain than hiding from it. For the documentary, the sound of rain on the marquee roof during the speeches is pure atmosphere.
So check the forecast if you must, but don’t let it take over your week. Bring the umbrellas and let the day be what it is. Planning a wedding in Ireland? I’d love to hear about it.
