Lately I have begun a discussion about weddings and wedding planning. My past articles have discussed topics such as wedding music, wedding flowers, and wedding location.
In my discussion about wedding location I touched on the topic of having weddings outside. I also mentioned that I have attended several outside weddings.
I think before planning a wedding outside several factors should be thoroughly thought through. Outdoor weddings can be very romantic and beautiful. However, they can also be a great disaster waiting to happen. Outdoor weddings must be carefully planned.
This article will offer some thoughts and tips for planning and making your outdoor wedding a success.
As mentioned in the last article, timing is very important. If you plan to have your wedding during the summer make sure that the time is early enough or late enough to miss the heat of the day.
When setting up your wedding make sure that you consider the direction of the sun. You do not want your guests blinded by the sun and unable to see the ceremony. Go out at the exact time of the wedding a few days before and find the perfect angle to seat your wedding party and your guest.
If the wedding is during the summer months, make beverages a high priority on your reception list. The heat will make guests thirsty. Make sure that you have plenty to drink including water. Offering bottled water is often a hit.
If your reception is outdoors, plan for pest prevention. Keep everything covered until the last minute. Set up some type of repellent for insects. There are many attractive repellent holders that you can buy.
Be prepared for wind. Loose tablecloths are not appropriate. Even small gust of wind can make keeping thin cloths on tables a hard job. Use nice white tables that do not need to be covered or secure tablecloths down. Laying out a runner for the bride to walk down is also asking for trouble when it comes to the wind.