Tips & Tricks: Planning an Outdoor Wedding

Planning an outdoor wedding? Here are some tips and tricks to make sure your big day runs smoothly!

Planning a wedding is a lot to take on and when your knowledge about planning a wedding is limited, it begins to feel like an impossible task. So, today we are going to share a few tips to help jump-start planning your outdoor wedding!

Come up with a Plan B

We know you are determined to have your wedding outside no matter what – hey, Sara did the same thing with her wedding! However, sometimes mother nature isn’t quite on board with your plan, so it is important to have a back-up plan. The back-up plan doesn’t have to be a “bad” plan. Let’s say it rains unexpectedly on the day of your wedding, for example; if your venue has a covered veranda or terrace, try having the ceremony there and then you can consider moving the dinner portion of your wedding back outside if the rain lets up. If you’re able to have your ceremony outside, you will still get the feel of being outside but nobody will get wet. If you have a large guest count and the terrace is too small for a seated ceremony, think about doing a casual standing ceremony, but only if the ceremony will be quick. You don’t want your guests standing for an hour. Otherwise, you can plan to provide your guests with cute umbrellas as their gift if their seating will not be covered.

Select a Cake with Fondant to Protect it from the Heat

We know you may want that delicious buttercream icing, but putting buttercream icing between the layers of your fondant cake will help the cake stand up to the heat. Otherwise, your buttercream frosting may start to melt in the summer heat – and may attract bugs. This way your cake will look exactly like you want it to when you cut it – and you still get that yummy buttercream icing taste in the middle. If you don’t like the taste of fondant, you can certainly eat around it! It’s a win-win! Nobody wants a melted cake in their photographs!

Select Seasonally Appropriate Foods

Not all foods last in the sun and the heat, so avoiding foods with dairy and spreads that may spoil is definitely something to consider. Also, when choosing your food items, opt for seasonal foods when possible. Seasonal items will taste better AND cut back on your catering bill. If your ceremony is outside in the sun and it’s hot, people tend to like a cold option and something refreshing during cocktail hour.

Have Bug Spray available for your Guests

In those hot summer months there can be a LOT of bugs outside. While some of us may get only a handful of bug bites over the course of the entire summer, others seem to be COVERED in bites. You don’t want your guests to be uncomfortable at your wedding, so having bug spray accessible, either with your planner or where your guests will enter the ceremony site, is always a good idea.

Select Seasonally Appropriate Bridal Party Attire

As we all know, the summer months can be super hot, especially in DC, so don’t choose heavy fabrics when deciding on your bridal party wear. You don’t want anyone passing out, sweating through their attire in front of all of your guests, or just feeling uncomfortable. Plus, there are so many options out there for your bridal party, so choosing a lighter fabric should be a breeze! If your wedding is in late Fall or early Spring and you’d like to have a lightweight fabric, consider getting your bridesmaids a pashmina or going with a floor-length gown so they have the option to cover their shoulders and/or legs as they stand beside you on your big day!

Scheduling your Ceremony

We know you may want to start your ceremony in the afternoon so you have enough time for all of your wedding festivities. However, if your guests are are frying in the sun, they may be a bit unhappy. If you can spare everyone from sweating and burning in the sun and schedule your ceremony toward the evening when the sun isn’t as hot or in some sort of partial shade, your guests will be much happier. If you would like to do a first look and can schedule all of your wedding party and family photographs before the ceremony, this will work especially well – you’ll even get to enjoy cocktail hour with your guests! You may even get a sunset wedding with amazing photographs – now that’s something to look forward to! Imagine having your wedding done by someone like Sasha Reiko Photography, with the sun setting behind you as you’re surrounded by friends and family in a beautiful outdoor setting, divine!

Remember that even when you do your best to accommodate everyone, you cannot make everyone happy. And, that’s ok. If you have a wedding planner, be sure to ask her about all of your options that are specific to your venue, time of year, etc.

All you can do is your best! At the end of the day, remember that it’s YOUR wedding day; be sure that you and your fiance are happy – because that is super important, too!

Happy wedding planning! <3