| More and more weddings are being held outdoors. | | | | you photographer familiar with the setting and its |
| Regardless of the reason, there are certain things that | | | | lighting requirements? |
| must be considered that are different from weddings | | | | 5. How far is it from the place the bride and her |
| held inside. These 10 considerations are: | | | | attendants dress to the ceremony? Is there even a |
| | | | place for the bride to dress, or does she need to |
| 1. Perhaps the most important consideration is the | | | | come to the site ready for the ceremony? |
| weather. You probably would not want to plan a | | | | 6. Will you have your reception and/or dinner at the |
| wedding in January in Alaska or Michigan or in August | | | | same location or will your guests need to drive to |
| in Arizona or South Texas. (It is, however, easier to | | | | another location? |
| have an outdoor wedding in the heat than in the cold). | | | | 7. If you have guests who are disabled, can they get |
| If you do choose a date that may risk extreme | | | | to the ceremony site with a minimum of consternation |
| weather, allow for the proper dress - coats and | | | | and effort? |
| footwear for the cold, light clothing, fans and drinking | | | | 8. Is there adequate parking? If not, is there a shuttle |
| water for the heat. | | | | service that can transport your guests from the |
| 2. The distance from the parking area to the | | | | parking lot to the ceremony site? |
| ceremony site. I officiated at a wedding that was held | | | | 9. What about bugs? If there is an insect problem, |
| in a beautiful setting. To get there the guests had to | | | | what can be done about it? You certainly don't want |
| hike a mile through sand and rocks, cross a creek by | | | | your guests eaten up by mosquitoes nor do you want |
| walking across rocks, and all this in 95 degree heat. | | | | a bee to get in Aunt Mabel's hair or fly into the |
| They had not informed their guests of this minor | | | | officiant's mouth while he or she is trying to pronounce |
| marathon and many women in their finest wedding | | | | the couple as husband and wife. |
| wear and spiked heals waited in their cars until | | | | 10. Choose your attire to accommodate the |
| everyone else returned from the ceremony. While the | | | | out-of-doors venue; e.g., no spiked heels, no long |
| ceremony was spectacular and held in a stunning | | | | flowing trains or veils, etc. In a beautiful outdoor setting, |
| setting, there were some quite unhappy guests. | | | | a wedding ceremony can be spectacular if you do the |
| 3. If you have a mike and/or a D.J. for the ceremony, | | | | proper planning ahead of time. Look for ways to |
| are electrical outlets available? | | | | enhance the setting and avoid the pitfalls and you will |
| 4. If it is in the evening, what time does the sun set? Is | | | | most likely have a breathtaking ceremony. |
| lighting available if it gets dark earlier than expected? Is | | | | |