We've had a long, cold winter but for all of you spring & summer brides and grooms, your wedding day will be here before you know it! Favored by Yodit Events has a few summer dates left. Let us design the perfect planning package to assist in the beginning or final stretch of wedding planning. Contact us for your complimentary consultation today!
If you've decided to have an outdoor wedding, congratulations! Outdoor weddings are romantic and beautiful. However, they aren't as easy as they may look. Outdoor weddings come with additional caveats and pitfalls, but if you follow these tips, you'll be sure to shine on your wedding day.
1. Make your guests comfortable Think about what the weather will likely be at the time of day and month of the year of your outdoor wedding. Sunny and hot? Don't leave your guests uncomfortably melting – have your ushers give guests ice-cold bottles of water as they are seated. Consider printing your wedding program on a fan so that guests may cool themselves. Don't forget to have plenty of sunscreen on hand as well. For a very warm location, look into renting large electric fans (don't forget a generator) and/or a tent to shade the suns rays. If it will be cold and damp, make sure you tell guests that so they can wear extra layers. A simple xeroxed insert will do. You might want to have lap blankets on hand, or rent portable heaters.
2. Have a backup plan What will you do if it rains? The ideal outdoor wedding location has an indoor location waiting just in case. Many brides and grooms opt to have their ceremony outside and reception inside. In a pinch, the tables can be scooted to the back of the room during the ceremony. A tent is another option, but only for light to moderate rain storms. A heavy rain will soak the ground underneath, leaving guests with soggy and muddy shoes. Make sure any tent you rent is sturdy so it won't flip over, and that it has thick and weighted sides.
3. Plan for Wind Many outdoor weddings suffer from windy conditions. Avoid light fabrics like chiffons and china silks in your dress and the bridesmaid dresses. Tell your hairstylist that you'll be having an outdoor wedding so she/he can plan a style that won't leave you looking like Cousin It! Men in the wedding party should use pomade or other styling product. Again, tell your guests in a printed insert so that they can plan accordingly. And of course, make sure your tent will stand up to gusting winds or find an indoor backup plan.
4. Can everybody hear? When you picture your dream wedding at the beach, you're probably not hearing the roaring of the waves, the rushing wind, or the local kids running and screaming around you. Look into renting a sound system with clip mikes for the bride, groom and officiant. Your DJ or band may be able to easily arrange this for you.
5. Decorations One of the bonuses of an outdoor wedding is the natural beauty around you, lessening your need to decorate. But you still need to do some work. Visit the site a week before your wedding to make sure the grass is mown, the ground raked, and the flowers have bloomed. If your wedding is at a public park, you may want to ask the groomsmen or friends to do this the morning of your ceremony. If it's been an especially cold season, you may need to supplement the flowers with some potted bulbs from a florist. Other decorations you may want to consider include an arch or trellis to focus the ceremony and frame the bride and groom as they say their vows; strings of lights or lanterns in the trees; luminarias; torches; or farolitas.
6. Make things tasty outside Does your caterer have experience planning an outdoor wedding menu? Make sure they're planning things that will keep well outdoors in the heat. Avoid things like mayonnaise salads or dishes which must be served cold.
7. Don't leave your guests parched Since alcohol is dehydrating, consider serving a variety of lemonades, teas and punches. Be sure to have plenty of ice and water around as well. For a fancy cocktail, why not serve a classic mint julep or a mojito? The mint will refresh and cool your guests.
8. Those pesky flying things Be sure to put out citronella candles or a bug zapper so that your guests won't spend the whole ceremony swatting at the air.
9. Here comes the sun Consider timing your outdoor wedding for sunset where your guests will see you take your vows surrounded by the warm glow of the sun. Those having a daytime outdoor wedding should orient the ceremony so that the sun will be on guests' backs rather than in their eyes.
10.Permits Don't forget to contact your city parks department or other local government to get a permit for an outdoor wedding. Be sure to ask about rules concerning trash removal, candle or torch lighting, and pre-wedding photography.
