Nothing encapsulates a celebration of love and a long-lasting relationship better than a wedding. You’re there with your partner, eyes full of happiness as vows are uttered. The air is charged with anticipation for the long-awaited ‘I dos.’
To make this ceremony even more impressive, we can only think of one thing: a wedding outdoors. Imagine your first kiss married under the golden glow of the setting sun or having the sound of the ocean in the background. That screams perfection!
However, setting up an outdoor wedding is a bit dissimilar to an indoor wedding. So if you’re wondering where to start or going through the ups and downs of planning, let us help you. Read on to know how to create the perfect outdoor wedding ceremony.
Hire a wedding planner
Planning a wedding is really hectic with so many moving parts, so it’s very easy to get overwhelmed. That’s why we recommend securing help from professionals.
A wedding planner handles all the behind-the-scenes work, which is very nitty gritty. Vendor teams for food, music to furniture rentals for tables and marquee chairs need to be guided on what needs to be done and how. There needs to be clear communication because miscommunication is more than likely to happen.
Sourcing these vendor teams might even be a headache since an outdoor wedding most likely will not provide the same luxuries as an indoor wedding. The planner needs to assure that the vendor teams have experience working under those conditions. If not, problems might ensue. Your vendors in charge of music might expect plenty of outlets to plug in their speakers, but since it’s outdoors, outlets might be limited.
Aside from the vendor teams, the wedding planner also makes sure that there is no conflict that could potentially ruin the wedding. This could either be positioning those who also wore white towards the corner, so they don’t draw attention from your bridal gown or de-escalating fights. It is even as simple as tracking down guests to have a complete group picture.
Of course any wedding planner of your choice would suffice, but we recommend having someone familiar with the outdoor wedding scene since they have more of an idea as to what sorts of situations can occur. Not to mention too that a wedding planner who’s experience with outdoor wedding planning is also likely to have a great list of suitable wedding venues for you to select from. All in all, a wedding planner with plenty of experience with alfresco ceremonies and receptions, is guaranteed to be better equipped to deal with the unexpected, ensuring that your special day goes on without a hitch.
Consider a wedding stylist
Often people confuse wedding planners and wedding stylists. The difference is that a wedding stylist’s role is to beautify your wedding. They make sure that your furniture and decor goes according to your wedding theme. These include candles, centrepieces and even cutlery. The smallest details matter because there is nothing more infuriating than waiting weeks for your wedding pictures to be developed and noticing that some pieces ruin the whole aesthetic you’re going for. It’s like going for a neutral theme palette accented with gold pieces then seeing neon. It looks odd and unsightly.
With an outdoor wedding, they can make it look like it’s straight from a wedding editorial or from a fairytale. This would mean strategically placing flower arrangements, statues or vases and utilising lights like fairy lights and lanterns. By chance you get inspired by a celebrity’s wedding, your stylist can also replicate or draw inspiration from that.
If you don’t have a theme yet, that’s totally alright. You have their creative eye to help you. They will closely collaborate with you to create a mood board, which is just a mixture of various ideas, that’ll later narrow down to let you know what you want. This is a styling blueprint customised to your tastes and preferences. At the end of the day, you have the wedding of your dreams.
Set realistic expense expectations
You’ve thought of a venue, the food and what you’re going to wear. You’re checking boxes off of your wedding planning checklist and wondering what else needs to be considered for your unforgettable day. We’re here to let you know that it is having an idea of how much your wedding will cost.
Weddings are already expensive but for outdoor weddings, there are additional costs. Some outdoor venues might charge you a site fee on top of renting that space. You might even need to get a permit first, which costs money. Therefore, do your due diligence to check carefully with your venue. Also make sure that there aren’t any hidden costs, so that you won’t be shocked with the price when you get your bill.
Weather-proof your wedding
Your biggest enemy when it comes to outdoor weddings is the weather. It’s difficult to tell what the weather will be months or even a year prior, so it’s somewhat of a gamble. What you can do is know when during the year it rains more and avoid them.
If you really want a Christmas or summer wedding, we won’t stop you but we recommend having a contingency plan. You can prop up a tent to shelter yourself and your guests from the rain. Make sure to check with your venue first if that is allowed. Some venues also allow you to reserve an indoor option in case the weather doesn’t cooperate. These contingency plans can also be applied if ever it’s too hot.
It is also important to keep in mind the season your wedding is going to be. What you can do to manage is, when it’s cold, ensure that there are portable heaters and pass-out hot packs. When it’s hot, have fans to create a cool breeze and provide refreshing beverages like lemonade and an Aperol Spritz.
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Marrying the love of your life is an achievement definitely worth celebrating. Use this guide to equip you with everything you need to know to have the perfect outdoor wedding of your dreams. Surely, it will be a memory you’ll look back on fondly.