Rain on your wedding day can seem like an unwelcome guest, but with the right preparation and a touch of creativity, it doesn’t have to spoil your day (and it can give you some really exciting wedding photos). In this week’s blog, I wanted to explore some of the best wedding venues I’ve found in the Buckinghamshire, that work really well on both a sunny or rainy wedding day.
But just before I do that, I wanted to give you a few stats on rainfall in the county that I’ve garnered from the Met Office .
Buckinghamshire has the fewest rainy wedding days in May and June
The Met Office uses RAF High Wycombe as its baseline for rainfall in Buckinghamshire so here’s how it’s looked in recent years.
- The average annual rainfall is 817.28mm. That works out to 6.81cm or 2.68 inches/month.
- Buckinghamshire has the fewest rainy days in May and June. Which should translate into a lower probability of a rainy wedding day if you get married in those months.
- Months with the greatest number of rainy days are November, December and January.
- The wettest month in Buckinghamshire is October and the dryest months are March and April. April, who knew? Something to bear in mind if you want to increase your odds of getting good weather on your wedding day.
- As you’d expect, the warmest months are June to August, and the coldest months are December to February.
Five best rainy day wedding venues in Buckinghamshire
I’m sure no one dreams of rain on their wedding day but even in our picturesque county of Buckinghamshire, it does happen so it’s good to know there are enchanting venues that not only offer an exquisite backdrop for your wedding celebrations, but also work well if it rains.
From exotic hotels to historic estates, these five exceptional venues promise to turn a rainy wedding day into a magical affair. Join me as I explore some of the best Buckinghamshire venues that embrace the beauty of a rainy wedding day, making it an occasion to remember.
How about a rainy wedding day at the Crazy Bear in Beaconsfield
First on my list of great rainy day wedding venues is the Crazy Bear in Beaconsfield.
Perfect for a small intimate wedding ceremony, the Crazy Bear is ‘a little bit of the exotic’ in small town Buckinghamshire.
Licenced for ceremonies with up to 36 guests, the venue can accommodate up to 100 guests for a buffet style reception and evening celebration.
When you book the Crazy Bear for your wedding, you have access to the rear of the property including the beautifully appointed bar with its sumptuous velvet fabrics, silver gilded furniture and wall mounted zebra heads.
If it’s raining outside, this is an excellent location for some romantic portraits because it’s so beautifully rich in variety and colour.
At one end of the bar, you’ll see a large opulent chandelier suspended over a marble staircase. The balcony at the top of the staircase offers another gorgeous photo opportunity.
The very back of the property (on the ground floor) is arranged around a pool with doors opening onto the patio; this gives you a great sense of bringing the outdoors in which could be just what you need if you do end up with a rainy wedding day.
Around the pool you’ll find exotic palms and bamboo, all of which help to create an intimate space, while at the same time providing screening from the adjacent properties.
One of the rooms leading onto the pool area is the Morrocan Lounge, an absolute feast for the eyes (and the camera), filled with authentic Moorish fabrics, furniture and decorations. Whatever the weather, you really have to capture some portraits in this room.
If you’re lucky enough to have a sunny day, you can enjoy cocktails around the pool with guests and steal a few portraits at sunset with your photographer.
Guests wanting to stay overnight can choose from one of 45 individually decorated bedrooms.
Hedsor House – a stunning venue for a rainy wedding day
Next on my list of excellent rainy day wedding venues is Hedsor House.
Hedsor House is a breath-taking Georgian country house nestled high above the River Thames near Taplow in Buckinghamshire.
The house is licenced for civil ceremonies with up to 150 guests but if you prefer a religious ceremony, and you satisfy the conditions of the parish, you can also exchange vows at St Nicholas Church, which is just 300 metres from the property.
For me, what makes Hedsor House an excellent sunny or rainy wedding day venue, is a combination of its architecture and its setting.
