Post edited 1:51 am – 04/14/2009 by Lynnell
Post edited 2:38 pm – 05/14/2009 by Lynnell

One of the big decisions you might be facing is to have your ceremony in that gorgeous church, or to go for the spacious outside venue and risk the rain or heat for that beautiful outdoor ceremony.  (We personally opted for an outside wedding and we are very happy that we did, although it was a little warm for the guests.)  As journalistic photographers, some of our best work has been done at outside weddings.  We don't bring in the huge light boxes that some of the more traditional photographers use to light up a dark church, so we really love the lighting opportunities that outdoor ceremonies provide.  This is not to say that we don't enjoy shooting in churches as well.  Each type of ceremony has it's advantages, so we recommend just choosing the one that fits your personality.  After all, it is your wedding.  Celebrate it the way you want! 

If you do decide to go with an outdoor wedding, some things you might consider would be:  1. Have a backup plan.  Even if it''s nothing spectacular, have a tent, house, or other covered area in case there is a sudden downpour or the thermometer skyrockets.  2. If you are lighting a unity candle, you will want to consider some kind of hurricane lamp cover to keep them from blowing out.  Another option that can be really pretty is to combine different colors of sand as a symbol of the inseparable joining of two lives.  3. You may want to consider what you are going to use for the “aisle”.  If you are planning on walking down a grassy aisle, are your shoes going to sink into the ground, or should you consider flats, and do you mind your gown dragging on the ground, or should you think about choosing a shorter one?

If you're planning on having an outside reception as well, the main things you'll want to consider are bugs, weather and even ground.  If you think there's the possibility of a bug problem at your location, you may talk to your contact at the venue and ask them for suggestions.  As far as weather goes, most outdoor receptions are under a tent, so it shouldn't be too much of a risk.  Uneven ground at your reception area can be a bit of a problem.  It can make your tables wobble and make your dance floor uneven.  Just make sure that your rental company takes these things into consideration when they set up your tables, tent and dance floor.

There is a lot that goes into planning any wedding, but in our experience an outdoor wedding takes quite a bit more work.  If that's the feel you want though, it's usually worth the extra work in the end.  I know ours was.

What are your experiences or concerns?  Feel free to share them with us.  Good luck