Rainy June Wedding

This rainy June wedding is a testament to how embracing the unexpected can shape your wedding day into an incredibly unique experience.

Kristen and Michael’s rainy june wedding – The Wedding Morning

June 21st 2025 was the rainiest forecasted day the City of Calgary had seen since 2013. Kristen and Michael’s rainy June wedding is a day that has stuck with me all summer.

It was pouring rain on the morning of the wedding. Water was pooling in road ways, hills along the roads were giving way to mudslides as an overwhelming amount of rain fell in a short amount of time. While the weather was gloomy, the excitement and anticipation of the wedding could not be dampened by the rain (pun maybe intended)

Kristen’s hair was done by Christina from Devoted to You Artistry, and makeup was done by Victoria who also happened to be one of Kristen’s friends and bridesmaids. Kristen wore a stunning Maggie Sottero gown from The Bridal Centre. The florals by Flower Chix were the perfect palette for an early summer wedding. The peonies and the soft pink tones are my absolute favourite!

Ceremony

Kristen and Michael were married at St. Stephen Protomartyr Ukrainian Catholic Church. Throughout the ceremony, the weather was loudly making it known that it was here to stay. As the rain pounded loudly on the roof and the wind violently howled outside, Father Janko made mention of the couple weathering the storm together. Rain is a symbol of luck on a wedding day in many cultures.

Kristen and Michael incorporated Ukrainian traditions into the ceremony. Wreaths were placed on their heads deeming them king and queen of their home. A cup of wine was shared to signify that in marriage, all things must be shared equally. They took their first steps as husband and wife as they circled the altar three times.

Portraits

As the rain continued to pour, I had booked a studio for portraits as an indoor back up plan. The bright interiors made for a clean backdrop for the formal portraits and I could not be happier with how soft and beautiful the light was. We got creative with some wedding party portraits. I leaned more into the romantic, editorial vibes for Kristen and Michael’s portraits together. After spending some time in the studio, we noticed the rain was beginning to ease up so we decided to venture out with some umbrellas and hope for the best.

After the storm

The rain began to ease up later in the afternoon, so we decided to run around downtown. With the studio being conveniently located right by the Palliser and Stephen Avenue, it offered some fantastic photo locations that were a short walk away. Baker Park was the original plan for portraits had it not been raining. While it wasn’t originally planned for, some of these portraits of Kristen and Michael have easily become some of my favourites. Snapping a few candids of them cozying up under an umbrella really allowed me to better tell the story of their unforgettable day.

Reception

Kristen and Michael’s reception was held at The Village Brentwood Lifestyle Centre. One of the central focal points of the wedding was Kristen and Michael’s Ukrainian heritage. Kristen and Michael met doing Ukrainian dancing in the same dance group. Their friends and fellow dancers performed a couple of dance performances throughout the evening. The dances were fast paced and energetic which set the tone for the evening festivities. The evening ended with the kolomeyka dance which is a lively Ukrainian folk dance where participants form a circle while soloists perform in the centre of the circle.

Final Thoughts on this beautiful rainy june wedding

Sometimes the weather forecast can throw a wrench into your plans, but rain in the forecast doesn’t automatically mean your wedding will be a disaster. Don’t let a rainy forecast cause unnecessary stress. Shortly after the wedding, Kristen texted me and said she couldn’t believe that the rain was the best thing that could’ve happened for their wedding day! Kristen and Michael’s day will forever be a testament to how embracing the change of plans can actually sometimes make for a better day than you could’ve planned for.