8 Outdoor Wedding Considerations
The past couple of years have been filled with weddings, and two weeks ago I went back to the motherland (Costa Rica) for my best friend’s wedding. The ceremony was in a small chapel and the beautiful reception was at the beach overlooking the ocean. Between this one and previous beach and outdoor weddings I’ve attended, I noticed several small details that I think every bride should consider for their outdoor wedding.
1. Plan B. After planing every single detail of your wedding day, the weather is an element we can’t control. It is important to always have a backup plan in case things don’t go as planned. It will be less stressful for everyone and vendors can be more efficient if everyone is already on the same page.
2. Tents. Depending on the venue, wedding time, season, and weather, the sun can make you and your guests miserable during your special day. Tents are a great way to make the atmosphere more enjoyable during hot days and also serve as a “plan b” in case it rains. Additionally keep in mind that the tent’s structure can be leveraged to hang decorations like lights, paper lanterns, flowers, etc.
3. Water. Having water available for your guests before the ceremony starts its great to keep everyone hydrated.
4. Fans. Another great idea is to have hand fans for your guests. These can double as wedding programs or simply serve as a wedding favor.
5. Dress Code. It’s your wedding day and you get to set the rules including your guests’ dress code. It is specially important to take into account the weather when making this decision and to warn guests to wear wedges or flats depending on the venue.
6. Flip flops. These are a fun idea to give your guests a break from their uncomfortable shoes and hard to walk/dance surface like grass, sand, or gravel.
7. Mosquito Repellent. This is a must! Outdoor weddings equals bugs, and getting bitten all night is no fun. Consider having Off for your guests or including citronella candles as part of the table decor.
8. Bathroom Baskets. These life saving baskets are placed in the women and men’s reception bathrooms, and have items like spray deodorant, tampons, needle, thread, safety pins, hair spray, pads, Advil, band-aids, alka seltzer, mosquito repellent, and even spray sunscreen.
