Outdoor vs. Indoor Weddings
I recently did a pre-wedding venue visit with a couple to Mythe Barn in Atherstone. It’s a stunning, rustic style venue, but in the course of our visit we experienced a heavy downpour of rain out of nowhere! The couple had planned classic outdoor garden games for their wedding day and the venue has a lovely courtyard and garden which is ideal for mingling, eating and having photos. The good news is, they had beautiful weather on their wedding day, but it was by no means guaranteed.
Whether you’re considering an outdoor ceremony or just hoping to have some photos outdoors, it’s always good to have a back-up indoor option. So, here are a few pros and cons when considering an outdoor wedding.
OUTDOOR WEDDING
Pros
- You’re in natural surroundings, which perhaps means less décor needed, especially if you’re in a garden with lots of flowers. This can help you save a few pennies.
- If the weather is balmy then an outdoor wedding is absolutely lush!
- The natural lighting is great for photos, you just need to get the angle right!
- A particularly good option if you’re looking at getting married abroad in a country that has more predictable sun!
- If you do have photos outside after it has rained, everything glistened and makes the photos particularly pretty.
- Being outdoors is great for your well-being! Did you know that after it has rained, trees release a scent known as petrichor, which is supposed to have health benefits, including reducing stress and boosting your mood?
Cons
- The weather isn’t guaranteed and you may experience a sudden change in weather even if it starts out sunny. The last thing you want is wet hair and a soggy dress on your wedding day!
- It’s not just the rain, wind can be just as disruptive to your wedding. Picture your pedestal stand flying over mid-vows!
- It can go the other way and be too hot, especially if there’s no breeze. Consider how shaded the space is before you commit to your venue.
- Photos can be squinty if it’s very bright. Ideally people will remove their sunglasses for the photos, but this can mean more squinting! The issue is that photos are best with light shining on you rather than behind you to avoid everybody looking dark and hard to distinguish in the photos.
- You don’t want to be red faced on your wedding day if you’ve been standing in the sun too long!
Here are some things to bear in mind when planning an outdoor wedding…
- If there is a back up indoor plan, then any décor must be quick and easy to change over for your venue and decorators in case there is a last minute change to the plan.
- If a venue doesn’t have an indoor backup option, this may alter your choice of venue. You REALLY can’t predict the weather!
- Consider providing some umbrellas for rain or parasols and sun lotion if it’s hot!
- Flowers will wilt quicker in the heat so putting them in water or out of direct sunlight is ideal
- Make sure any décor items that are outside are weighted down or designed so that they won’t blow over.
- You may also want to take into consideration your orders of service. If you are placing them on chairs ready for people to pick up and it’s slightly windy, they may blow away.
One final note… You may want to read the famous rhyme ‘Whether the Weather’ for some encouragement so you don’t feel too disappointed if it does rain! I think it sums it up quite well and is a good reflection of marriage. No wedding day is perfect, just as no marriage is perfect, but you can weather the storm together!
Whether the weather be fine,
Or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold,
Or whether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not!
P.S. On my wedding day, it was rainy for most of it! We did get married in November so I really wasn’t going for hot weather, but we had the whole day, including our photos indoors, and you know what, we had a fantastic time and the photos look great!
