How to Have the Perfect Outdoor Wedding
Outdoor weddings offer an array of natural landscapes and spectacular views to take advantage of, which is why they continue to grow more popular. However, there are also several factors to account for — temperatures, precipitation, bugs and critters, keeping food protected and more.
Though outdoor weddings can require a little more planning than indoor ones, they provide amazing results worth making these extra accommodations. If you and your partner are planning an outdoor wedding ceremony, cocktail hour or reception, we're here to provide you with some important tips to help things run smoothly.
We'll start by answering a list of commonly asked questions related to outdoor wedding planning, then offer some helpful recommendations to keep in mind for your big day. Let's get started!
Commonly Asked Questions
Here are nine frequently asked questions related to outdoor weddings — we hope they'll provide you with the answers you may be looking for.
1. How Do I Keep Bugs Away From My Wedding Food?
Depending on the time of year and location of your outdoor wedding, you may need to prevent bugs from invading the food at your reception. Thankfully, there are a few handy methods you can use to keep outdoor weddings and bugs from mixing:
Plan your time and location accordingly: You can strategically plan outdoor wedding locations and times of year to avoid bugs. For example, a venue near mud or water would likely attract more pests, so this is something to be mindful of. Additionally, seasons play a large role in this decision. If you want to avoid the possibility of bugs at all costs, an early spring or autumn wedding would likely be your best bet — bugs tend to be most present during the summer season.
Keep food covered: If you're having a buffet-style wedding reception outdoors, keep stationary food covered with lids to keep the bugs out. As another option, you might consider serving plated meals indoors for guests to bring outside — this reduces the risk of serving food around bugs.
Set out some fans: Try placing a few small fans on the tables or hang them in tents. This airflow can help deter bugs from the food.
Wait to bring out the cake: Bugs are attracted to sweeter foods and desserts, which is why it's especially crucial to protect your wedding cake. If you're having an outdoor reception, we recommend waiting to bring the cake outdoors until minutes before serving it — this way, it stays protected from pests for as long as possible. When you do bring it outdoors, try placing it near a couple of your fans.
Use bug repellants and catchers: To keep the pests away, try setting up some outdoor bug catchers or light-based repellants such as tiki torches and citronella candles. Another potential method is treating the grass for bugs and mosquitos before your ceremony or reception.
2. Can a Catholic Priest Perform an Outdoor Wedding?
This is a common question, especially for Catholic couples who want to have an outdoor wedding ceremony. The Catholic Church does permit outdoor weddings, but only in two places — Baltimore, Maryland and the state of Montana.
If your wedding will take place in one of these two places, you're in luck! However, if you're planning an outdoor Catholic wedding elsewhere, you'll probably have to switch up your plans. Be sure to figure this out right off the bat — this way, you'll avoid the hassle of having to change the venue later on.
3. How Do I Keep Food Cold at an Outdoor Wedding?
If you plan to serve dishes that require a cooler temperature — such as potato salad, fruits or vegetables — you'll want to avoid placing these foods in direct sunlight. The most effective way to keep them cold is by storing them in coolers. You can use your own coolers or those provided by a catering service. Before the reception, it's a good idea to store the food in an indoor refrigerator or freezer as well.
It's also important to know how much food you'll be preparing for the reception — this way, you'll know how much cooler and fridge space to allow for. Be sure to allow ample time to plan for this accordingly.
4. What Month Is Best for an Outdoor Wedding?
Ultimately, the best month for an outdoor wedding depends on where you're located. In warmer states such as Texas and Georgia, summers get very hot, so you might consider planning your wedding for September or October to allow for more pleasant temperatures. On the other hand, cooler states such as Maine or Montana allow more flexibility for summer months — in these areas, you might consider getting married in June, July or August for just the right amount of warmth.
When choosing the best season for outdoor weddings, consider your specific location to choose a month that allows for good weather conditions. Sunshine, ideal temperatures, low humidity and no rain or snow are considerable factors for outdoor wedding weather.
5. What Is the Best Time of Day for an Outdoor Wedding?
Typically, late afternoon to early evening — specifically between the hours of 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. — is the best time of day to have a wedding. You and your guests won't be exposed to harsh sunlight and shadows, and temperatures will cool down slightly during this time. You could also experience a gorgeous sunset, which is a perfect backdrop to make your special day even more memorable.
6. How Cold Is Too Cold to Have an Outdoor Wedding?
Generally speaking, any temperature below 60 degrees will likely be too cold for an outdoor wedding. For this reason, we don't highly recommend having an outdoor wedding during the winter months due to snow and frigid temperatures. It will likely be too cold for you and your guests to stand outside for the duration of your wedding.
7. How Hot Is Too Hot for an Outdoor Wedding?
Planning around hotter temperatures is just as important as planning around colder ones. Typically, any temperature above 80 degrees will be too hot for an outdoor wedding. Humidity levels will probably be higher as well, which can be risky for your hairstyle and makeup.
It's important to check the weather forecast leading up to your wedding day. If it looks like the weather will be too hot or cold, consider moving it to an indoor location with substantial heating or air conditioning — this is where having a backup venue will come in handy.
