10 Tips For Your Outdoor Wedding Ceremony Or Reception
10 Tips For Your Outdoor Wedding Ceremony Or Reception
Getting married surrounded by the beauty of nature is something at the top of the wedding wish list for many Central Ohio couples. For all the wonderful gifts Mother Nature gives us, she is the boss. You must be prepare for the unexpected. To help you prepare for an awesome outdoor wedding we’ve pulled together some of our favorite tips for pulling off a gorgeous day that’s comfortable for you and all your guests.
1) Tents Will Cost You More Than You Think
Today’s couples want to have outside receptions more and more. If your venue doesn’t have a ‘permanent’ tent already set up, you will need to rent one. And this can be pricey, especially if you are expecting a large number of guests. Finding a ‘real tent company’ that knows what it is doing, and can set it up properly can be tough. The labor to set up a tent is much more than you think. Don’t forget that you can put sides on the tent and then have air conditioning, but that’s also an extra expense.
2) Electrical Power
Just because you are in a beautiful rustic setting doesn’t mean you won’t need power! Lighting of course is a major need, but you also have to consider that your caterer will need power. So will your entertainment. And here’s the thing to remember - you can’t run one long extension cord from your house and then attach several power strips.
3) Lighting
While candlelight is romantic, it doesn’t work great once the sun sets. You need to have lighting so that your guests can move around as well as get food. But don’t just think about the actual venue area. Think about the path that your guests will need to walk to get to the venue also. You can get some battery powered lights to place along the path.
4) Remember the wind when placing your place cards
If your reception venue is outdoors you’ll want to remember that wind is ALWAYS a thing. And if your place cards are just paper they WILL blow away if it’s at all windy. Think about using something with a little weight to it. Cute and clever ideas we’ve seen include painted rocks, wooden fans, mason jar beer glasses, or, our personal favorite, succulents! Bonus: now your place cards double as your wedding favors!
5) Think about a beverage station to welcome your guests
Whether the weather is chilly or hot, a welcome beverage can warm up or cool down your guests as they arrive to await your grand entrance! Think about hot cider or cocoa for a cold weather wedding or ice tea, water and lemonade for a warm weather wedding.
6) Think about lap blankets for cold weather
If you are anticipating cold weather on your date, consider purchasing inexpensive blankets for the guests to use during the ceremony and then take with them to your reception. If it turned out to be 80 degrees on the wedding day, instead of returning them, donate them to a local homeless shelter and feel great about giving back to the community as part of the wedding!
7) Choose a weather-proof cake during hotter months
Nothing holds up to hot weather quite like fondant. And you can do so many cool, creative things with it! A real cake pro will easily be able to help you with this. If you’re having an outdoor wedding during a warm-weather month consider a fondant cake. This is something that you will need to discuss in advance with your baker!
8) Have umbrellas on hand (just in case)
No matter what they say about rain on your wedding day being good luck, no one really wishes for it, especially if your wedding is outdoors. But it’s best to be prepared, just in case.
9) The wind - when it comes to your ceremony
Most people don’t consider how loud it can be outside. But the wind does make a lot of noise. Don’t believe us? Go outside and try to talk to someone a couple of feet away in a normal voice. Tough isn’t it. Now think about your vows. You won’t be saying them in a loud / clear voice so that it will be easy for Aunt Nancy in the 4th row to hear them. You’ll be lucky to say your vows. The ceremony is the important part of the day and it needs to be heard. You just don’t need a microphone, you need several to make it all work. Your DJ or band should be able to supply the proper microphones (please note the plural) in order to make this happen.
10) Choose your shoes
So you might just think this is for the brides and the bridesmaids. And mostly it is, but there’s still something to be gained if you are a groom too. If you’re getting married in a big outdoor area, you’ll want to be comfortable walking around (and dancing!). Also, keep in mind, if you’re going to be on grass during any part of your day those some shoes will sink right into the grass and make it difficult to walk (not to mention get mud all over the heel).
11) Bathrooms
Yeah this is sort of important. If you are considering a reception at a private house, think about how your guests will get from the reception into the bathroom at the house. Are you going to have 200+ guests sharing one bathroom? Do you want your guests to use the bathroom anywhere in the house or just one specific?