Outdoor wedding season arrives once more in Minnesota with the warm weather, green grass, and soft breezes. If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony there are a number of things to consider and plan for.
- Seating is not usually an issue if you are working with golf club or similar venue, but if your ceremony will take place in a park or in your yard for example, you’ll want to make arrangements for seating for your guests. Rental chairs are commonly available, but make sure you understand if delivery, set-up, take down and chair return are included in the quoted costs, or if you’ll need to make arrangements for all those tasks.
- An idyllic ceremony setting can be disrupted by pesky bugs. Understand what services the venue provides to control bugs, and what you are allowed to do. Consider having bug repellent and fans available for guests if there is no other way to control the bugs in the area.
- Outdoor ceremony venues can be challenging from a sound perspective. First of all, you’ll want to determine if there is electrical service at the ceremony site. You’ll also want to plan for adequate sound equipment for musicians/DJs as well as all ceremony speakers. If your guests have made the effort to be with you on your wedding day you want them to be able to hear all the festivities.
- After cold, dark winters we are always happy to see the sun. But it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Consider the placement of the sun at ceremony time. Will your guests or wedding party be looking directly into the sun? Is it possible to rotate the set-up of the ceremony space to remove that problem? And too much sun can also cause heat related health issues for you and your guests. You may want to consider the length of the ceremony, some way to provide shade for everyone, and cold water to keep people hydrated.
- We always hope for pleasant, sunny days throughout the outdoor wedding season, but know that Minnesota’s variable weather doesn’t always provide that. So you will need to identify an alternate ceremony venue in case of inclement weather. Rain, storms, strong winds and extreme temperatures can all require a move indoors. If you have a comprehensive bad weather plan established you can approach your wedding day hoping for ideal weather but confident that you’re ready to deal with any weather conditions.
While we welcome the opportunity to step outside for ceremonies, the outdoor wedding season requires thoughtful preparation. With some planning you can ensure that your day is as comfortable as possible for you and your guests. Here’s hoping for many pleasant spring, summer and fall weekends for everyone planning outdoor ceremonies this year.