Tips for Pulling Off the Perfect Outdoor Wedding

When it comes to planning your wedding, one of the first steps to take is thinking about the location or venue. This applies to both your ceremony and the celebration afterward. If you’re like many couples, you’ll be keen to say your “I Do’s” outside. Perhaps you want to feel the sun on your face and the breeze whispering through your hair as you exchange vows. If you want to plan the perfect outdoor wedding, read on for some tips to ensure it all goes smoothly.

Prepare the Space

One of the first things to think about when preparing to host the ultimate outdoor party is preparing the space. If you will be having the ceremony and/or reception at your home, or the property of a friend or family member, it is particularly important to ensure the outdoor areas are neat and tidy.

The lawn should be mowed on the big day or the day before the wedding to ensure it looks fresh. You should also help it to be green and lush by maintaining it in the lead-up to the event. In particular, watering, fertilizing, aerating, and clearing any debris is important. Also, tidy up any gardens that are overgrown and plant new plants if you have sparse areas. Take care to ensure there is plenty of space to set up an aisle, seating, tables, marquee, and the like. You may also want to lay down planks or other temporary structures for people to walk across if you want to protect particular areas of the yard.

Consider Logistics

When it comes to outdoor weddings and celebrations, don’t forget that you need electricity and lighting in place. If your wedding is taking place at a remote site such as a park, beach, cliff top, garden, or the like, you will probably need to bring in backup power. This could include generators to power up not just the lighting but also kitchen equipment for caterers, sound equipment for your musicians, heating or air conditioning units, and any other relevant items. It pays to have an electrician come and survey your setup so that you can be sure you will have enough power and that everything will adhere to legal requirements.

As far as decorations go, always keep the weather in mind. For example, if you will be getting married at the beach or another windy spot, use décor items that won’t blow away easily. Be sure that decorations such as candles and lanterns won’t get tipped over or set other things alight. Also, keep in mind the weight and bulk of your décor when planning which items to transport to your venue for the event. It’s important to take note of the site’s available space, as well.

In addition, you should not assume that your wedding guests will be able to find their way around easily at the location you have chosen. You might need to erect signs to direct people to the ceremony and/or reception spaces, as well as to the best places to park or find restrooms.

Consider Additional Costs and Permits

When planning an outdoor wedding, don’t forget to factor in some of the additional costs that can be involved. For instance, many sites such as parks, beaches, and local gardens are not free for the public to use as event spaces. You may need to get a permit to host your wedding at your preferred location or make a donation to the owner of the land in order to be able to set up your event. Some permits can take time to get so don’t leave applying for these until the last minute.

Other additional costs to consider include things like delivery fees from suppliers. This may be the case if your site is a long way from nearby towns, roads, or parking lots. You may also require sanitation services for the setup of on-site restrooms. Another potential cost is the cleanup to get the site returned to its original condition. And don’t forget about valet parking services if the nearest public lot is too far away!

Ensure You Have a Backup Plan

Lastly, don’t forget to make a backup plan. You will obviously have your fingers crossed that the weather on the day of your wedding is perfect. But unfortunately, this aspect is unfortunately outside of your control. Failure to plan is planning to fail. Put together a fully fleshed backup plan in case of inclement weather to avoid any kinks in your proceedings. As such, make sure to designate a plan B just in case. Whether it starts raining, a heat wave comes through, or your location is beset with a freak occurrence such as a tornado, cyclone, or the like, you’ll be glad you planned ahead. Your backup might involve the assembly of a tent, the usage of a friend or family member’s house, or the addition of heaters, blankets, or air conditioners for extreme temperatures.

ADVICE FROM A WEDDING PRO:

“Make sure you have a Plan B if you’re having an outdoor ceremony and/or reception. Mother Nature’s sometimes an uninvited guest.” Mario Fastiggi of Brooklake Country Club, an outdoor wedding venue in New Jersey

Don’t wait until the last minute to make the call about your backup plan. If you wake up on the day of your wedding to ominous-looking weather, it’s already too late to create a Plan B. The more time you have to prepare and put Plan B in place, the better. You may need to let all your guests and suppliers know about a new location, so allow time for updates to be shared and for people to travel to a different destination.

In Closing

I hope you’ve found this planning advice helpful. Our hope is that it helps you to create the perfect outdoor wedding celebration you’ve dreamed of! Happy Planning!

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