In
any given year, HJ plans an equal amount of indoor and outdoor ceremonies. I’d
like to think that it goes without saying that our indoor ceremonies tend to be
more common during the winter months and August (when D.C. truly proves that it
is STILL a swamp), but it might not be so obvious that our outdoor ceremonies tend
to occur more in the spring.
When
is it proper to hold an outdoor ceremony? What should you consider when determining
the location of your ceremony?
Although
we try to stay away from absolutes in our industry, we feel comfortable delivering
this one:
You cannot hold an outdoor ceremony in the dead of winter.
You
cannot – under any circumstances – ask ceremony guests to stand outside in the freezing
cold. This means that the months when snow is most likely to fall are
unsuitable for an outdoor ceremony. We feel comfortable giving this ultimatum
due to the fact that your dress probably won’t provide the necessary warmth to
prevent you from turning blue while saying your vows.
With
that out of the way, let’s turn to other considerations:
Whether
your ceremony is religious.
Some
religions require that its marriage ceremonies occur in sanctified spaces.
Catholic churches, for example, may not recognize ceremonies not happening inside
a church. Contact your minister or priest to determine your religion’s stance
on outdoor ceremonies.
The
guests that will attend your ceremony.
Do
you have a number of elderly guests who find it difficult to walk on uneven
ground? Does your guest list include 35 young children who might find it
impossible to resist ripping out the grass? Will your style-savvy female guests
have their heels stuck in the mud while you say your vows? Considering your
guest type and personalities allows you to avoid gripes about the outdoor
ceremony from being the main topic of conversation during your reception.
The
typical weather for that time of the year.
Yes,
last year’s D.C. fall was mild and barely contained a drop of rain, but that’s
not normal. Previous year weather records, such as hot days, rain amounts and abnormally
chilly days for the month of your wedding are important to note when
determining whether an outdoor ceremony is right for your wedding. However,
remember that the term “typical” is not a guarantee of the weather the
atmosphere will produce on your wedding day.
The
cost of renting chairs and a stage.
Unless
your venue offers a prepared outdoor ceremony site, it’s likely that you’ll
have to outfit one to suit your needs. This means renting chairs, an aisle
runner and a stage to serve as an altar. You also need to decorate the stage
with skirting and floral arrangements. Ensure that your budget can handle these
costs.
The
size and other elements of the outdoor space.
After
you’ve considered all these elements and have an outdoor ceremony space in
mind, seriously analyze whether that space can comfortably accommodate all of
your guests. After adding an aisle runner and a stage or altar, you might find
that the space left over to seat your guests is quite small.
Our
First and Foremost Suggestion for Outdoor Ceremonies: Have
a Backup Plan You Like
Don’t
plan an outdoor ceremony when you absolutely hate the indoor alternative. If it
rains, is cold or even if it is extremely hot outside, you just might need to
pull the ceremony indoors at the last minute. Therefore, make sure that you
like the indoor option your location provides, and that it will be available on
your wedding day.
