Mother Nature & Your Big Day
Overall, be prepared for a little more stress, and possibly expense, than if you do your entire day indoors. You're entirely in the hands of Mother Nature. Even if your area typically has one type of weather, you'll never know if there's a sudden heat wave, wind or rain storm. I've been to too a number of outdoor weddings where the couple wasn't prepared for the challenge. Some were completely rained out and ended up at a makeshift ceremony inside a guest's living room, and one was so unbearably hot that a number of guests left before the ceremony even started. With just a bit of extra planning you can avoid this type of drama.
Have a back-up location. Should an extreme heat wave hit, or even worse - rain, you need to have another plan. That way you can immediately shift gears and everything's in place. If you're looking at holding your event on the grounds of a venue, check to see if they hold a back up room for you. Some places do, and it's invaluable. Having a Plan B will avoid extra panic and tears on your big day when you need to focus on happier things!
Water, water everywhere. If it's a hot day, your wedding party and guests will guzzle any liquids you have around. Because of this, it's a good idea to keep the alcohol to a minimum, or not having it available before the ceremony, and have plenty of water and lighter beverages at outdoor weddings. If you only have alcohol you'll have a number of guests becoming inebriated much faster than they normally would, and getting dehydrated on top of it. Keep in mind, that while you're inside getting ready beforehand, guests usually arrive 30 minutes or more before your ceremony start time. Add to it that ceremonies typically start 10-15 minutes late - they're already outside for 45 minutes before your ceremony starts! Have alcohol-free beverages available for everyone before the ceremony is a nice perk for your guests. Plan on having at least two to three bottles of water per person if you're getting married between June - August. Your guests will appreciate the thought, and be much happier.
Make sure there's plenty of shade, and remember that shade locations will change throughout the day. So, when picking your location make sure to visit it at the time of day you'll have your ceremony so you can make sure the sun doesn't cook you alive. Check which way the sun will be coming from during your ceremony time. You don't want your guests to be staring directly into a setting sun, besides the added challenge you’re throwing the way of your photographer. Think about your fairer skinned guests. While you may enjoying soaking up the sun and heat, you'll have guests that have the curse of Irish skin and will cook in about 15 minutes. What fun is that?!
Proving your own shade and cover provides less stress on the big day. To protect yourself from the sun or a light drizzle, renting tents is a great option (stop groaning - you can dress them up!). Add some flowers, ribbon or ivy, twinkle lights and tents can look gorgeous! Tents are the safest way to make sure you ready to go rain or shine, and that your guests will be comfortable. Don't like the tent idea? Why not try large umbrellas (which can often be found at a golf shop)? You can find them in a variety of colors and patterns, and the work great to cover a number of chairs at a time. Or, get some sheer fabric, or even burlap for a more rustic feel, and hang it from the trees or nice wooden posts or columns. Hang some ribbon or ivy from the posts, throw in some twinkle lights around the edges, and you have the makings of a fairy tale wedding right out of Robin Hood.
Make your decorations multitask. Programs that double as fans can be a lifesaver when it's warm. That way your guests having something at hand to help keep them cool. Put a small battery operated fan in your bouquet (because you will be warm!) for an extra touch to stay cool. I’ve seen this done more than you may think, and guests rarely notice. Instead of flower vases at the end of the aisle, you can always get cheap tin buckets at your local craft store, fill it with ice, silk flowers and bottled water. For that extra touch, buy ink jet labels and create your own “wedding water”!
Is the location easy to get to? Be it inside or outside, if you will have elderly or disabled guests make sure there's a way for them to get to your location with minimum difficulty. This may take a little extra planning. If your location is up on a hill and a bit of a walk from the parking you may want to consider a golf cart or something of the sort.
Be prepared for bees, mosquitoes and other lovely bugs. If you’re allergic to bees don’t get married around lots of live flowers or gardens (you’d be surprised how many people don’t think about this). You may want to consider silk flowers in your bouquet to avoid attracting them, too. If you’re near water you may want to spray some bug spray to keep from becoming a mosquito’s lunch, especially if you’ll be celebrating into the evening. Test some out and find the ones that are odorless. Throw some citronella candles into your decorations and you’re set.
The music of Mother Nature may not be the music you wanted… Be sure to check the surroundings of your venue to know what type of distractions or interferences may be around. Is there a Fire Department down the street? If so, be ok with the possibility of sirens during in the middle of your vows. Is it on a beach where anyone from the public can walk by? Then you should prepare yourself for the possibility of anyone walking up, or in the background, and the music or shouts of encouragement that come with them. If this doesn’t bother you, or even makes you giggle, then you’re good to go!
Be your wedding inside or outside, try to think of any problems and address them beforehand. A good idea is to enjoy an afternoon outside for a few hours during the times of day your event would take place, and make a list of any issues you notice - all the way down to having a restroom nearby. Plan ahead, play along with Mother Nature and your day will be a beauty to remember.
~Dawn Gunter, DLHG Photography
Have any suggestions for an article or comments? Email dawn@dlhgphoto.com
Tags: Wedding Planning