There’s something about the outdoors. Fresh air and beautiful weather can make any occasion all the more special. With weddings, it’s doubly true. The clear blue sky, warm breeze and weddings just seem to go together. With all of the decor and planning, indoor weddings simply cannot compete with the palette of colors and scenery that Mother Nature can provide. Using all of this beauty for your wedding day does not come easily however. Outdoor weddings also come with their own unique challenges. To help you get the most out of your outdoor wedding, we’ve provided a few tips:

• If you don’t know the specific date that you would like to have your wedding, at least play it safe by narrowing down the time of year. For example, you don’t want to plan it during the hurricane season.
• If time and budget allow, try to have a backup plan. Because weather is often unpredictable, it would be wise to either have an indoor location on standby.  At the very least, having additional tents, canopies and sidewalls at the ready if the weather takes a sour turn is a good idea.
• To take full advantage of the beautiful outdoor scenery at your chosen location, have your décor choices complement your surroundings, rather than take away from it. For example, a beach wedding would benefit from a tropical motif.
• Just because your chosen wedding day is as sunny and bright as promised, doesn’t mean there won’t be any wind. Therefore make sure that your decor and clothing choices can compensate for potential windy weather. For example, light fabrics for the bride’s or bridesmaids’ dresses might not work out. It’s also a good idea to inform the hairstylist that the wedding will be outdoors so that precautions can be made.
• Because acoustics are different in an outdoor setting, microphones may be a good idea during the wedding ceremony. This will ensure that guests all around can hear properly
• Strategically locate citronella candles around the site to help keep pests at bay.
• Consider all of your electrical needs for the wedding ceremony and reception. It never hurts to have extra extension cords.
• If there aren’t any nearby restroom facilities, be sure to rent the appropriate number of portable restrooms for the size of your event.
• Consider the direction of the sun for the time of day that the ceremony will take place. You don’t want the sun to shine into your guests eyes while they are trying to view the bride and groom.
• Depending on the location of your event, consider the needs of your guests in regards to access. Hire or recruit a volunteer to shuttle those who may have difficulty walking from the parking area to the event location if needed.
• Emphasize in your invitations that the event will be outdoors so that guests can properly plan their clothing choices, hairstyles and footwear.
• Plan ahead for comfort. As the day approaches consider the weather. For example, if the nights are getting chilly then you may want to secure a couple of heaters. Conversely, if the days have been excessively hot as the date approaches, then some fans may be in order. Plenty of liquids and shelter from the sun should also be at the ready.

Because outdoor weddings are susceptible to more unpredictability, it may be a good idea to take advantage of social media. By creating a Facebook page event for the wedding for example, guests can keep up to date of any last-minute changes.

Though planning an outdoor wedding may be challenging at times, the rewards are great. The truth is, with proper planning, nearly all of the obstacles an outdoor wedding may provide can be overcome. The result will be a beautiful new beginning for the lucky couple, which will exist in the memories of their friends and family for a long, long time.