An outdoor wedding is one of the most popular summer weddings that brides request. There are a few things to pay attention to when you plan your outdoor wedding in order to make sure that it’s successful. Some things to think about when planning your outdoor summer wedding:
Weather – The weather in the summer can be unpredictable so it’s best to plan ahead for any possible impact weather can have on the wedding.
Rain – Rain can happen quickly so it’s best to prepare ahead of time. In the event of rain consider having a backup venue. If you don’t have the luxury of an indoor venue for rain you’ll need other options. Get plenty of tents. You can rent tents from a rental company that will deliver and put up the tents as well as take them down the next day. Umbrellas can be a great way to avoid spotty rain showers. Order some umbrellas in a pretty colour that matches your wedding colours so you can hand them out when needed.
Heat and Sun – Tents are the best option to guard against heat and sun. Umbrellas can also be used to alleviate heat. Additionally, some tents are available with air conditioning.
Bugs – Bugs can be a problem with an outdoor wedding. While you may not be able to eliminate pests completely, there are some steps you can take ahead of time to try to guard against bugs. Have the outdoor area fogged or sprayed. This should be done a few days ahead of the party. Don’t spray for bugs once you have anything set up. For the wedding day, provide some tiki lights that will help keep bugs away. You can also provide some citronella candles on the tables to keep insects at bay. For guests, provide a basket with bug repellent spray and bug repellent wrist bands.
Lighting – Once the sun goes down, you’ll need to make sure that there is plenty of lighting available for guests. Twinkle lighting is pretty and adds a soft romantic glow to the area. Suspend twinkle lights from the sides of tents or add them to nearby trees. You can add more lighting with candles. Paper lanterns are another great choice to increase lighting. Make sure to light up walkways using lanterns.
Dancing – You’ll need to plan a good area where the DJ can play and people can dance. Pick a flat section and block it off with lights. If the ground is uneven, rent a flat wooden dance floor that comes in sections for easy installation. Keep the dancing in a tent when possible but make sure it’s large enough to accommodate plenty of onlookers. Keep chairs alongside to encourage people to watch and participate.