Dear Bride,

When it comes to wedding planning, there are quite a few things a bride can control. Things like the colors, the design, who gets invited, etc. And then there is this other thing that unfortunately no human soul has control over — the weather. Over our years of photographing weddings, we have seen the weather cooperate and the weather decide it wants to do it's own thing. But regardless of what it decides to do on your wedding day, don't let it rob your joy.

When I was planning our wedding, I checked the weather app every day just in case it would be able to magically tell me what the weather of our wedding day would be a month out. But thankfully my husband encouraged me not to check the weather app the whole week of our wedding, and I am so grateful he did. It's the one thing I had no control over, and it's the one thing I had to surrender my expectations of. Thankfully we had beautiful weather on our wedding day, but that hasn't always been the case for the brides and grooms that we have photographed over the years. But you know what has been the most beautiful part of it all? How they have embraced it and made it a part of their wedding day story.

Whether it rained torrentially in May or snowed in October, our couples and their amazing bridal parties decided to make the best of it and embrace whatever weather the radar forecasted that day. Because at the end of the day, you will be married to the one you love most. And that's the whole point of the occasion, right?

If it rains, gather up the umbrellas and make the most of it. You only wear these dresses and suits once.

If your outdoor seating gets wet, have the best ushers and personal attendants you can find help dry off seats before the guests arrive.

If your ceremony gets rained out? You say your vows and commit your love with just a couple of witnesses, and run down the aisle hand in hand because – you’re totally married!

If it starts to rain and hail during your dance, have the band play "Here Comes the Sun" and dance the night away.

If your wedding reception gets rained out, grab your closest friends and family and enjoy a dance under the falling rain.

If it's so cold that you can see your breath and you can't feel your toes, quick breaks and long embraces are a must.

If it blizzards on your wedding day and it happens to be October, grab your winter boots and take some magical snow-filled photos.

All of this to say: When the weather doesn't go as planned, close the weather app and take a deep breath. At the end of the day, you will be married to your love, and that is the best and greatest part of the whole celebratio n.

Yours truly,