Summer is the busiest time of the year for weddings because of the beautiful weather. However, with the beautiful weather comes blazing hot temperatures. If you don't want to compromise on the season here are a few helpful tips to keep your guests cool.
It's all in the timing:
If you wish to hold your wedding in a hot summer month like July, we usually advise a later ceremony. The sun will be at its hottest in the early afternoon, so the ideal time to hold your ceremony would be around 5pm, so that your celebration can continue in cooler temperatures.
Think shady:
If you are having an outdoor ceremony in the summer, try to choose an area that will be in the shade at the time of the ceremony, or as an alternative you can consider to cover the ceremony area with large white umbrellas to protect the guests from the hot sun (especially if the ceremony takes place around lunchtime or early afternoon).
Cheers!:
Arrange for your guests to be greeted with a drink before the ceremony begins (especially if it is outdoors) so they can immediately enjoy a cool drink as they wait for the bride to arrive.
Make a splash:
If possible, avoid a city celebration and hold your wedding in a venue near a lake or on the coast. Being near the water is an easy way to give your guests relief from the heat.
Play it cool:
On a hot day, the groom should wait until the last minute before the ceremony to put on his jacket. Often in Italy, the groom brings an extra shirt so that if needed he can change into a fresh shirt for the rest of the wedding. The bride should ask for advice from the dress designer and if it is a summer wedding ideally she should choose a dress that leaves the arms bare; we also advise to pick a light fabric for the dress so that if it is warm on the day, she can still have a great time while looking fresh and put together.
Less is more:
Fact: heat and humidity don’t go well with make-up. During your bridal make-up trial run, ask your make-up artist to give you some tips on how to make sure your make-up lasts all day. Your make-up bag must-haves will be a strong primer and a waterproof mascara; try to wear the minimum amount of make-up to let you skin breathe - and if you have a bit of a tan you won’t need much anyway!
Ditch the heels:
Why not plan ahead and have flip-flops ready for your reception? We have done this in the past and we can tell you that both female and male guests couldn’t wait to get rid of their shoes and socks and relax in flip-flops - and it will make dancing that little bit easier, too!
Source: Weddingmagazine!
We’ve all heard those wedding horror stories – wardrobe malfunctions, falls, even the odd runaway groom. It’s an unfortunate fact of life, but wedding day emergencies do happen! Here’s a list of tips to help save the day in the event of a wedding emergency.
Day by day, wardrobe malfunctions happen. Usually they’re just a small tear, here or there, maybe your stockings have laddered, shirt’s torn – the usual daily occurrence. It’s not often that you’ll hear of entire dresses tearing away, leaving you exposed in front of friends and family – but it’s best to be prepared. Before the wedding – decide on what you’d like to wear, get it fitted out and have it ready at least 2 weeks before the wedding. This will usually give enough time to sort out any issues before the day comes around. On the day – carry an extra pair of pantyhose, if your current pair ladder, just quickly change into the new set. A needle and thread, as well as safety pins, are life savers for tears and other quick modifications that need doing. Keep a few handy.
Falls happen, and you’ll cut yourself at the most inconvenient times. Keep a few band-aids on hand, as well as a box of tissues (these will also come in handy if you start to tear up). Keep a box of aspirins for those unexpected headaches for you and your bridesmaids. A bottle of hairspray or gel will save your bad hair day, and consider keeping a box of crackers in a small bag – you may have little time to eat on the day of the wedding! On that note, keep some breath mints or a travel toothbrush handy in case you get carried away with those chive and onion crackers. In short, a wedding day emergency kit will help mitigate any unforeseen circumstances!
Make sure to inspect your wedding reception venue before the day of the wedding, and on the big day in order to avoid potential wedding day emergencies. Look for a function venue that has the space and services you need – a large dance floor, PA system, ample parking etc. Look for testimonials and other reviews, to make sure you’re looking at a quality and reliable function venue.
With a little preparation and planning, those unforseen wedding emergencies will seem like a feather in the wind, brushing straight past with no problem at all.
Source: Wedding Republic
