So Your Planning an Outdoor Wedding

The best advice I can give you is to test your ideas in theactual location under realistic conditions to eliminateunpleasant surprises. Work with an experience coach or weddingconsultant if you can, and then keep in mind the followingthings:1. THE WINDWind can affect the temperature, making it hotter or colder; thebridesmaids' dresses; everyone's hair; and whether the ceremonycan be heard. Test beforehand; it can be as simple as moving thetables around a corner, or across the park to a more shelteredarea. Plan decorations and tablecloths you can anchor attractively;choose weighted fabrics for the attendants; warn them about thehair thing; and consider the need for a souns system and mikeclips, outdoor wedding decoration, . If you're renting a tent, make sure its wind-worthy.2. THE COMFORT OF YOUR GUESTS.Okay, if you're getting married in San Diego you may, outdoor wedding decoration, hit a longspell of "perfect" weather, but failing that, your event may behotter, wetter, or colder than many guests would prefer. If you're having a lot of out-of-towners, particularly, includeinformation about the weather possibilities on an insert withthe invitation and accommodation recommendations. (I went to onein Dallas in July; 111 degrees, outdoor wedding decoration, that day, and boy were the peoplefrom Colorado and La Jolla dressed wrong!) If it's hot, provide iced bottles of water when they arrive,hand fans, a tent with fans. If it's chilly, tent, warmers, ahot beverage when they arrive, lap blankets, portable heaters.3. NOTHING WILL HELP IF IT POURS DOWN RAIN. YOU MUST HAVE A PLANB.4. HOW TOUGH ARE YOU?Come on now, if you're at all the fussy type, or prone tonerves, this simply isn't for you. You'll have to manage yourhair outside, for heaven's sake.5. THE CALL OF THE WILD.Inclement weather - or even just ordinary ocean waves and birdcalls - can wreak havoc with still photographs and videos alike.I recall an amateur wedding video where most of the sound wasthe wind whistling around. There may also be a fountain orwaterfall, dogs barking, kids screaming, birds chirping, outdoor wedding decoration, . 6.DECORATIONSI've seen even cloth tablecloths, outdoor wedding decoration, blow in the wind, turning overglasses, candles and centerieces. Wind, bird poop, the shades ofnight falling ... Be xtremely realistic when planning yourdecorations. Actually test them outdoors. 7. NATURE RED IN TOOTH AND CLAW.It's from a poem, okay, but that's where you're going to be.Don't fantasize about how "romantic" the place is; go take alook. Think realistically about beer bottles and cans on thebeach; getting the lawn mowed and weeded; planting seasonalflowers; bugs, flies, snakes and spiders; the sounds of barkingdogs and (uninvited) children, or, for that matter these days,teen drugs dealers in the park. Have a visit with your eyesopen. Then do what you need to do, or resolve it's "good enough"and don't worry. The world of nature isn't going to shut downjust because it's your wedding.8. SAFETY ... ALL AGESYou're in love. You're planning your big day. However, you mustlimit the things you have to worry about if you're going toenjoy yourself. A celebration in a park by a lake would be nice,or by the pool at your aunt's mansion, or even at the beach, butin actuality, if there are going to be children there, anddrinking there's also going to be the chance for a realtragedy. Which, outdoor wedding decoration, brings up - all ages will likely be there, and must bethought of, outdoor wedding decoration, . Can you really picture your great-grandmotherstanding in the surf with her hair blowing, stepping overman-o-wars while picking sand out of her teeth for long? Canthe kiddos go that long without a restroom? Many people can'tstand for a long time; others need protection from extreme heatand cold. 9. THE FOOD. Can you say "health department?" Mayonnaise (and food items withthat as an ingredient) can't sit out in the hot sun for morethan an hour or so. Avoid perishable dishes. Wind can make ithard to get the grill lit. Ice cream won't do when it's 90degrees outside, nor will hot hors d'eouvres last long when it's50 degrees outside.10. THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE STARS.Yes, he promised you that and you'll be promising it to yourguests, one way or another. Keep in mind the sun moves throughthe sky, and plan your event (and the photographs) accordingly.One of the most beautiful weddings I went to was planned at ahillside lodge, with we guests arriving just as the sun wassetting.