| You want to have an outdoor wedding ceremony and | | | | the noon day sun; saying your vows in the late |
| reception, to use the fresh beauty of nature as the | | | | afternoon; or champagne toasts over speeches at |
| backdrop for your event, rather than some stuffy | | | | sunset, think for a moment about how the sun will |
| banquet room... | | | | shine on your guests. If guests need to stare into the |
| Perhaps you want to have more of a "simple" feel to | | | | glare of the sun to try to make out the bride & |
| your wedding, or maybe you want to take advantage | | | | groom's silhouettes, you may want to rethink the timing |
| of some spectacular local scenery. Or maybe you just | | | | or positioning of the different elements of your event. |
| think it will be great fun to have an outdoor wedding in | | | | Bugs! |
| your parent's backyard! | | | | Now here's a topic that doesn't spring quickly to mind |
| Whatever the case, there are a few considerations | | | | when you're planning your romantic outdoor wedding in |
| you need to think about... | | | | a beautiful natural setting... BUGS! All too many summer |
| The weather! | | | | evening wedding receptions are plagued by pesky |
| Of course, the weather is the "biggy" for an outdoor | | | | mosquitoes; some parts of the world have an even |
| wedding. If you live in an area that experiences | | | | worse time of it with black flies, wasps, and other |
| inclement weather, you will definitely need to have a | | | | nasty critters. |
| back-up option. This means either renting tents or | | | | So what can you do to prevent a buggy invasion on |
| having an indoor option that you could move to at the | | | | your special day? Well, dotting a few citronella candles |
| last minute. | | | | here and there can't hurt. Discreetly placing a bottle of |
| The temperature | | | | bug spray behind a the centrepiece on each table isn't |
| If your outdoor wedding will involve celebrating into the | | | | a bad idea, either! Another great way to keep the |
| night, you will need to consider how chilly the evening | | | | bugs at bay during your outdoor wedding is to |
| air will be for your guests. If you're worried about the | | | | strategically place a few fans at the perimeter of your |
| temperature at your outdoor wedding, make sure to | | | | reception seating to blow those bugs away. |
| tell guests to bring a wrap or jacket. You can also rent | | | | The unexpected |
| heat lamps or even fire pits, depending on the style of | | | | When you're having an outdoor wedding, one thing |
| your wedding. | | | | you'll definitely have to expect is... the unexpected! |
| On the other hand, if your outdoor wedding will take | | | | Unexpected heat: Will your wedding cake melt in the |
| place during a particularly warm time of year, you may | | | | noonday sun? Will your grandmother get heat stroke? |
| want to consider ways of keeping your guests cool. | | | | Unexpected noise: Will a city parade, jet plane air |
| Make sure there is some sort of shade available for | | | | show, traffic jam, or neighbourhood game of kickball |
| guests on a hot day - whether it's from trees, tents, or | | | | create unexpected noise at your event? Ask your |
| umbrellas! | | | | neighbours to refrain from using their leaf blowers |
| The ground beneath your feet! | | | | during your ceremony; consider dropping off event |
| One consideration that couples often overlook when | | | | notices around the neighbourhood asking people to |
| planning an outdoor wedding is the ground. If the | | | | respect your event. |
| ground is gravelled, uneven, or moist lawn (into which | | | | Unexpected bad weather: What will you do if the wind |
| high heels can sink!), women will have trouble walking in | | | | picks up and starts blowing everything away? What if |
| their high heels. In consideration of your guests, young | | | | a massive thunder and lightning storm decides to roll in |
| and old, think about whether the ground is easily | | | | just as everyone is sitting down to dinner? |
| navigable in formal wear. | | | | When you have an outdoor wedding, you simply have |
| PLUS, if you're setting up chairs on uneven ground or | | | | to be a little more prepared than you would for an |
| moist lawn, you'll have to watch out for wobbly | | | | indoor event. But it can certainly be worth it! A beautiful |
| seating! | | | | garden, a sandy beach, the backyard of a childhood |
| Dancing | | | | home... all of these outdoor wedding locations can be |
| On a similar note, you may need to consider renting a | | | | meaningful, romantic, and spectacularly beautiful. |
| dance floor for an outdoor wedding. Uneven ground, | | | | Of course, another great option is to find a wedding |
| moist lawns, or gravelly, rocky terrain are tough to | | | | venue that offers an outdoor space - plus an indoor |
| dance on. Your friends and relatives - especially the | | | | reception area that can be used as your back-up |
| elderly ones - will appreciate some attention to the | | | | option. Some wedding venues will even set up tents |
| dance floor! | | | | and take care of all the outdoor wedding details FOR |
| Direction of the sun | | | | you! |
| If your outdoor wedding will include a ceremony under | | | | |