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What are the pros and cons to an outdoor wedding?

Outdoor Wedding Pros and Cons

For those brides who are still undecided, here are some list of pros and cons when planning for an outdoor wedding. Consider each one carefully and then decide.

Pros

1. Natural Beauty of the Outdoors Makes for Great Pictures
The beauty and splendor of nature adds more to your wedding, making it extremely special. A gazebo on a tranquil lake with mountains on the background. The beauty of autumn colors - different shades of gold, red and oranges all around. Imagine the beauty those wedding pictures can capture.

Sunshine, sunshine and more sunshine. Just the fact that the sun is shining, that in itself lends joy and uplifts the spirit. Exchanging vows on a warm sunny morning with the sound of nature all around -- perfect.

Stirs the senses. The smell of lush flowers in a garden wedding. The sound of the waves while having a beach wedding. The magnificent sight of the beauty of nature.

2. You Have a Set Location in Mind

An outdoor wedding would be an advantage if you have a set location for your outdoor wedding in mind. It could be a quaint Bed and Breakfast Inn that you discovered in one of your travels. Or you could have decided to go to the Caribbean for a wedding/honeymoon combination type of an event. A big plus to this is that these places usually have wedding packages that suits your needs and this takes out the stress in planning since they do it for you.

Cons

1. Difficulty Involved in Planning for the Wedding

Rain or Snow... Nobody can predict what the weather would be like but through careful research and planning, you can get prepared to overcome this disadvantage. So as not to be caught unprepared, you have to plan for everything.

Bugs, mosquitoes, even cicadas! Depending on where your wedding location is, this could be a major problem. Provide a solution. Light citronella candles. Provide a bug zapper to control those pesky things. Have a small station where you can offer bug sprays for your guests to use.

Read and research extensively on when and what time of the year certain bugs, like cicadas, could be a major consideration for your outdoor wedding.

2. Guests' Comfort (or Discomfort?)

Depending on how the weather would be on your big day, your guests could be placed in a situation wherein the only thing they can remember of your wedding are the discomforts that they experienced. This could be from uneven grounds of the location, due to mud if there is some rain involved. It could be the shifting nature of sand, if your location is on the beach. Or it could be just the high humidity of the day, especially if your wedding day is set during the height of summer.

The solution? Think of all the possibilities that could happen in any given situation and plan for it. Inform guests ahead of time of the location and type of your wedding. Inform them of the possibility of wind so they can dress and accessorize accordingly.

Beach wedding? Inform the ladies that sandals would be more appropriate than high heels. Muddy grounds? Provide boards on the ground to make it more even and safer for your guests. Humidity is too high? Provide cool refreshments like cold sodas or bottled waters for their comfort.

Just don't go overboard. Yes, you want your guests to be comfortable and to enjoy but they are not the main reason for the wedding. It is for you and your groom. Think about the guests' comfort and do the best that you can. I am sure they will appreciate your efforts. If not, don't stress about it, they are not worth your while.

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Permalink Reply by dom on June 19, 2009 at 10:14pm

In my [ professional videographer ] opinion . here are Pros and Cons for the out door wedding for your videographer.

Pro- the beauty of out of wedding

1. Nothing more beautiful than having an out door wedding in the back drop of sunset or over the top of the hill or on the beautiful beach and i can go on and on..... if your videographer or photographer know how to capture it right, in my opinion this out door wedding will reward you way better than get married in the biggest church in your town.

2. You get to be more creative, both for the decoration or for your photography or videography, most of the time they will allow you to go 360 degree and you can have so manny beautiful pictures or shorts. while a lot of church or in out venue are stick about where your videographer or photographer can shoot or stand.

Cons.

1. if they [ your videographer ] are not professional it could be a great disaster, there are so manny elements that can hurt and harm your wedding video, wind, air plane sound,sun, rain, too bright, too dark, too big, too spread out and the list can go on. This will be the most challenges for your videographer and test their skills and experiences for the out door video production so please make sure you got professional and expert photographer and videographer if you have your wedding out .

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Permalink Reply by Dawn @ MairzyDozy on June 26, 2009 at 11:48am

Planning for an Outdoor Wedding – By Dawn
Lead Floral Designer for Classy Country Weddings in Stockton, CA, and Co-Owner of MairzyDozy

Many brides have dreamed of having an outdoor wedding. The location choices and themes are endless: The seashore, a forest glen, a Victorian garden, beside a mountain lake, atop an urban rooftop with a cityscape, the backyard of your family home.

The beauty of a natural setting and romantic atmosphere can be compelling reasons to research an outdoor event location.

Tips to Deal with Mother Nature

If you have your heart set on spending your special day in an outdoor setting, there are many decisions to be made during your planning. The caprice of Mother Nature is a factor you can not avoid. However, here are some tips to ease the complication of logistics in the event the weather becomes uncooperative.

Combat the Heat

In many locations temperatures can soar above 100 degrees during the summer months. You never know when a heat wave may start.

Plan for an early A.M. or late afternoon PM event, avoid the mid-day heat

Advise your guests to dress lightly, or in layers

Provide your guests umbrellas or parasols that coordinate with your theme

Offer refreshing beverages to help your guests cool off before the ceremony

Hand-held paper fans can serve as a functional and lovely party favor

A few extra shade canopies can be placed strategically around the edge of the seating area

Cold/Rain

If your chosen day is in early spring, late fall, or even winter, make sure that you plan appropriately. Here are some options for you to consider to help ensure that you and your guests are protected if the day decides to be gloomy and wet.

Opt for one large tent to hold all of your guests for the ceremony, and one other large tent for your reception. The ceremony tent can then be converted to a ballroom for your D.J. and dancing while your guests are dining.

Multiple smaller tents can be fun and create intimacy, but make sure that you have at least one large enough for all of your guests to gather for the ceremony, toasts, dancing, etc.

The rain may be coming down, but if you keep your tent entrances next to one another, there is minimal inconvenience passing from one to the other, especially if you have hired attendants to hold umbrellas for your guests.

Be fair to your guests. Let them know your outdoor plans so that they can come prepared wearing the proper attire for their comfort

Wind

Obviously there is not much getting around this one except with a sense of humor. Tents will block the wind while you are inside, but the outdoor world may be an adventure. Even in the middle of a hot summer day, winds may gust up, throwing hairdos and parasols up in the air.

Perfection

This is your day, and no matter what happens with the weather, as long as you have made your best attempts to cover contingencies, don’t worry. This is all about you, and your dream outdoor wedding.

Your Guests

Make sure that your guest know that your venue is outdoors so that they can choose their attire appropriately.

You can read more about my outdoor wedding adventures at my blog