Want
to Get Married Outdoors? No Sweat!
Posted
by
Mary
of mywedding.com June 3, 2009
There
are lots of reasons to be married al fresco, and you don’t
have to be limited to the hot summer months! With
contingency plans, you can tie the knot in the great
outdoors during any time of year (yes, even winter). Here
are some things to consider:
Plan
for inclement weather.
They
say that if it rains on your wedding day, it is supposed to
bring good luck to the marriage. This is only true for
those couples that have a backup rain venue, or a ton of
umbrellas.
Consider time of day.
During
the summer, an evening wedding might be preferable due to
excessive heat during mid-day and even through the late
afternoon. Also, the reception will then go into the night,
when there will surely be some relief.
Make your venue accessible and comfortable for
guests.
This
means providing shade if it’s going to be hot, or a source
of warmth if it may be chilly (consider a heated tent –
although this isn’t exactly cheap; blankets are a cozy
alternative and can be shared…how romantic). Give special
consideration to elderly and handicapped guests, for whom
the elements and terrain of the venue can present increased
difficulty.
Don’t forget about the birds and the
bees!
I
mean the real-live creatures here, people. Save the
figurative ones for your honeymoon. Critters can be the
most relentless wedding crashers, and will prove to be even
more annoying than the drunkest guest at the reception.
Plan to provide citronella spray or candles around the
site, or handle the pests in some other way…but do plan for
them.
Will it be windy?
This
could greatly affect your guests’ ability to hear the
ceremony. There are other factors that could affect the
sound quality also, so be sure to visit the ceremony site
during the time of day (and time of year) that your wedding
will take place and make note of any external or
environmental noise that will likely be present. Had I done
this myself before my own lakeside wedding, I would
probably have realized if you choose to get married in
front of a busy marina, your guests are far more likely to
hear the boat engines than your vows.
Will your food survive the elements?
This
is an especially important consideration if it will be hot
and particularly if there will be a buffet or other food
set out. Talk to your caterer about timing and cooling of
food in order to keep it appetizing and, most importantly,
safe! Nobody wants to eat shrimp cocktail that’s been
baking in the sun for four hours.
Keep your guests hydrated.
If
you’re getting married during the warmer season, offer
non-alcoholic beverages before the ceremony, such as water
with lemon or iced tea. Alternatively, if you’re planning a
winter outdoor wedding, you may want to provide hot cocoa
or some other steamy beverage to warm them up upon their
arrival.
Are you breaking the law?
No,
I know you’re both consenting adults. I’m not talking about
that. If you’re getting married at a public place, such as
a park or beach, check to see if you need permits,
especially for alcohol on the premises. Your guests don’t
want to see the happy couple leave for their honeymoon
handcuffed in the back of a squad car.
Keep your guests informed.
Provide
information to your guests about environmental factors that
you anticipate and that they can prepare themselves for.
For example, if your wedding site will be soft and grassy,
you may want to advise the women (and maybe some of the
men, depending on your guest list) not to wear heels. This
information should be included in the invitation rather
than the welcome packets, so that they have the time and
resources necessary to plan for the event.