Modern times are seeing more and more couples preferring to pledge their “I Do’s” in the fresh outdoor air, and ditching the very traditional church or indoor wedding idea. While there are many breath-taking wedding venues with mountain views, at watersides or on the beach available, knowing how to plan an outdoor wedding will require preparation and homework, first.
Location Location Location!
There are positive aspects and negatives aspects to various outside venues. Make sure you are familiar with all the possibilities before the big day, to avoid an unpleasant surprise. A beach wedding may look and sound incredibly romantic, but be prepared for the possibility of a stiff breeze and getting whipped by sand. If that is not a deal breaker, make sure your hair is down and not up, to prevent it from looking windswept! Most of the challenges facing outdoor weddings can be overcome, however, like making sure your ceremony takes place under a shelter and that the wedding is set up to accommodate the wind with appropriately placed shelters.
Forego the Flipping
Flipping refers to the moving of décor or furniture from one area to another during the event. For example, if chairs had to be moved from the chapel into the dining hall. Try to plan your outdoor wedding with all of the décor and furniture staying in one place as much as possible, this help to make the flow of the event better and more enjoyable for everyone, while minimizing the risk of accidents happening either to the décor or the people during the moving process.
See the Seasons
For a successful outdoor wedding, ensure that you have consulted the weatherman and seen to the seasons. While you can’t change the weather, you can plan around it. Become familiar with your wedding locations seasons, and ensure that if you are planning a Spring wedding outside, that the local area does not get Spring showers. Having a marquee or a hall for the reception may be a great backup solution too. Most established wedding venues are able to provide a solution for wedding guests in the event of unexpected deluges, be sure to enquire and get complete clarity on this matter.
Lights, Cameras, Action!
While the décor outdoors is mostly provided by the beauty of the scenery, at evening time, you will need some light source, your own sound equipment and any other electronics you may require will need power points supplied to them. Ensure that your venue is able to supply these, or that you are able to create a set-up that is able to accommodate these needs.
For any outdoor wedding, make sure you have fully familiarized yourself with the layout and what you are able to set-up with such an area. Should you have any difficulties, make sure you contact a professional venue hire, wedding planner or decorator because sometimes a fresh, trained eye can make a great difference. Even if you only hire to help you with one aspect, just to make that dream wedding happen exactly as you pictured it. Find a wedding planner or find your dream wedding venue, right here, on Snupit!