Every wedding is going to come with endless decisions you’ll have to make and some will be much more important than others. One of the biggest decisions, which could affect many of the other smaller ones, will be whether to have your wedding ceremony indoors or outdoors. A few things should be considered before deciding on an outdoor wedding ceremony, so before putting any deposits down on a venue, make sure you’ve done your research on your intended location.

Weather in Your Area

If you live somewhere that has unpredictable weather patterns, an outdoor wedding could be a little risky. If you’re constantly facing the threat of rain and wind or if you risk seating your guests under a blistering sun throughout your entire ceremony, you may want to be prepared with some alternative options. An outdoor wedding can be lovely and romantic, but you’ll need to decide if you’re willing to take a chance on the weather.

Creating a Backup Plan

You may have your heart set on an outdoor wedding and live in one of those areas where the weather can be tricky. Renting some tents to block out too much sun or some light rain can be a great way to protect you and your guests from the elements. These tents may act as mini greenhouses on the exceptionally hot days so do your research on what kind of setup you’re thinking about using. Clear roofed tents can also provide a beautiful view of the day while still offering some protection.

For more severe weather possibilities, having an indoor backup plan may be your best bet. A tent may not do much to shield you from heavy winds and sideways rain. If it’s a good chance you’ll be seeing conditions like this on your wedding day, it could be a better idea to just plan for an indoor wedding right from the start.

Think About the Little Things

It can be easy to overlook some of the smaller factors that come with outdoor weddings. Keep in mind that certain locations may have a higher insect population and some spots may require you to walk through dirt and grass in your white dress. Are paths available at the spot you’ve chosen? Washrooms may be something you should be considering as well. Even if you aren’t having a long ceremony, be sure to think about the guests you’ve invited and what their needs may be. You’ll also be taking plenty of pictures that day, so think about the time of day you’ll be having your ceremony and what kind of lighting effects you can expect.

An outdoor wedding can offer an amazing variety of breathtaking backgrounds for your big day. While some factors will be beyond your control, being prepared can help you minimize any surprises during your ceremony. If your desired location requires special clothing requirements, such as a sandy beach or breezy cliff side, be sure to keep your guests informed so they can be comfortable during your ceremony and are paying attention to your vows rather than being distracted by sand in the shoes or mist in their face.

Regardless of how simple you want your wedding to be, you’ll need to follow some kind of theme, even if that theme is just “minimalism”. Determining your theme early on will help with your budgeting and planning and will let all the other little details fall into place much more naturally. Once your theme is established you’ll have a much less complicated time of choosing floral arrangements, dresses, and decorations.

Purchase After You Plan

Don’t buy anything until you’ve settled on a theme and you’re sure that’s what you want. It can be a big hassle to buy a dress you thought was your dream dress only to find it clashes completely with the rest of your theme. Anything you do buy, save all your receipts and be aware of any return policies before you leave the store. Once you have a colour scheme to follow and have visualized what you’d like your wedding to look like you’ll be able to co-ordinate your shopping efforts to ensure your flowers match your bridesmaid’s dresses and your wedding cake.

Planning a Theme around Your Wedding Date

If you aren’t already set on a theme but know your date, creating a theme that ties into that day can be a creative way to celebrate your marriage. A Valentine’s Day wedding could give you plenty of options with pink, red, and white colours along with some heart and cupid designs. For autumn weddings any earthy colours and natural leafy and pine looking decorations can add quite a bit of romance through nature. You may even choose to go a little darker and add some spook to your wedding for an October 31st wedding date. For a true white wedding, getting married in the winter can give you beautiful colour options with light blues and sparkling whites.

Keep Your Guests Informed

Whatever your theme, be sure your guests know how to dress. If you’re having a princess or renaissance type of theme, letting them know on their invitations will give them the opportunity to match their wardrobe to your theme if they’d like. If you expect your guests to dress in strict formal wear, be clear about it on the invitation. Especially for any wedding at an extremely casual venue, such as a sandy beach, let your guest know if casual wear and sandals are acceptable. If you’re guests are properly prepared, they’ll be much more comfortable and be able to more fully enjoy your wedding.

You may choose to have a theme for just your reception or you may use the same theme for your ceremony as well. Traditional white weddings are no longer the standard, so don’t be afraid to have fun with your wedding and get creative with your theme. Just be sure to plan out all the details of your wedding in advance and shape your budget around that before you start putting deposits down on anything.