10 Tips for Planning an Outdoor Wedding

1. Have a Plan B.

You can't predict or control the weather and a torrential downpour or freak snowstorm can put a serious crimp in your outdoor wedding plans. So remove the stress ­and pry yourself away from the Weather Channel ­by arranging for a Plan B location, another site to which you can move the entirety of your wedding in case of unwelcome party crashers like rain, lightning, ice or heavy winds. An ideal situation is booking a site that offers both outdoor and indoor banquet areas reserved in your name on the wedding day, but if that's not possible, then walk through the steps needed to bring your party indoors at your home or other gathering place.


2. Know the weather.

Plan your outdoor wedding day for a time when more moderate weather is expected. Stay away from the rainy season, hurricane season and months when you can fry an egg on the sidewalk. For any location you're considering, check the area's average temperature and rainfall amounts on weather Web sites or through a destination site's board of tourism and travel.


3. Use your location's natural décor.

So many wonderful outdoor wedding sites feature lovely floral gardens, ponds, wishing wells, waterfalls, and perhaps a gorgeous view of the setting sun. When searching for your ideal location, look for natural or built-in points of beauty for great backdrops and photo opportunities. (As an added bonus, you'll spend far less at the florist or event designer's when you don't need to decorate the landscape yourself!)


4. Use the most beautiful light show possible.

Plan your outdoor wedding to make the most of a spectacular sunset, whether over a mountain range or over the ocean. Those majestic pinks and purples that fill the sky when the sun retires for the day make for incredible backdrops for your ceremony, and unforgettable wedding photos as well.


5. Dress for the elements.

Choose wedding gown and tuxedo fabrics and styles to ensure your comfort on the big day. Your wedding-day fashion experts can help you choose the perfect silk dress and the most dashing men's jackets for those outdoor weddings out in the sun. And don't forget about night-time! Plan now for the later hours of your affair, and select a stylish wrap or jacket for your beachside, boat, or backyard event as the sun sets down and the breezes whirl through your party.


6. Alert your vendors!

All of your vendors need to know that you're planning an outdoor wedding. Every detail from your menu to your beverages, to the décor and the entertainment, is affected by outdoor weather and temperature conditions, power usage, and other in-the-wild factors, so use full disclosure for your vendors' best preparation.


7. Keep your guests' comfort in mind.

Let them know that the wedding will be outdoors as well, and prepare them for the expected weather so that they may dress appropriately and bring along their sun block. Provide fans or air conditioners for those steamy days, and plan to heat your tent for the cooler night hours.


8. Research your rental agents.

Outdoor weddings can require a significant amount of rentals. You may need to rent tables, chairs, lights, and everything from the silverware to the cake table to create a beautiful ballroom in what was recently a bare outdoor expanse. Finding a quality rental agency is of the utmost importance for the seamless flow and appearance of your day.


9. Invest in a good tent.

Take no shortcuts here, since a stiff wind can blow your wedding site away like tumbleweed. A cheap tent makes an entire wedding look cheap, and a bad choice can cause any number of wedding-day nightmares. So learn all you can about the best models, colors and styles of tents and rent the best choice possible. (Also, ask your caterer if they need a separate tent for their food preparation area, and think about setting portable toilets inside more attractive, draped smaller tents as well).


10. Get it in writing.

An outdoor wedding may be one of the most beautiful styles out there, but it does add a few dozen extra steps to your Things to Do list. Since you'll be out in the open, you'll need to acquire the appropriate permits and permissions needed for an outdoor celebration with all the trimmings. Call your local city hall or police department to inquire about permits for the following: parking, overnight parking in a residential area, public gathering during certain times of the day, exemptions from sound ordinances and curfews, on-site alcohol consumption, on-site food preparation and serving, open flames such as torches, candles and even fireworks, and any other ordinances that need to be covered. Handle these legalities right away, to avoid being fined (or even jailed) by the authorities, and to avoid any other unwelcome surprises on your wedding day.


written by: weddings for her online magazine.


Idea's and Inspiration,
Kate

Kate

Spring Flowers

When choosing flowers for you wedding day it is always a money saver to go with what is in season. Sure, growers are now able to fly almost anything in from the other side of the world, but you'll pay a premium for that. Talk specifically to your florist or grower about what is available.

Spring Wedding Flowers in Season

Anemone * Blue, red, pink, white * Jan-May and Aug-Dec.

Bells of Ireland * Green * January-October

Boronia * Pink * April-May

Casa Blanca Lily * White * January-October

Daffodil * Yellow * January-Early May

Delphinium * White, Blue * April- October

Hyacinth * Purple, Pink or White

Lilacs * Violet or White

Narcissus * White

Peony * Pink or White * Late Spring – Early Summer

Ranunculus * white, pink, red, orange and yellow * February-May

Star Gazer Lily * Pink and White * January-October

Sweetpea * white, pink, red/coral, and lavender/purple * December-May

Tulip * Many colors, including white, pink, yellow, red, and purple * December-April

Waxflower * pinky purple and white

Here are some great spring bouquets:






Idea's and Inspiration,
Kate


(images not taken by visual roots)

April Showers Bring May Flowers

I stumbled upon this great company out of Winnipeg called Botanical Paperworks. They have all types of cards and stationary that is all plantable.
Here's an excerpt from their website:

Why Use Plantable Paper?

For so many reasons! Because Botanical PaperWorks' plantable paper (called Garden Greetings™) is "tree-free", so that no trees were cut down to make this plantable paper. The base fiber is cotton or 100% post-consumer waste. And the paper is made with pure North American wildflower seeds by skilled papermakers paid a living wage in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

When you choose Garden Greetings plantable seed paper for a special invitation, favor or card, you're giving the lucky recipient a lasting memento of the event. As the flowers bloom in their garden, they'll remember you and the special day of which they were a part. You're spreading the gift of the garden to friends and family, thereby greening up our country, providing habitats for butterflies and planting seeds of beauty. It's wonderful!

Such a great idea! Here's one of their wedding invitations



Check out their website for many more great wedding idea's.

Idea's and Inspiration,
Kate