Insider Tip: Make Your Outdoor Wedding a Pleasant One!

Today's weather - a heat advisory and an afternoon thunderstorm - is the inspiration behind this post. Heat or rain (or heaven forbid heat & rain together! yikes!) are a quick mix for outdoor wedding day drama. Having a ceremony, reception, or both outside yield tend to come with some major risks. Rain on your wedding day in general is a bug "taboo," but rain when the wedding is OUTSIDE can realistically be disastrous! And let's talk about the thought of heat as the sun beams down on you and your guests - you $100 make-up job will literally drip off you face! So why are so many of us drawn to having an outdoor wedding this time of year when your BIG day is the most vulnerable? Simply because the outdoors is a naturally beautiful backdrop to any wedding celebration! There is an uncanny fresh and subtle ambiance that an outside wedding has, and it is well worth putting your day against the risks. A successful outdoor wedding is most certainly possible if the proper steps are taken as a precaution to "mini-natural disasters." To help ensure that your outdoor wedding is not drowned in water or beaten by heat, follow these insider tips:


The Guests

• Provide your guests with a wedding favor that has some purpose! Whether it is a pair of sunglasses, a colorful umbrella, a paper fan, or some flip flops - give them something to keep cool while you say your "I Do's!" If you need some "cooling favors" inspiration, check out our previous post: The Summer Heat - How to Keep Your Wedding Cool
• Let your guest know that all or part of your wedding will be outside. You can do this by putting a tag line on your invitation - this way, your guests know to dress accordingly for the weather.
• Keep your ceremony to a minimum. Now this does not mean RUSH through it, it simply means to have the ceremony not last more that 30 minutes if possible.
• Offer your guests water or a cool lemonade to sip on during your outdoor ceremony. For the reception, make sure your bar is stocked with lots of water and cold beer (wine typically won't be of much interest on a steamy day)
• In corporate "cooling" things into your big day if the weather is going to be HOT. Ideas: an ice cream bar, a cooled summer salad, or frozen margaritas as your signature drink.

In Case of Rain or Shine

• If you are having an outdoor wedding, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have a back-up plan! Your back-up plan, depending on the facility you are using, could simply be to move the wedding inside (i.e. a ballroom, banquet room, etc); however, if your venue does not have an appropriate "indoor" area for emergency, you SHOULD rent an event tent. Your event tent should be big enough to cover all your guests, decor, seating, band, food, etc. More often than not, an outdoor wedding should have some sort of tent no matter what the weather - this not only helps with inclimate weather, but it is a perfect source of shade for guests and to keep the food from spoiling. There are some majorly beautiful event tents out their for rental -- check out your local renting company or event coordinator for further information.
• If you know the weather is going to be pretty toasty that day, rent an AC unit. These units are not that expensive for rental, but can quickly cool off anyone under a tent. Large cooling fans (sort of like the "cooling zones" at theme parks) can be rented as well.

The Wedding Party

• Include a hand towel in your wedding party's gift set. If you want to step it up a notch, have the towel monogramed with each person's name.
• Encourage the groomsmen to rent an extra shirt. An extra button down is only $2 more dollars at any tux rental - well worth it!
• Allow your wedding party to go barefoot or wear flip flops during your reception. 

Overall, I 100% believe that an outdoor wedding can be perfectly successful if you are prepared! A wedding with nature as its backdrop is always breathtaking and memorable to all - so if you have always dreamed of a wedding against a big ole' oak tree or in a luscious garden - my advice = GO FOR IT! Check out some beautiful outdoor weddings below!

Photo Credits:

 Jose Villa Photography

GH Kim Photography

Karen Wise Photography

Allyson Magda Photography

Lisa Franchot

Meg Smith Photography

Samm Blake

Shannon Montez

Tana Photography

Picture This: Colorful Quote!

If you missed reading up on one of last week's posts, "Picture This," you did not see the start of a new weekly series! In a nutshell, I will present a single source of inspiration (i.e. a photo, an object, a quote, etc.) and create an entire wedding inspiration board from the the muse! If you are a creative mind - I encourage you to try the "Picture This!" activity yourself..it is fun to imagine a million ways to create a single wedding!




By Handz from Etsy

 

This weeks "Picture This!" inspiration comes from a printed quote I found on, none other than, Etsy! The picture really struck me for several reasons: (1.) This quote is from a song I think we all universally know! It may have even been the first song we learned sing when we were little - so cheery and simple!, and (2.) I loved the color combination the artist used to compose the print. Often, brides are afraid to use bold colors throughout their wedding and stick to the notion of being "soft and sweet;" however, being BOLD is not BAD - if anything, bright colors bring warmth and cheerfulness to any ambiance! A wedding is a celebration after all! Check out how the basic primary colors can be a perfect setting for your wedding day celebration - still keeping it classy and elegant all the way through! Look below to find a wedding fully inspired from the colorful quote through and through! Enjoy!



Stellar Photos From: Jamie Grenough, Aaron Delesie, Twin Lens, Picotte Photo, Q Weddings, Beaux Arts, Captured by Jen, Muse Photography, Matthew May, and Laurel McConnel



 



The Summer Heat - How to Keep Your Wedding Cool

Today's humid, 90 degree weather is definitely the inspiration for today's post. I don't know about anyone else, but I took one step outside today and started sweating! Sweat...not something we like to deal with on a daily basis, and most certainly not something you or your guests want to deal with at your wedding! Whether you are a guest or the bride - the thought of being all "dolled" up and "icky" at the same time does not seem appealing. To cool the mood and save you some sweat...check out these ideas that will keep both you and your guests dry, comfortable, and happy!

Fabulous Photos By: Cuppa Photography, Marianne Wilson, Carlie Statsky, Tanja Lippert, Suzi Q., Jessica Johnston, Laura Ivanova, and Docuvitae Photography!

1. Sunglasses

Give your guests some shades to save them from squinting! These are perfect for an outdoor wedding and/or reception and won't break your budget. The Oriental Trading Company is a great resource!

2. Parasols

Give the guests some individual shade to keep them cool. These paper parasols come in a variety of colors and can be found from several resources around the web! Insider Tip: parasols make for super cute pictures - a group shot of you and your bridesmaids with parasols in hand is a fun addition to any wedding album.

Photo: Robert Sukrachland

3. Refreshments

Offer guests a specialty drink to refresh the mood. If you haven't already done so, take a look back at our Specialty Drink post for a closer look at this idea. Guests will love a ice cold glass of lemonade or ice tea - a frozen Margarita would certainly do the job, too!

4. Program Fans

Turn your programs into fans by adding a simply painter's stick to the end of each one. Guests will love this multifunctional program...especially because of the cool breeze! This is a great DIY project - look for a future post on how to turn your program into a cooling unit.

5. Flip Flops

Make your dance floor a true hit my providing guests with flip flops! Not only will everyone be more apt boggy with your band, but their feet will be cool and comfy!

6. Ice Cream Bar

Oh my lord...now this idea has my heart (and my appetite!) What better way to cool off guests than with a cool and sweet treat! Sundae bars at weddings are definitely trendy right now and most catering companies have the means to set it up! Or better yet, rent an ice cream truck for your wedding (check out the bottom photo - yes, that is from a REAL wedding!). Your guest will been in awe of the nostalgic truck and take them back to childhood summers!

I am feeling cooler already!..and with any summer wedding in the deep south, the term "cool" is in constant demand. To prevent wedding day misery (and frizzy hair galore!), use one of the ideas above, or two, to keep it cool, comfy, and FUN! Enjoy!