Outdoor weddings can be lots of fun, but it’s impossible to forecast the weather for your wedding day a year (or more) in advance. Hopefully things will be nice and sunny, but what if they aren’t? With some good planning, you can prevent bad weather from ruining your big day.
Central New York’s average summer temperatures range from the upper 70s to the low 50s, but we’ve also had record highs above 100 and lows in the 30s. Syracuse has seen snow as late as May and as early as October. When you can’t postpone or cancel due to rain, snow or extreme temps, you still need to be ready for anything.
Here are some pointers to prevent Mother Nature from crashing your outdoor wedding plans.
A tent will protect you, your guests, vendors and everyone’s “stuff” from the elements. Most people only think of a tent as a protection against rain… but it can also prevent sunburn and heat exhaustion on a sunny day.
On a nice day, it’s easy to remove or roll-up tent walls so they’re out of sight. But if it turns out to be a windy or rainy day, they’ll prove to be extremely valuable.
If you’re planning a backyard wedding, you’re on your own to figure out the entire layout. One key consideration: if there’s heavy rain, where does all the water go? Avoid putting your tent or anything else important near the bottom of a hill or any other low-lying areas where water flows after a heavy rain. Even if there’s no visible pooling or flooding, areas that get muddy can quickly cause a huge mess for you and your guests.
It’s acceptable to have your dinner tables right on the ground, but when the dance floor opens, you and your guests will prefer a flat, sturdy surface — especially those wearing heels. Most tent rental companies also offer dance floors, so be sure to ask what size they’d recommend based on your guest count.
For hot and humid days, there are pros and cons to renting a bunch of pedestal fans. Pros: they can help guests feel cooler. Cons: they don’t actually cool the air, they simply move it. Second, if they’re too strong, fans can blow your decor right off the tables. And bigger fans can be quite noisy. In the end, you might be better off without them. Either way, be sure to have plenty of cold water available for everyone, and don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day, too!
For potentially cold outdoor weddings (especially in the spring or fall), consider renting portable heaters and arrange with your caterer to have warm beverages (coffee, tea, hot cocoa, etc.) on stand-by. You may never need them if the weather cooperates — but it’s better to be prepared, just in case. Honestly, coffee is a pretty standard offering anyway, indoors or outdoors, regardless of the weather.
Your invitations should indicate that the reception will be outdoors so guests can dress accordingly. Your dress code should also match — many on r/weddingplanning on Reddit suggest it’s not appropriate to declare “black tie” for an outdoor wedding, or even to an indoor “rustic” (no air conditioning) venue.
All your vendors — especially your DJ, caterers, photographer, cake decorator — should be notified that the reception will be outside. Some vendors may need to take extra precautions or use different equipment for outdoor events.
If your reception will extend into the evening hours, the heat and lights in the tent could become a magnet for mosquitoes, moths and other annoying insects. Bug zapper lights can be effective, but you probably don’t want to hear them zapping all night. Your guests might appreciate small cans of bug spray at each table or perhaps as one of the “hospitality basket” items you place in the restrooms.
Portable facilities are an absolute must if your outdoor wedding is not within walking-distance to indoor facilities. Even for a backyard wedding, do you really want guests constantly parading in and out of the house to use the restroom?
Just remember, standard portapotties are often dirty, smelly, and don’t have internal lights, so they become difficult to use after sunset. A restroom trailer is often a better fit for a wedding for many reasons including having lights and actual sinks for handwashing.
Any other pointers? Share in the comments below!
