Outdoor wedding success comes from planning

March 10, 2017

Outdoor weddings are often fun and are enhanced by the beauty of nature. Being outdoors presents a lot of advantages, but there are also many factors that may cause calamity.

Here is a list of things to consider:

1. Bad weather is your worst enemy
Bad weather will ruin your wedding, if you are not prepared for it. Make sure to have cozy blankets ready in case the temperature drops, shade areas to combat the heat. Umbrellas and cover areas will also come in handy, so unexpected showers don’t take you and your guests by surprise.

2. Care packages
Be prepared with all the essentials your guests may need for an outdoor wedding. You might include include blankets, sunscreen, band aids, emergency contact list, bug repellent, flashlights, fans, bottles of water, and flip flops for the sake of dancing!

3. BYOA
Some venues allow guests to bring their own wine to weddings for a flat fee paid by the host of the event. This is a great method to save money and allow your guests to enjoy the alcoholic beverages which they prefer the most. If you are having a wedding in your backyard or estate, then this option would offer a variety of selection. You would have to provide the glasses and maybe a self-serve bar area.

4. Tell your guests where to go
Regardless of the layout and theme which you have for your outdoor wedding, make sure that your guests are clear on where to go and what is expected of them. Provide clear signage to where everything is from the bar to the bathroom.

5. Wind-proofing
Do your best to windproof your décor as a gust of wind can make everything go flying, including food and beverages. You don’t want a big spot of red wine on your wedding dress!

6. Manage the heat creatively
A hand held fan may a blessing during a hot outdoor wedding ceremony. Be creative by putting your wedding program on a fan; your guests will memorize your wedding program by the end of the ceremony. Make sure to keep your guests hydrated — not just beer and wine! An ice cream cart with a selection of frozen treats would be a hit with guests, because who hates ice cream?

7. Save the Flowers!
Ask your florist to mist the flowers if you are expecting a very hot day.

8. Lighting
If your wedding plans will plunge into the darkness of the night, then string lights may be the best option for you. They are easy to set-up, and if you have trees around then you can create a magical forest feeling for your guests. Placing camping lanterns underneath table clothes will enhance that magical feel.

Who is this wedding for?

September 26, 2016

Planning a wedding can be stressful for couples and it may cause a lot of strain in the months leading to the big day. In our long experience helping plan weddings and managing officiants all over Canada, we noticed that things do not have to be stressful. Couples sometimes need to take a step back and say, “who is this wedding for?” Some couples get so lost in the planning process and the coordination between the two families, that they forget the whole purpose of the wedding is to make the great love that they share official!

While it’s great for your families and friends to feel involved and want to take part in the excitement leading up to the wedding, ultimately the day should be about you and your fiancee and you should plan a ceremony and reception that you will enjoy.

Even if you stress over extensive planning, things can still happen. Sometimes weddings go wrong due to unforeseen circumstances. Here are a couple of examples of  brides who overcame impossible odds to make their wedding dreams come true.

The first story is about a bride who had the misfortune of her limo having a flat tire on her way to her wedding. Most brides would have started panicking, but this bride had a very simple solution. She got herself to the side of the road and stuck out her thumb, aiming to hitchhike to the ceremony (in her wedding dress). Angelique may have arrived half an hour late, but she got there in style on a motorcycle! She had waited 11 years to marry the man of her dreams, and was not going to wait one more day.

Another inspiring story is about Kevin and Carmen Shanahan who wanted to have a wintry wedding. They were thinking of a ceremony in front of a fireplace and a menu including hot cocoa. They were not expecting a blizzard on the biggest day of their lives. Carmen and Kevin refused to cancel their wedding and decided to go ahead. The upside of the uncooperative weather? Magnificent pictures, with the couple appearing to be in a winter wonderland.

The way we see it, couples should focus on planning a wedding they are going to love rather than trying to please everyone who thinks they should have a say. Even with perfect planning, you certainly can’t control every aspect of the day, but feeling comfortable with your plan and going into the day with a positive attitude will ensure that whatever obstacles come your way the wedding will be full of fabulous memories.