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Planning
your ceremony and/or reception outdoors has some positive and
negative sides. Personally I LOVE this kind of weddings
because they are beautiful, usually they are more casual and relaxed.
Below find Outdoor Wedding Tips, risks
and advantages.
9
Tips For Outdoor Weddings
1.
Pick the right time of the year. Here in South Florida the
best months are November through March. During this time
the temperature is very pleasant and chances of rain are low.
It is off hurricane season too!
2.
Choose the right location for a picture perfect wedding.
The location you pick brings a lot of character to your wedding.
3.
Have your wedding during the day. Daylight is VERY important
for great wedding pictures. At night photo background will
turn in a "black hole".
4. If you are planning a sunset wedding ceremony, make
sure you have planned enough time for formal and romantic portraits.
Plan your wedding ceremony at least 1.5-2 hours before the
sunset.
5.
Be aware of the wind. Especially if you are planning a beach
wedding. There is always strong breeze from the ocean. Consider
getting a short veil instead of a long one or no veil.
 
 6.
Bugs. If your wedding is held on a grass or near by
the trees you may offer packages with repellent to your guests.
Bug bites can be an unpleasant surprise during your celebration!
Places like Deering Estate, Fairchild Botanical Gardens, The Links
have bugs during some periods of the year. Ask their stuff about
it and be prepared!
7.
Offer
fans to your guests if the weather promises to be hot. Fans
help keep your guests cool and feeling refreshed. They also can
be your wedding program or a wedding favor.
 
8.
Offer umbrellas to your guests for an outdoor ceremony. White
umbrellas will protect them from the rain or the sun. Umbrellas
with personalized handles may become your wedding favors too!
9. Set up a tent for an outdoor reception. The tent will protect
you from possible rain. You will enjoy your reception outdoors
with no need of plan B. Reception pictures will also look better
in the tent because of its light reflective nature. White or clear
tent is the best choice.
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Outdoor
Weddings - Risks Vs. Advantages
Risks
There
are some risks you take when you decide your wedding to be outside.
I am talking about Miami and South Florida weather and conditions.
 Hurricane
- planning an outdoor wedding during hurricane season (June
through October) is risky. If you do so, find out about vendor's
terms and conditions in case of a hurricane.
 Rain
- Miami weather is NOT predictable! I live here for over 10
years and I am a witness. It can be shining and sunny in one area
and pouring rain in the other. Sometime you drive on a highway
and it is raining so hard that you can't see, and 5 minutes later
the road is clean and DRY. So be prepared for the rain at any
time. Have a plan B ALWAYS. Keep in mind that winters are
more dry and there are less chances of rain.
 Heat
- is really a killer if you have an outside wedding during hot
season (April-October). It is guaranteed you and your groom and
all your guests will sweat. Supply your guests with fans, it will
help them to cool down. In the shade temperature is much cooler
then in direct sun. DO NOT set up your reception without air conditioner.
Either have it indoors or in an air conditioned tent.
 Wind
- on one hand it is a breeze for you and the guests. On the other
hand, your hair may be easily messed up and your veil will fly
in all the directions. It is difficult to take formal pictues
in the wind. Ocean front weddings most likely are windy.
Advantages
I've
mentioned that I LOVE outdoors weddings. Despite the risks
I was just talking about it usually goes as planned. The rain
will stop, the wind won't bother you, the heat will disappear
when you get inside of your air conditioned reception.
Outdoors weddings give the most beautiful backdrop
and pictures look gorgeous. You and your guests will enjoy
the view!
Weddings are FUN outside! They are not so formal - people
hang around, drink, smoke cigars, dance, talk....
If
you like the idea of an outdoor wedding but still unsure, I would
say take a risk. Plan it sometime during winter and you have big
chance of a perfect wedding day, just like you dreamed it!
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