How To Prepare for Rain on Your Elopement Day in Scotland

The Scottish Highlands are one of my absolute favorite places in the entire world. They are dramatic, stunning, wild, and untamed. I will recommend eloping in the Scottish Highlands until I am blue in the face because of how magical of an experience it can be. With that being said, it is important to keep in mind that weather in Scotland can be a bit unpredictable. Rain and wind happen all the time but, if you plan for it, your elopement day will be even more authentic and beautiful because of it. Here are a few tips and tricks that I have put together to help you do just that.

Try not to stress yourself out early on:

One of the most important things to remember is that you can’t change the weather and that worrying about it early is only going to serve to stress you out. I know, when I am stressed over something, the last thing that I want someone telling me is to “not worry about it”. I get that. So, plan and prepare for the possibility of rain and funky weather but try not to let it cast a pall over the fun of planning for your big day. 

Surround yourself with people that are knowledgeable and prepared:

This piece of advice is absolutely key. Something that will help you not stress about weather is surrounding yourself with people that can help you deal with it. That way, you can feel confident trusting their advice and knowing that they have a plan. They can worry about everything so that you don’t have to. As a photographer, I help my couples find locations, put together a timeline, navigate permits, and just about anything else that they need me to do. Part of this includes having contingency plans for everything including backup locations and a flexible timeline that can be adjusted depending on the weather. I want my couples to feel confident that I have their backs and that I can help them have an incredible and memorable day, even if things don’t go according to our original plan. 

Be flexible:

I am a timeline and checklist person. I like to have everything planned out, every contingency accounted for, and a handy list to help me remember it all. That being said, there is beauty and authenticity in allowing yourself to be flexible and change plans when you need to. Plan a long, beautiful hike but also have locations that you can go to that aren’t far off the road in case a storm makes hiking unsafe or impossible. Have a timeline but be okay pushing that timeline back a bit so that you can hang out in a local pub while you wait for the rain to pass. Flexibility doesn’t mean that you have to throw your plans to the wind, but allowing yourself to adjust them means that you are opening yourself up to the possibility of an even more authentic and adventurous day.

Dry off:

Finding ways to dry off is huge! This can be hanging out in your car for a little while while your hair dries or taking a quick break to grab a snack in a local restaurant. Even taking a few seconds to cuddle under an umbrella or blanket can keep you from going from a bit wet to soaking.

Be okay getting a bit dirty:

Rain leads to mud and, as much as you might try for it not to happen, if you are going to be outside for your elopement, some mud is going to end up on your clothes. I’m not saying that you are going to be covered in a thick layer of muck but your hem is going to get dirty. Honestly, I love the look of a dirty hem and think that it shows just how real and epic your wedding day was. 

Things to have in case of rain:

-a raincoat: this is pretty self explanatory

-leggings: a pair of nude leggings under your dress is a game changer if you're going to be in cold, wet weather. This can make the difference between being a bit wet but still present and not being able to focus on anything but how cold and drenched you are.

-a cute umbrella: a lot of couples will have a cute, clear umbrella to be able to protect themselves from the rain but still get stunning pictures.

-hand warmers: I love sticking some hand warmers in my pockets to keep my fingers warm during a rainy hike. (I also sometimes stick them in my boots, strap them to my stomach, or shove them in my pants. You do what you have to do to stay warm.)

-rain boots: I love a pair of cute rain boots with a dress or suit pants!

-a big hat to hide your hair under: If you were looking forward to having your hair down and flowing around you, bring a big hat that you can shove your hair under while you hike or explore and then let it down when you are ready for your ceremony and pictures.

-a sweater: Rain and wind often leads to cold. Bring a cute sweater, cardigan, or jacket that you can throw on over your dress to keep you warm and snuggle up in.

Try to relax and enjoy your wedding day. Life is unpredictable. You and your partner are not perfect. Nothing in life goes exactly according to plan. AND THAT”S BEAUTIFUL! Let your elopement day reflect that. I promise that you are going to look back on your elopement in the Scottish Highlands and not think about adjusted timelines or a dirty hem but the incredible day that you shared with the person you love, committing yourselves to each other in one of the world’s most stunning places.

Don’t believe that a rainy elopement day in Scotland can still be amazing? Don’t take my word for it. Take a look at theses:

This is the super cute inn that Eve, Callum, and I hung out in while we waited for a storm to pass. We drank beer, ate freaking DELICIOUS burgers, and played some pool. It was one of the best parts of the whole day!

Sam and Cailin were super cute snuggling under their umbrella on their rainy wedding day!

Laura and Will finding a quiet moment in between all of the rain on their day. I love the look of rain soaked streets.

Abi and Merrit right before the storm hit. Storm clouds really do make the most amazing pictures.