Weddings

Don’t Overlook These 5 Musts for Your Outdoor Wedding

Published

4 years ago

September 6, 2020

If you and your partner are one of the 2.3 million couples planning to marry this year (that’s an average of almost 6,200 a day, for anyone doing the math), you may also be joining the ever-growing ranks of couples who choose an outdoor wedding. There are a lot of reasons to step away from the traditional venue—from space restrictions to a strong connection with Mother Nature—but there are also more hurdles to overcome than at an indoor venue.

1. Power up

If you’re lucky, your outdoor wedding will have accessible electric outlets, but what do you do if they don’t? That’s where generators come in. If you’re unsure how much power you’ll need, spring for an electrician to survey your location and take the guesswork out. You’ll need to power your caterer’s appliances, your DJ or band’s equipment, and anything else that needs electricity. Which brings us to your next must…

2. Let there be light

Unless you intend to wrap up your ceremony and reception by 8 pm (or earlier during the shorter days), you’ll need to have a lighting solution that keeps the party going without sacrificing the romantic ambiance. This is your opportunity to get creative with options like dangling clustered string lights, chandeliers hanging from trees, lanterns, light projectors, bistro lights and more! Don’t underestimate the glow of well-placed candles either (just keep them away from the open bar!).

3. Provide clean, convenient facilities

When you envision your special day, the restroom specifics are probably farthest from your mind—but when you decided on an outdoor wedding, you also took responsibility for your guests’ (and your!) hygiene and comfort. Don’t let the concept of a portable restroom change your mind, there are an abundance of stylish and upscale options available from portable sanitation specialists, like Mr. John. In addition to their Silver, Gold, and Platinum restroom trailers (which range from private women’s and men’s sides with foot operated flushing toilets to full private restroom experiences with vanities, china sinks, and oak trimmed mirrors), Mr. John also has a Wedding Cottage trailer.

Your outdoor wedding will remain stylish as ever with blue-gray cedar shingles and chalkboard windows for personalization—and your guests will remain as comfortable as ever with individual stalls featuring flushing toilets, pedestal sinks, a mirror, and a garment hook.

4. Keep guests comfortable

Even if Mother Nature is on her best behavior and spares you from a rainy day, your guests may turn Goldilocks on you. So, how do you make it “just right”? In warmer months, you should have fans set up near tables and the dance floor, you can distribute hand fans before the ceremony to keep guests cool but quiet, and make sure there are plenty of shaded areas and umbrellas over tables. In extreme heat, you may want to erect a tent with a portable air conditioner. For those cooler nights, portable space heaters, a tented area, and pashminas and gloves (which can double as favors) will go a long way.

5. Keep food safe and tasty

Just as you and your guests will be exposed to the elements, so will your food—hot and cold alike! Sure, your crudités may keep its appeal at “room” temperature, but can you say the same of the seafood in your raw bar? Keep your food cool (and your guests healthy) by serving chilled appetizers on trays of crushed ice.

Conversely, warm food can stay toasty using chafing dishes, which can be purchased or rented from a party supply store. Keep temperature in mind when you decide on a wedding cake, as frosting like buttercream can’t withstand higher temperatures. Avoid displaying your cake too long before serving it in temperatures of 75 and above. Also, don’t forget about securing your food and table settings against a strong wind and party-crashing bugs and mosquitoes!

Now that you’re armed with the information vital to your outdoor wedding’s success, start planning it today with WeddingLovely! Connect with over 7,500 wedding vendors worldwide when you access our eight specialized directories and take the first step to a stress-free and customized wedding planning experience.