There’s something subtly magical about getting married outdoors. Surrounded by nature with a background of blue skies and brilliant sun, it’s hard to feel anything but romantic. Weddings outdoors can be whatever you want them to be but they do take extensive planning.
If you’re thinking about hosting your wedding outdoors, it’s a good idea to learn about what you can expect. Here are the most essential tips for getting an outdoor wedding right.
The Best Time of Year
It’s no secret that planning an outdoor wedding relies heavily on the weather. The best time of year for planning an outdoor wedding is between June and September. During these dates the weather is more likely to be dry and warm than throughout the rest of the year.
However, the weather is never a certainty so it can help to have back-up plans in case the worst happens. Weddings at outdoor venues usually come with contingency plans. Talk to your venue about hosting indoors in the event that the weather takes a turn for the worst.
Decorating Outdoors
The great thing about outdoor weddings is that you don’t need many decorations. The natural scenery of the outdoors is often enough. If you do want to enhance the beauty, stick to a natural look so nothing looks out of place.
Be mindful of how decorations will fair in the weather as flower arrangements can easily be damaged in a light wind. Candles and fairy lights are ideal for creating a romantic atmosphere as the evening draws in.
Outdoor Food Options
When you’re eating outdoors, you can get creative with food. For instance, an ice-cream truck goes down well in the heat or perhaps you want to treat your guests to s’mores from the firepit in the evening. Having said this, there are some food options you may want to avoid when getting married outdoors.
Most people aren’t going to want to tuck into a heavy three-course meal from a picnic bench. It’s often a favorable option to let your guests pick throughout the day. So, you may have a wood fired pizza oven going or burgers and veggie tacos available.
Bug Protection
If there’s one thing that can ruin an outdoor wedding, it’s bugs. The last thing you want to see is your guests being bothered or bitten by bugs when they should be enjoying themselves. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to deter bugs from the area you’re getting married in.
Bug repellent candles can be lit around the area to keep bugs away from eating and drinking spots. You can also ask your venue to professionally treat the area a few days before you get married so it’s less likely bugs will be around. When you want to stay true to the natural theme, hang fresh lavender around- bugs hate it.
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