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Yes, outdoor weddings are dreamy! From breezy beaches to botanical gardens, there is something so romantic and beautiful about letting the beauty of the outdoors be the backdrop for your special day. But an outdoor wedding is not easy to pull off--it can be a downright logistical nightmare, especially here in Texas! But if you have your heart set on a gorgeous outdoor celebration, here are some tips to help you battle the many seen and unforeseen outdoor elements.
1. Plan B.
It may never rain in southern California, but this is Texas! When planning an outdoor wedding in Texas (or anywhere in the country for that matter), you MUST have a backup plan. Between heat waves, cool fronts, hurricanes, floods, and baseball-size critters, Texas is no place to just wing it. The ideal outdoor wedding location has an indoor location waiting just in case. Many brides and grooms opt to have their ceremony outside and reception inside. In a pinch, the tables can be scooted to the back of the room during the ceremony. A tent is another option, but only for light to moderate rain storms. A heavy rain will soak the ground underneath, leaving guests with soggy and muddy shoes. Make sure any tent you rent is sturdy so it won't flip over, and that it has thick and weighted sides.
2. Time and Temperature.
When picking a wedding date, be sure to pick a date and time where the temperature does not leave your guests melting in the sun or freezing their bums off. Wedding experts say that the ideal temperature range for an outdoor wedding is 65-85 F. In Texas, the fall months of October and November and the spring months of March and April offer the most ideal temperatures for an outdoor wedding. Choose a wedding date in August at 3:00 pm and I promise no one at your wedding will be happy, including you!
Morgan Lamkin Photography
3. Too Hot to Handle.
Even with choosing an ideal time to have your outdoor wedding you have to be prepared for unseasonable weather changes. If a heat wave swoops in and threatens to ruin your outdoor wedding dreams, be prepared with the following tips:
- Have your ushers give guests ice-cold bottles of water as they are seated.
- Don't forget to have plenty of sunscreen on hand as well.
- Consider printing your wedding program on a fan so that guests may cool themselves.
- For a very warm location, look into renting or buying high velocity electric fans (don't forget about that generator!) and/or a tent to shade the sun's rays.
4. Too Cold to Hold.
In that same vein, if a cold front cools down your red hot plans be prepared with wraps to keep your bridal party and guests warm. In addition, consider renting or buying heat lamps so that your guests and dine and dance in comfort.
5. Gone with the Wind.
Many outdoor weddings suffer from windy conditions. Avoid windy wedding day disasters by incorporating these tips:
- Tell your hairstylist that you'll be having an outdoor wedding so she/he can plan a style that won't leave you looking like Cousin It!
- If you're wearing a veil, make sure that it is securely placed in your hair. You do not want your veil to fly off in the middle of the ceremony only to have one of your bridesmaids start running frantically to catch it. Don't laugh, I have seen it!
- If using tablecloths on your reception tables, be sure to add tiny weights to them to prevent them from blowing away in the breeze.
Related Content: 5 Ways to Look Your Best on Your Wedding Day
6. Bug Out!
Bugs at a wedding are not cool. Period. Be sure to put out citronella candles or a bug zapper so that your guests won't spend the whole ceremony swatting at the air.
7. What's the 411.
Last, but not least, please be sure to tell your wedding guests that they will be attending an outdoor wedding. Many guests will want to be coordinate their attire accordingly.
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Comments (13)
It was really helpful that you suggested informing your hairstylist that you will be having an outdoor wedding to make sure that they can give you a hairstyle that won't get messed up because of wind. My fiance and I are planning a garden wedding ceremony. I want to make sure that I will look as radiant as possible all throughout the celebration, so I will make sure to consider all your tips. Thanks!
I am so glad the tips were helpful!
I like that you suggest having a plan b for your wedding reception. I feel like all outdoor activities are cursed with last minute rain. Having a backup wedding reception venue makes a lot of sense.
So, my wife's friend is thinking of having an outdoor wedding. I'll be sure she looks at your tips for help. Also, we'll look at getting an event tent for the occasion, in case it rains or is way too sunny.
Thanks for Sharing informative ideas. It is very helpful for me to take care of all the key points in planning the outdoor function. Keep Sharing.
Great! your wedding ideas are really amazing. I just read your post, You have done a great job and your post is really awesome!
It's good to know from this article that we also have to prepare an indoor wedding venue just in case a sudden weather change occurs and renders our outdoor ceremony impossible. Although my husband and I both prefer a farm wedding, we realized we also have to look after our guests' well-being. Aside from tents, we also want to rent portable toilets that they could use if we decided to continue with an outdoor wedding.
I liked that you pointed out that it might be smart to have sunscreen on hand for an outdoor wedding. That is great to know because my sister wants to have an outdoor wedding this fall. It might also be smart for us to find a bathroom situation that will accommodate all of her guests.
I like how you mentioned finding a venue that provides electric fans or tents for shade. My sister is planning on getting married in September and she wants to find an outdoor venue for her wedding reception. I'll be sure to share this with her so she knows what to look for in a venue.
My sister wants to do an outdoor wedding this upcoming summer. I liked your suggestion about wondering what she will need for warm weather. it does seem like it might be smart to get a tent that can allow for a fan inside. That does seem like it would help keep everyone cool.
I'm glad you mentioned that you should pick a wedding day where the temperature won't be too hot or too cold. Another thing to consider is onsite amenities that are going to be available at the wedding venue. If there aren't restrooms available, you should probably rent portable units for people to use.
I never would have thought about telling my hairstylist about how my wedding will be outdoors so they could better plan my hairstyle. That's a really good tip. My fiance and I would like to get married lakeside, so we are trying to prepare as best we can. We will have to look at venues so that we know more about what to expect and make sure to take all these tips into account once we do.
Thanks for the reminder to plan for bugs at outdoor events. Additionally, you should rent portable toilets if necessary. These tips together will help keep guests comfortable.