One couple walked through the forest, hand-in-hand, to their ceremony site as guests watched the golden autumn leaves swirl around them.
One couple took their vows right on the beach, with guests seated in chairs before them on the sand. Their backdrop was the surf and the pink-hued sunset.
And yet another pair was married in the bride’s parents’ tree-lined driveway, which was completely transformed by twinkling lights, drop cloths and ivy. Guests never even noticed that the ceremony took place right in front of the garage.
Outdoor weddings can be magical, unforgettable events. But along with the magic of a special outdoor place comes some not-so-magical realities -- that hurricane watch, those pesky mosquitoes, a bare tent that needs to be decorated, 200 cars and no place to park, and, oops, there go the heels of your silk pumps right into the grass as you walk down the aisle. And your 80-year-old Aunt Sally just might trip over a tree-stump in a pitch-black backyard on her way out of your reception and break a wrist. It all makes a wedding in a hotel ballroom sound pretty good.
Don’t run for shelter yet, you lovers of the great outdoors. Planning an outdoor wedding is well worth the effort. As Elizabeth K. Allen, the noted New York City wedding planner who planned the wedding of NBC’s Matt Lauer and model Annette Roque, put it: “I prefer to do an outdoor wedding more than anything else. It’s much more personal than a hotel ballroom. You can be much more creative. You start from scratch and create the space; it’s your own start to finish.”
We asked Allen and other party planning experts to share their outdoor wedding secrets. Follow their tips and planning your outdoor wedding will be a breeze.
Don’t Let It Rain On My Parade
Mother Nature can be very fickle, so those planning an outdoor wedding should always, always have a sheltered back-up site ready. Elena Pound, a Los Angeles wedding planner, says that although disappointing, rain does not have to totally dampen the
outdoor fun you had envisioned. She planned an elaborate Caribbean-themed outdoor wedding that was rained out. “We worked quickly and did the whole thing inside, but made it look like outside with props and all,” she says. Leslie Hair, a wedding planner with Bob Gail’s The Main Event in Los Angeles, recommends checking the weather report two weeks before the wedding: “If it’s touch and go, reserve a tent.”
More On The Elements
Leslie Hair advises brides to consider the season before planning an outdoor wedding. The dead of winter is not the best choice. And Hair makes sure that guests at outdoor weddings will be comfortable despite the temperature. “Especially the elderly guests. Don’t forget heat lamps if it will be chilly or umbrellas for protection from the sun.” She also suggests adding a note on the invitation so guests know to bring appropriate outdoor attire, like a sweater to cover-up a strapless dress.
Natural Beauty
The beauty of the ocean or a forest needs little embellishment. When planning an outdoor wedding, let the location speak for itself. Décor should be simple. “Complement the surroundings, don’t compete with them,” insists Hair. She gives some examples: If the site is near a rose garden, complement with rose centerpieces. If the site is full of shrubs, use simple greenery in your décor.
You’ve Got The Power
Your caterer, your band and your lighting scheme all need some amps to shine at your al fresco wedding. Allen recommends that you think about your power source. Will you tap power from a nearby house or building? Or will you need to bring in generators for everything? Make sure that wires are not in places where guests will trip over them. New York City lighting specialist Bentley Meeker’s tip: “Have a licensed electrician do the wiring.”
The Plumbing
Make sure your guests will have access to restrooms. And Allen suggests finding out where major plumbing lines and septic tanks are on your site so a pole from a tent doesn’t create a geyser.
Sound It Out
Your outdoor wedding looks smashing, but your guests can’t hear a thing. The surf is drowning out your poetry readers and a passing plane is competing with your vows. Use microphones so guests don’t have to struggle to hear. And that beautiful string quartet you chose to play on the lawn during your ceremony needs proper amplification. Make sure that the wedding is in a private enough area so the oohs and aahs of passersby don’t interfere.
Details, Details
Allen recommends ensuring that all of your outdoor wedding plans meet with local ordinances. Get the appropriate permits, inspections and be sure to meet electrical requirements. If the wedding will be in a somewhat remote or secluded locale, Allen suggests having fire department, police department and medical assistance phone numbers on hand in case of an emergency.
So In-tents
Many outdoor weddings make use of tents for the reception. If your guests will be dining and dancing under a great white tarp, think of creative ways to gussy it up. Allen notes that tent decoration can run the gamut. “You can go minimalist -- and just do the poles and tables. Or everything can be draped and swagged.” To Hair, what she calls “pole treatment” is critical. The metal poles that hold up the tent are far from attractive -- covering them with greenery or fabric can help. The flooring of the tent is another issue -- carpet can warm things up. Annette Roque and Matt Lauer used sisal to cover the floor of their tent, which was on a tennis court. AstroTurf is a less expensive option.
Twinkle, Twinkle
Party planners agree that lighting is key to a luminous outdoor wedding. “Especially if you’re on a budget. Lighting creates an environment and is more cost-effective than elaborate décor,” Allen says. Lighting guru Bentley Meeker, responsible for the breathtaking blue and white lights illuminating the trees at Melissa Rivers’ winter white wedding, thinks of safety first. His rule of thumb: “Make sure you can see your shoes without squinting.” After safety, he thinks of what he calls “maximum atmosphere.” He likes to use amber and pink lights. “They’re warm and flattering colors.” More of Bentley’s bright ideas: Make sure that lights don’t shine right in your guests’ faces at the tables; consider uplighting the walls of a tent, poles, and trees outside.
Bug Off
So, you’ve covered all the big elements of your outdoor wedding. Don’t forget the small ones -- the mosquitoes, fleas and gnats. You don’t want your guests waving bugs away or scratching throughout your special event. Allen recommends having the wedding site sprayed two days before the event. A more natural approach is to use citronella candles. If only it was so easy to get rid of the rain.
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