Outdoor Marriage: The Most Important Things To Consider

If you are thinking about getting married outside, you are having a great idea as there are few things that are as romantic and pleasant, whether the chosen venue is the courtyard near your local place of worship or a secluded spot in a natural park. Still, there are several things that you need to consider as outdoor marriage is far from fail-safe.

Lots can go wrong during an outdoor wedding, so you are advised to read this list carefully to avoid any trouble.

1) Your guest’s comfort should be one of your foremost thoughts. Consider the weather, for instance. If your wedding is going to be in the winter, make sure that extra blankets are available if anyone is cold. In the summer, make sure that there is plenty of shade, and in all seasons, put up a windbreaker if the area is windy. And make sure that everyone is adequately seated, and especially so elderly people.

2) Make sure that there are enough liquids for people to drink, especially water, and hot drinks such as tea or punch if it’s winter. If you want to make some alcoholic drinks available outside before or after the ceremony, a selection of cocktails is a good alternative to the usual champagne.

3) While one big advantage of outdoor weddings is that you need to decorate less, you should still make sure that the place of the ceremony is adequately set out. If in a garden, make sure that the area has been cleaned out recently, and provide for extra flowers, wreaths, and other decorations. A theatre-like set in front of the couple is good to frame the event, and at night you will have to provide lighting, which could be in the form of torches.

4) Make sure that the acoustics of the place are good, that there will be on background noises. You don’t want your outdoor marriage spoiled by some extraneous sound! If you have a lit of invitees, have a sound system set up so that everyone can hear the vows.

5) Think insects. If the season is conductive to flying and stinging bugs, put out scented citronella candles and make anti-insect bite lotions available to your guests, especially if the ceremony is at dusk.

6) Don’t get caught out with rules and permits! Even if you are getting married in an out-of-way location, there may still be national park wardens that need to give out a permit before the ceremony can take place. Waste removal and photography are other areas that may be regulated, so check to avoid having to postpone the wedding at the last minute.

 7) Don’t forget option B. Having an indoor alternative is a good idea, in case that the weather turns sour. Even in remote locations, is it a good idea to have a big tent available, especially for canapés and/or post-ceremony drinks. Think about the ground too, as you wouldn’t want your gests to end up ankle-deep in mud.