How do you handle a rainy wedding day? How do you make it work? How do you make it creative?

We always bring a bunch of those big black or black and white umbrellas in case it rains. They have come in handy and made for some fun photos.

I've had several rainy weddings. Most of the time the rain breaks just long enough to get a few shots. If not, we use umbrellas, and look for buildings with overhangs. There is also a really great overpass here that I will take them to if their wedding is in that area. Gazebos seem to work as well. Usually once the photos begin, the bride relaxes about the rain and allows herself to get a little drizzled on.... not sopping, but a bit wet. Then she stops worrying about the bottom of her dress. It has always seemed to work out.
You can also look for big windows to use for indoor shots.

Hope this helps.

All of the above and look at your venue for great locations inside, have remote flash or video light ready. Use the rain creatively, use the puddles, umbrellas, shoot through windows with water droplets on them, show the weather it's part of the story.

i bring big white golf umbrellas.

ok so all the above ideas make sense to me and I carry two black umbrellas in my car, I've used a bunch of the above options, but my question has always been my gear.

What does everyone do to protect your gear? I already need about 2 extra pair of hands most days so I'm definitely not talented enough to use an umbrella over myself!

The joys of 1D-series Canon bodies and weathersealed lenses --- I don't worry about the rain...

That said - before I used a 1D body I used a plastic garbage bag -- poked a hole for the lens and shot away... it is ugly, but it works...

Thanks so much for the advise. As usual, a lot of it I hadn't even thought of.

It's never rained on me so I don't really know. I look forward to the day!

white umbrellas are better - they act more like reflectors and softboxes....

and as far as umbrellas for yourself:

YES! that is the best solution! you should probably just wear it all the time, ya know just in case

Adam has a waterproof cover that goes over his camera. When we are shooting in the rain, he shoots, I don't. Often I hold the umbrella over him, so that he doesn't get soaked, but he still uses the waterproof housing thing over the camers. We carry a plain black golf umbrella for the bride and groom and a bunch of black and white ones for the bridal party.

Just to update everyone...wedding went off w/o a hitch. No rain. A little drizzle super early before any shooting even started, but that was it.

hahahhaha--- oy vey. I don't think I could pull that look off quite like this guy!

By the way, it's funny that I asked this because it POURED at my wedding this weekend. I was shooting with a trash bag over my camera. I wasn't really concerned about myself, but I kinda felt like I looked like a drowned rat by the time we were ready for formals. Oh well.

Last weekend it poured at the wedding we had. I had to run out to the car to get something, in the middle of a massive downpour. My hair was literally dripping when I came back in. Luckily, the dress I wear to weddings does not really show moisture (I love it because it does not show sweat), so at least I didn't look like I was wearing wet clothes. It hadn't been raining when we got there, and we hadn't brought any umbrellas in. I got a lot of really weird looks and comments. On the way to the reception I was at least able to brush my hair and make it look slightly better, but pretty much I looked awful all day.