A Complete Downpour, Rainy Milner Gardens Wedding Memories
B & E had picked June 2nd, 2024, over a year in advance for their rainy Milner Gardens wedding. They knew that early June on Vancouver Island could be unpredictable weather-wise, but with a good chance of sunshine. However, on their big day, the weather had other plans. It ended up being the rainiest day of June, with humidity ranging from 86% to 100%, pouring relentlessly from morning until night. This is hands down the rainiest wedding I have ever documented as a wedding photographer!
Despite the downpour, B & E admit that the rain was actually their favorite part, claiming that it “unlocked so many beautiful and completely unexpected moments for us.” Guests watched B & E exchange vows while seated under the cover of their umbrellas, and forgot all about the rain watching the smiles on these two get larger and larger.
Bridal Party Preparations at Milner Gardens
Milner Gardens is not only a stunning venue for wedding ceremonies and photos, but it also offers two separate rooms where the bride, groom, and their bridal party can prepare in privacy. These rooms are conveniently side by side, making it easy for the photographer to capture the natural flow of preparations. The ladies typically get ready in the Library room, which features a bathroom, an antique dresser with a mirror, and plenty of space for the bridal party. The rooms are adorned with photographs and artifacts that commemorate royal visits to the estate, giving Milner Gardens a charming, regal atmosphere, quite befitting for a wedding!
Rainy Milner Gardens Wedding Formal Photos
Rainy Milner Gardens wedding photos can be SO incredibly romantic! Things kept pretty much on track timing wise for the wedding day, but the rain did shift things a little bit. After the ceremony, guests did not mingle quite as long as they might have if the rain wasn’t pouring down on them. So, we began family photos sooner, and I shot quickly so that guests could retreat onto the reception portion of the event. Once family photos were finished, B, E and their bridal party dried off inside of the Milner House before once again heading back into the rain. Another highlight of the day for B was when her friend from Ecuador blow-dried her dress during this time.
After a quick dry-off, out we went again into the rain! We spent a good 30 minutes meandering the beautiful gardens and landscaping of Milner Gardens. The photo possibilities are endless here on the 70 acre estate, 10 of which make up the impressive garden alone! There were a few spots we chose to shoot at; in front of the Milner House’s ivy-laden wall, among the flowering Rhododendrons, and at the pool pond. As a photographer, you can spend hours here walking the many trails and searching for what’s in bloom.
Private Vows in the Shelter of the Gazebo
After the ceremony and formal photos at Milner Gardens, B, E, and their guests headed to Tigh-Na-Mara Resort for the reception. Originally, B and E had planned to exchange private vows on the beach, but with the rain and wind still going strong, they quickly changed their plans. They sought shelter in the gazebo, which offered a stunning view of the ocean while keeping them dry. By this time, B’s shoes were soaked through from the mud and rain, so she went barefoot. B later recalled this moment as one of the most romantic of the day- made even more special from the rain.
“Honestly, the rain unlocked so many beautiful and completely unexpected moments for us. From Laurel squeezing my hand before the ceremony to comfort me about the literal downpour that had just started, watching our friends and family march on under their umbrellas, having Susie, the lovely Milner volunteer and otherwise complete stranger, hold my train above the mud as I stood waiting with my Dad to walk down the aisle, feeling like we got married in a little bubble under our umbrella at the altar, having my old friend come all the way from Ecuador to blow-dry my wedding dress after the ceremony, getting to recite my vows barefoot overlooking the ocean after my shoes got trashed by the mud… to all of the unexpected little encounters with strangers who just looked at us like – what the heck are a bride and groom doing walking out there in the rain? But all that time we were laughing! And do you know what the most unexpected part was? Even though I got soaked, I never once felt cold.”
-B
Milner Gardens Weddings: https://milnergardens.viu.ca/
Tigh-Na-Mara Resort: https://tigh-na-mara.com/
Sheri Taylor Makeup Artist: https://vanislandmakeupartist.com/index.html
Florals from Thrifty Foods: https://www.thriftyfoods.com/