10 Tips for pulling off a great outdoor wedding day in North Carolina
What could be more beautiful and romantic than holding an outdoor wedding? Whether at a beach, park, backyard or golf course, hosting your ceremony outdoors adds charm and allows you and your guests to celebrate while enjoying the natural light, fresh air and gorgeous scenery. Plus, you're going to get some incredible wedding photos out of it once your day is done!
However, this type of wedding requires some special considerations while planning to make sure that your day goes smoothly. If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony and reception, take all of these factors into account so that you and your guests are comfortable. Here are a few of my favorite tips for those planning an outdoor wedding day here in North Carolina…
1. Menu considerations
Work with your caterer to design a menu that’s seasonally appropriate and full of delectable foods that won’t be ruined by weather conditions like too much heat. You may want a fancy cheese plate, but the cheeses can melt and look unattractive in hot, summer weather. Opt for cool, crisp, fresh foods and have plenty of ice on hand to keep foods cool. Consider fun treats like ice pops and snow cones for a summer wedding. If the weather is chilly, consider mini cups of hot soup as hors d’oeuvres, marshmallow roasting stations or mini cups of hot cocoa to keep guests warm.
Make sure your cake will stand up to the heat. Some frostings, like buttercream, can melt in the heat and ruin the look of your beautiful cake, but fondant will be more likely to stay put. It’s nice to have the cake on display for the whole party, but if heat is a concern, it may be best to keep the cake indoors until it’s time to serve and enjoy.
2. Tent up!
The weather can be unpredictable and if you are not careful it can affect your outdoor wedding. During the ceremony, it starts to rain and you are drench in your beautiful wedding dress. If you are an adventurous person then maybe it won’t be a problem but if you are not, then you should consider using a tent for your outdoor wedding. If you don’t mind then it will be a memorable occasion for you as you danced in the pouring rain while saying your vows.
3. Debug
An outdoor wedding may be accompanied by bugs and unwanted insects. Make sure you are prepared to deal with this. If you can spray the area before the reception then do so. You may offer your guests fans so they can fan away mosquitoes and insects. You can also encourage your guests to walk with spray for bugs.
4. Stay hydrated
It gets HOT here in North Carolina in the spring and summer. Make sure your guests, bridal, and groom party are equipped with refreshments at all times, especially in the summer months. Provide a cooler or ice chest stocked with water bottles or other beverages for your guests to prevent dehydration.
5. Guest comfort & access to electricity
Do not plan your wedding in the middle of nowhere and your guests cannot access a restroom. Outdoor weddings will have limited facilities and you have to make sure that they are available. If there are no lights you will need a generator. In the night everyone can be aware of what is going on and have good lighting to take pictures and selfies.
• Umbrellas and towels: If rain is a good possibility, have some baskets of umbrellas around for your guests to use. You could also provide stacks of towels in the restrooms for drying off.
• Sunscreen and bug spray: Especially on sunny days, consider providing some bottles of sunscreen or bug spray. Both of these are also available as towelettes too — a basket of the towelette packets makes a quick and convenient grab-and-go station for guests.
• Paper fans: Inexpensive and simple, paper fans are a nice touch to help guests keep cool and comfortable. Choose a fun pattern that complements your décor. You could even have your programs printed on paper fans to do double duty.
• Flip flops, hats and sunglasses: Flip flops are a nice touch, especially at a beach wedding. They also could be nice by the dance floor for tired dancing feet. Consider having a few extra floppy sun hats and sunglasses around for anyone who may need them.
• Water: Feel free to provide other beverages too, but know that alcohol can be drying and everyone will need water too, especially in the hot sun. Set out coolers full of bottled water, set up dispensers for flavored waters like lemon or cucumber, or offer iced teas and lemonade, along with plenty of glasses.
• Blankets: If your wedding is during the cooler months, set out some stacks of pretty blankets or shawls for guests to wrap up in as the night gets cooler.
6. Dress for success
If you are having a wedding on the beach you cannot wear heels. A nice comfortable slipper will do and even no shoes. Informing your guests about the setting is very important. It will help them to prepare and dress for the occasion. For an outdoor wedding ceremony, there are a few things to consider when planning the bridal party’s attire. Outdoor weddings can be very casual or very dressy — either way, make sure your bridal party is dressed appropriately for the weather and conditions. For example, high heels and stilettos just don’t work on grass or sandy beaches, so find elegant footwear that will keep you safe and not get ruined. Also, consider dress lengths and if they will drag on the ground. This can be an even bigger issue if the ground is wet.
Be aware of the average temperature when you select your formal wear so everyone in the wedding party is as comfortable as possible. If the weather will be chilly, you may want to add a sweater or wrap to your outfit to keep shoulders warm or matching shawls for bridesmaids. Choose hairstyles for yourself and your bridesmaids that won’t be too delicate for windy conditions. Wearing your hair up will keep it from blowing around in the wind, and will help keep you cooler on hotter days.
Make sure your up-do is secured, and use plenty of hairspray to keep it in place. Inform your hairstylist and makeup artist that you are having an outdoor wedding. They may have certain styles or products to suggest to keep you looking your best in any weather. Try out your desired hairstyle and makeup before the wedding and see how they hold up in various weather conditions.
You may want to have a separate reception dress that will be more comfortable and keep you cooler in hot weather. Many wedding dresses can be quite warm, so a dress that is shorter or lighter weight for your outdoor reception might be a good idea too.
7. Chairs are important
You may have to hire chairs and tables for your guests. In indoor weddings, chairs and tables are provided but outdoor weddings are not be facilitated with these. If you are inviting plenty people then it can be costly so you have to budget for chairs and tables separately. You can hire from churches at a reasonable rate and arrange your seating in the open area you want to have your wedding.
8. It’s all about the timing
You have to consider the timing when you plan an outdoor wedding. The sun can be very harsh at midday and is usually not great for photos. In addition, you don’t want your guests to be suffering from heat stroke and have your makeup sweating off of your face. The late afternoon would be better time for the ceremony to take place. The sun would not be harsh and your ceremony experience would be more enjoyable for everyone.
9. Music
You also need to make sure that your music can be heard. Make sure to rent speakers so that your music can be enjoyed by all or hire a DJ to MC your wedding. Consider renting a dance floor so you and your guests can dance the night away! Do check local ordinances beforehand and make sure to follow any noise restrictions. Without any inside walls to reflect sound, it can be difficult for guests to hear the vows at the ceremony or toasts at the reception. Check all microphones and sound systems before your ceremony to make sure everyone can hear the “I do”s. There are also a ton of amazing local bands and artists that you can hire to do a musical performance for you if you’d like to keep your wedding day unplugged.
10. Plans within plans
Always have a plan B. It helps you to prepare for the worst. It is better to be over prepared. You can plan your outside wedding and hope for the best. However, if situations occur such as heavy rain then you work with your plan B and still have a successful wedding.
Some venues like hotels and golf courses have the option of using some indoor space too, and you could always move back outside if the weather improves again. If it appears that the rain will quickly pass through, another option would be to postpone the ceremony just a little. Move to an indoor location and see if the caterer could start in early with cocktails and appetizers while you wait out the rain and can go back outside later. It may not be exactly what you planned, but your guests will still have a great time, and when you’re prepared for last-minute changes, your dream wedding will still go off without a hitch.