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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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