An outdoor wedding ceremony could be one of the most beautiful and romantic experiences for couples and guests alike. When all the stars align and everything is perfect it can be magical. As with any outdoor activity, mother nature tends to want to get involved. Sometimes for the good. Sometimes not for the good. You need to be as prepared as possible for the various scenarios that can interfere with your vision of the perfect outdoor ceremony. Below is a list of scenarios I have seen after more than 20 years of providing outdoor wedding ceremony coordination. The list is simply to make you aware of situations that you may not have considered that can adversely affect your outdoor ceremony. It is my intention that if you are aware of these items that you can prepare to help minimize or avoid them. Or, come up with an alternate location or plan. Perhaps even having your ceremony indoors where most everything is controlled. I don’t want you to be disappointed. You deserve a magical day.
Here are the things to be aware of and to prepare for.
-Excessive heat. (risk of heat stroke)
-Excessive sun blinding guests or your officiate
-Excessive cold (guests are too cold to even pay attention)
-Excessive wind (guests unable to hear ceremony)
-Not enough chairs for guests
-Pine needles falling on guests and wedding party
-Pine needles and bird droppings on chairs.
-Bird droppings on people and in the area.
-Water puddling in areas where the guests are seated or wedding party is standing.
-Duck, dog and geese excrement on the grass.
-Ant infestations where wedding party is standing or guests are sitting.
-Flying gnats and mosquitoes
-Bees (and bee allergies)
-Rain
-Danger of lighting strikes from up to 5 miles away
-Dew
-Mist
-Excessive humidity ruining hair and makeup
-Uneven terrain/unsteady chairs possible injury to guests
-Mud on shoes/cloths of wedding party and guests
-Heels getting stuck in lawn
-Dirt on clothing/shoes
-Traffic or street noise
-Bystanders wandering onto the ceremony
-No electricity for lighting or entertainers
-No shade for live entertainers or DJ to use or see their equipment
-No cold drinks for guests
-Not enough lighting (if a dusk ceremony)
-Sunset happening during ceremony (guests in dark)
-Sound ordinances
-Required permits
-No venue staff to guide guests
-No venue staff to coordinate the wedding party and the ceremony start time.
Your guests may never admit how uncomfortable one or more of these things were during your ceremony. Please believe that. Hopefully this list will point out some of the obstacles to a perfect wedding and help you think of ways to prevent them. You deserve everything to be perfect!
If you have already had an outdoor ceremony, or have been a guest at one, please feel free to add your advice in the comments!!
Here are the things to be aware of and to prepare for.
-Excessive heat. (risk of heat stroke)
-Excessive sun blinding guests or your officiate
-Excessive cold (guests are too cold to even pay attention)
-Excessive wind (guests unable to hear ceremony)
-Not enough chairs for guests
-Pine needles falling on guests and wedding party
-Pine needles and bird droppings on chairs.
-Bird droppings on people and in the area.
-Water puddling in areas where the guests are seated or wedding party is standing.
-Duck, dog and geese excrement on the grass.
-Ant infestations where wedding party is standing or guests are sitting.
-Flying gnats and mosquitoes
-Bees (and bee allergies)
-Rain
-Danger of lighting strikes from up to 5 miles away
-Dew
-Mist
-Excessive humidity ruining hair and makeup
-Uneven terrain/unsteady chairs possible injury to guests
-Mud on shoes/cloths of wedding party and guests
-Heels getting stuck in lawn
-Dirt on clothing/shoes
-Traffic or street noise
-Bystanders wandering onto the ceremony
-No electricity for lighting or entertainers
-No shade for live entertainers or DJ to use or see their equipment
-No cold drinks for guests
-Not enough lighting (if a dusk ceremony)
-Sunset happening during ceremony (guests in dark)
-Sound ordinances
-Required permits
-No venue staff to guide guests
-No venue staff to coordinate the wedding party and the ceremony start time.
Your guests may never admit how uncomfortable one or more of these things were during your ceremony. Please believe that. Hopefully this list will point out some of the obstacles to a perfect wedding and help you think of ways to prevent them. You deserve everything to be perfect!
If you have already had an outdoor ceremony, or have been a guest at one, please feel free to add your advice in the comments!!
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