Rainy Desert Wedding | Gregory and Stephanie

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Rain. Yes, we said it. The very word that strikes fear into the hearts of outdoor wedding planners everywhere. Rain. Rain, and more rain. With a 50% chance of precipitation that turned into 100%. Valley of Fire, near Las Vegas is usually a bone dry red rock desert venue. The amount of rain that we get in an entire year is enough to fill a child’s sippy cup. And so we were not too worried in the beginning at that gloomy forecast, we have worried for nothing in past weddings. But as the day loomed closer, and the weather predictions of rain began to rise, higher and higher percentage wise each day, we contacted our lovely British couple, Stephanie and Greg. We told them of our news, as well as our contingency plan, then waited for their reply. Would we fold, like a badly dealt Vegas hand; or would we stay, and ride out the weather so Stephanie could have that desert wedding she wanted so badly. And the answer they gave? “Let’s go for it!” and the wedding was on! Rain or shine, the wedding will go on! We were excited, nervous, and a bit bemused. But Stephanie and Greg and co. hail from a very wet land. A precipitous land across the sea, that Great Britain, the United Rainy Kingdom. “We’re used to rain!” they said. “It rains all the time in the UK” they said! We took them at their word and began to prepare.

We told our our officiant, Angie with Peachy Keen Unions, and we told our pizza guy, yes, Yukon Pizza was coming to the party, too. Angie got her umbrella, and Alex of Yukon Pizza had a pop up tent to cover his wood fired pizza oven., so were ready to go! Nothing was going to stop this wedding. But eventually, something did stop. After 6 hours of non stop rain, steadily dripping rain, lasting through wedding vows, group pictures, bride and groom visiting with family, toasts, speeches, and the cutting of the cake, it happened. During the very last few minutes of the day, we had a miracle. The rain stopped. And we were rewarded for our perseverance. A big reward.

One of the most beautiful, unusual, stunning sights ever to greet us at Valley of Fire unfolded. The colors of red rock that appeared were the deepest richest, fire red that we had ever seen. The greens were greener. The sky was full of dramatic stormy clouds. And hugging the mountains surrounding us, was fog. Hanging ever so lowly over the sharp rugged skyline and mountain peaks, it cloaked those hills, and looked like something out of the cinematic film “Lord of the Rings.” We were struck in awe, as photographers, just standing there, it took our breath away, and we thought it a huge reward for slogging through the rain all that time. Because that scene was a true gift. We quickly drug Stephanie and Greg up the hill, and we took the epic shot, with the fog, the red rocks, our lovely couple and the vista of all vistas. Wow. Unbelievable. Simply epic. And all because this cute couple, this adventurous two, said, “Let’s do it!” And so we did.

Stephanie and Greg, thank you so much for the opportunity. We loved it. Seriously, we were unbelievably happy you gave the word to go. All of our love and best wishes, and by the way, they say, that when it rains, not only does it pour, but it brings the best of luck for your marriage. We figure you will have luck in spades, or in lieu of spades, think buckets. Luck by the bucket. Cheers!