Inside the property you have many stunning locations to enjoy with guests and to capture with your wedding photographer. In fact, whether it’s raining or not, it would be a shame not to take a few portraits on the balcony of the Great Hall, on the staircase or in one of the many other beautifully appointed rooms at the house.
The upper balcony of the Great Hall, is also an ideal location for taking a group shot of all your guests if rain prevents people from going outside altogether.
All around the house there are doors opening onto wonderful gardens with far-reaching views across Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It’s so easy to bring the outside in if doesn’t happen to rain at your Hedsor House wedding – the place is just fabulous.
When it comes to capturing some of those vistas with your new husband or wife, there are plenty of paved areas where you can step out under an umbrella for just a moment.
In addition, the entrance to the house is covered, so only your photographer has to get wet if you fancy a few pics with the whole house in the shot.
Of course, if you’ve got a change of wedding clothes and you don’t mind getting wet, the sky’s the limit. Although, probably not for guests.
A day at Notley Abbey with your Buckinghamshire wedding photographer
https://harperweddingvenues.co.uk/notley-abbey/welcome/
A truly glamorous and romantic wedding venue, Notley Abbey is another good option on both a sunny and rainy wedding day.
Surrounded by gorgeous Buckinghamshire countryside, Notley Abbey was once the home of Vivien Leigh and Laurance Olivier.
The best indoor/outdoor location in my mind is the Monks’ Refectory – an attractive stone barn flooded with natural light and full of character.
For anyone that wants to be outside, whatever the weather, there’s a covered walkway at the rear of the property that runs from the refectory to the main abbey building.
If you’d like to get outside for some portraits in the rain, you’ll need an umbrella for most locations. One place you will find a useful canopy is on the driveway into the abbey grounds. During the summer months, the tree canopy will mostly keep you dry if you do have a rainy wedding day.
Another area that’s quite pleasing for a few outdoor portraits on a rainy wedding day is ‘the nook’ in the rear garden. On a sunny day, this is where you’d host your outdoor ceremony, if you were having one.
Notley Abbey is licenced for wedding ceremonies with up to 172 guests. There isn’t a lot of accommodation on site but it does have a luxurious bridal suite and eight additional bedrooms for close family or friends.
Missenden Abbey
One of my favourite wedding venues in Buckinghamshire is Missenden Abbey. On a rainy wedding day, there are several canopied doorways that allow you to enjoy the outdoors without getting wet.
If you’d like to have portraits in the grounds, there’s a pretty summer house next to the bridge where you’ll get good cover on a rainy wedding day, although you’ll need an umbrella to get there; you’ll also need to scoop up your wedding dress – and possible change your shoes – as there’s only a natural pathway.
If you’re having a larger celebration, you’ll probably have a marquee set up in the grounds. Unless, it’s extremely windy, this can be open on the sides, giving you a wonderful indoor/outdoor experience.
Missenden Abbey is licenced for wedding ceremonies with up to 100 guests. The venue has 58 bedroom suites, including a nicely appointed bridal suite.
Rackleys Chiltern Hills
Nestled in the Buckinghamshire countryside in Cadmore End, Rackleys Chiltern Hills is a luxury wedding barn with great indoor and outdoor areas for both a sunny or rainy wedding day.
The main barn is filled with beautiful natural light throughout the day but if you want spend time outside and it’s raining, it also has a deep wooden awning that runs the full length of the barn on one side.
The planting in the garden is deep and quite high so you can get some beautiful portraits looking out from the barn as well shooting back at it. It’ll also provide you dry spot if you to backlight the rain at night.
Rackleys barn is licensed for civil ceremonies with up to 120 guests, and its spacious interior ensures an unforgettable atmosphere. At one end of the barn, a large picture window frames a captivating view of the gardens and wildflower meadow—a remarkable backdrop for exchanging vows. Even if the weather isn’t ideal, this indoor setting can still provide a lovely backdrop for intimate portraits.
For more wedding venues in Buckinghamshire, visit my Buckinghamshire wedding photography page or get in touch.
If you like to see more examples of my work, see my portfolio.