Outdoor Marriage: Seven Things You Need To Plan For

Outdoor marriages are a very valid alternative to traditional indoor weddings. Saying the vows in the open air, whether in the garden of one’s home or on a sandy beach, is incredibly romantic and also a great experience for all the guests to remember.

Notwithstanding, there are lots of pitfalls that you need to take into account if you want to get married outdoors. Many things can happen differently to your plan, so toy need to be as prepared as possible.

1) You should put the utmost care into ensuring that your guests will be comfortable before, during and after the ceremony. Of course, this applies especially to older guests, but you should also think about children, who could become unruly if bored. Don’t forget to take the weather and season into account, and to provide protection against the elements, such as a biting winter wind, or a hot summer sun.

2) Have plenty of drinks available close to where everyone will be congregating to avoid discomfort and dehydration. Cold water is paramount, and hot drinks will be much appreciated in chilly weather. And of course, fruity drinks for the young ones and some bottles of champagne or sparkling wine for the adults are always welcome.

3) Decoration is key to every successful wedding. While outdoor locations will need less refurbishment than indoor ones, you should still provide plenty of flowers, and a nice backdrop to the wedding ceremony. If you are getting wed in a garden, make sure beforehand that the lawn has been cut and the plants tended to!

4) Dedicate special attention to the nose and sound situation. All the guests want to hear the ceremony unfolding, so heavy surf or some other background noise are unwelcome. Use a microphone and loudspeakers if necessary.

5) To avoid having the outdoor marriage disturbed by flying and stinging critters, get some perfumes anti-insect candles or other insect-repelling products so that you won’t be annoyed by the less wholesome parts of nature.

6) Don’t forget to check if you need any special permits to hold the marriage ceremony at the chosen location. Having to postpone everything at the last minute just because some paperwork is missing is a true nightmare scenario.

 7) Have an alternative. The weather may turn sour, so you need to be able to hold the ceremony indoors if necessary. If you are in a somewhat built-up area you should have a hall available nearby, while if you are celebrating in a faraway place it makes a lot of sense to erect a big party tent, for all occurrences.