Outdoor Weddings

Great Idea or the Beginning of a Family Legend?

An outdoor wedding. So romantic, so California. Light forming a halo around you. Your groom making an entrance on horseback. The floral aromas; a year-round climate that encourages outdoor events almost every day of the year. Photos and videos that will make everyone you know totally wish that they could have done the same thing.

Outdoor weddings are incredibly dreamy, relatively informal
and can be very reasonable in price, particularly if you choose a public park. Many, many couples have incredible memories of their day under the sun or moon. To make sure that you and your intended are one of those couples, here are some of the things you must take into consideration.

First…
Think long and hard about what compromises you may have to make if:

• You or your groom have allergies

• You have your heart set on an elaborate, heavy gown

• You don’t cope well with surprises

• You have hard-to-control hair

• You don’t like lighting you can’t control (for photos)
For Your Outdoor Wedding...

• Have a backup plan in case of rain (tent, indoor facility, etc).
Be sure to check the regulations of the venue you reserve so
you know your options.

• Do you need permits? If your venue is a public park or beach, check with officials to determine if special permits are required.

Also find out in advance if there are any restrictions on types of beverages or whether you can actually even serve food or alcohol.

• Make sure all handicap accessibility requirements are met.

• Have your photographer and videographer check the site to determine whether additional lighting will be necessary for the kind of photography you want.

• Find out what other events will be held in the park that day

• Visit before hand so you can see which direction the sun is moving You don’t want to be squinting into the sun while taking your vows.

• Make sure your gown is appropriate for the occasion. A long train will probably be dirty from beach, grass or dirt long before the reception is over so you may want to forego the train and also make sure your dress is a little bit shorter than it would be for an indoor wedding. As we mentioned, a gown of heavy material probably won’t feel right in our year-round temperate climate.

• Your groom’s attire should match the formality of yours.

• Make sure bathroom facilities are adequate and in keeping with the occasion. If you have to rent some, for example, stay away from the type you find on construction sites. Your wedding coordinator can suggest sources.

• Avoid stiletto heels unless you think sinking into the sand or
the grass will add amusement to the day.

• Work with your music team ahead of time to assure good placement for the musicians or dj and good placement of speakers for optimum sound quality.

• Parking: Is there enough? Will guests have to walk a long way? (you may want to hire a shuttle service or a good valet service)

• Flowers? Make sure they’re heat resistant. Stay away from the quick-wilt types like most bulb-produced flowers. Work carefully with your florist on this.

• Make sure you have access to electricity in your outdoor venue—for microphones, music, etc.

• For a venue that’s not private (a park or public garden or beach) have some means of roping the area off so that uninvited guests do not assume they can join you

Special Venues

Beach
• On tables, keep the centerpieces low so the breeze doesn’t catch them and whisk them away.

• Have a backup plan in case of rain or the heavy fog that sometimes hits the coast.

• Think of your floral arrangements in shades that will blend with a beach setting. For instance, blue and white. Arrangements can be less formal in this setting.

• Think casual chic because the beach is casual. The chic part can come from sterling silver bowls, fancy glassware, interesting table cloths and patterns.

• Make sure your cake is protected from the elements. A fondant icing is good because it doesn’t need much in the way of refrigeration. Decorate with shells, netting.

• Look for shells, sea glass at craft shops to add to table décor

Garden Weddings

At home, on a rented site like a hotel lawn or in a public park (if it’s a park, check out site the day of the wedding to make sure someone hasn’t decided to set up a picnic)

• For drinks, think tropical or something that says “cooling”

• Consider using fans as favors

• Line up protection (from bugs and the elements) for your cake and flowers

• Do you need to spray for insects? Do so a couple of
days beforehand. If the location is not your own garden, get permission.

• Work very carefully with your caterer. You don’t want to serve anything that won’t hold up in heat. If family members are providing any of the dishes, stay away from mayo and fish.

• If you have allergies, keep your tables away from blossoms and don’t schedule a wedding during Santa Ana season (generally around mid-Autumn
to early winter, although that could extend on both sides of the dates)