8. How Do You Block Sun at an Outdoor Wedding?
Keeping your guests out of direct sunlight is another priority to consider when planning an outdoor wedding. If there are no trees or natural shade at your outdoor venue, an effective way to block excessive sun is by setting up tents.
If you feel a tent might take away from your desired theme, as some brides do, outdoor drapes are another solution. These can hang above seats during the ceremony or over your reception tables. They tend to offer a more classic, elegant look and you can purchase them in colors that accent your wedding theme.
9. Can an Outdoor Wedding Be Formal?
When planning an outdoor wedding, you can make the ceremony and reception as formal or informal as you want. No matter what theme you wish to convey, you can use seating, food, venue, floral arrangements and other decorations to bring it to life. There is no right or wrong when it comes to how formal or informal your outdoor ceremony should be.
If you're looking to plan an outdoor wedding that's more on the formal side, here are a few decorative ideas to help inspire you:
Overhead string or bistro lights
Grand entrance with accented curtains or topiaries
Earthy tones and colors
Forest-themed centerpieces or plants for tables
A rustic drink cart for cocktail hour
How to Plan the Perfect Outdoor Wedding
When planning the perfect outdoor wedding, there are many other details to think about leading up to the big day. Here are some additional outdoor wedding planning tips to keep in mind when preparing for your celebration:
Visit Your Chosen Venue
It's important to visit your wedding venue ahead of time, especially if you've never seen it in person before. Your rehearsal dinner the evening before your wedding shouldn't be your first time ever seeing it — try to visit the location as early as possible, at least a few months in advance. This allows you to better envision the setup and layout of your ceremony and reception, offering more preparation for the big day.
Take Advantage of the Scenery
An outdoor wedding offers a variety of scenic possibilities — a warm, sandy beach with a stunning ocean view, a local park with a colorful autumn backdrop, a lush green forest, a rooftop terrace with a marvelous skyline view or a peaceful garden with elegant flowers. Whichever venue you choose, take full advantage of the scenery and every detail it offers.
When taking professional wedding photos, try to utilize natural landscapes for your backdrops. Outdoor weddings provide beautiful photograph opportunities to make your special day even more unforgettable, so you'll want to take full advantage of these incredible views!
Make Sure Facilities Are Nearby
When planning an outdoor wedding, there's another important detail you won't want to overlook — what to do when your guests have to use the restroom. You'll want to make sure your outdoor wedding venue provides access to nearby bathrooms and handwashing facilities.
To plan this accordingly, try picking a location that's a short walk away from a public building with accessible restrooms, such as a church, hotel or banquet hall. Another option is renting portable restrooms, but you'll want to hire a reliable company to provide these — this way, you can ensure these facilities are in good condition and sanitary for your guests.
Choose Venue Shade and a Backup Plan
If your outdoor wedding will feature warm temperatures and lots of sunlight, you'll want to ensure your venue offers substantial amounts of shade for guests. There are a few different ways you can do this:
Purchase decorative wedding drapes.
Rent a tent or canopy.
Use natural shade from trees.
Provide parasols for guests at the entrance.
There should always be a backup venue for every outdoor wedding ceremony or reception, regardless of the time of year. Weather is fickle and an unexpected rush of precipitation or strong winds could occur at any moment. You'll need to establish an indoor backup venue in case this happens. Remember to book this as far in advance as possible — preferably during the early stages of your wedding planning, as venues can book up very quickly.
Plan for the Season
The season you choose for your wedding will largely determine the temperatures, weather conditions and guests' attire, so it's critical to plan for this accordingly. Here are some helpful tips to plan your outdoor wedding around any season of the year:
Plan for the Temperature of the Season
To determine the right season for your outdoor wedding, decide on an ideal temperature. For example, you'd likely opt for a summer wedding if you prefer clear skies, sunshine and heat. However, you'll also have to pick flowers that won't wilt in higher temperatures and find ways to prevent food from spoiling in the heat.
When planning your wedding, be sure to speak with your caterer, florist or planner to carefully work around these details. This way, you can ensure a smooth, successful wedding day — no matter the season or temperature.
Prepare Your Guests to Dress Appropriately
When planning your outdoor wedding, it's important to accommodate your guests as much as possible — one aspect to think about is attire. Whatever time of year you decide to have your wedding, it's important to prepare them to dress appropriately for the temperature to ensure they are comfortable.
With an outdoor spring or summer wedding, you'll want to make sure your guests don't get too warm or hot. Encourage them to wear lighter materials, such as silk, linen or chiffon. Additionally, lighter pastel colors absorb less sunlight than darker shades, making them more ideal for spring and summer wedding attire.
On the other hand, a fall or winter wedding will likely require thicker, warmer materials. Because these seasons mark the beginning of chilly and crisp temperatures, it's important that your guests dress accordingly. To ensure they don't get too cold, they may want to stick with long sleeves and darker shades. They also might consider wearing heavier fabrics such as velvet or cotton to stay warm.
Download Our Complete Wedding Guide to Answer All Your Questions
At Baywood Weddings, we want to help make your special day a success — no matter the location, season or month of the year. To answer any outdoor wedding questions you may have, download our complete Wedding Planning Guide to help plan your dream wedding. Here, you can find helpful tips for budgeting, vendors, venues and more. Let us help you plan the perfect ceremony and reception for you and your partner to treasure forever.