outdoor weddings
Outdoor Wedding Essentials: Wedding Day Coordinator
This post will conclude my series on outdoor wedding essentials. The last, but certainly not the least, outdoor wedding essential is that you need to hire a wedding day specialist to manage the logistics and setup the day-of your wedding.
By hiring a wedding day specialist, he or she will be able to assist you with pointing out logistical problems beforehand as well as be equipped to troubleshoot issues that may arise the day-of your wedding.
I am intentionally keeping this post short because I will talk more about the importance of hiring a wedding day coordinator in this week’s new blog series, DIY Wedding Planning, where I will address a couple concerns and offer you more practical advice. Stay tuned!
Read MoreOutdoor Wedding Essentials: Luxe Portable Restrooms
Restroom facilities are a must if your whole wedding will take place outdoors. So, if you have to rent portable restrooms, please, please, please, do it in style by renting out a VIP Portable Restroom.
I first learned about upscale mobile restrooms, when I worked in the corporate world coordinating promotional events a few years ago. I remember the first promotional event I assisted on, actually it was a two-day tented event where the tent was transformed a number of times going from a stylish luncheon for about 150 guests to an evening cocktail hour, and finishing up with a full reception that Saturday evening.
At any rate, the first morning on site, my manager was like you must see these port-a-potties we rented. I’m thinking, I really do not care to see a port-a-potty. But, when I did I was very impressed. These high-end portable restrooms come with an attendant. They are clean, no smells, oak floors and cabinetry, marbled finished walls and counter tops, and some come with skylights in the stalls.
.bmp)
I highly recommend including the rental of one of these in your wedding budget. Portable restrooms are a necessity if you are hosting your outdoor wedding someplace where you will not have access to indoor facilities with restrooms.
Outdoor Wedding Essentials: Thermacell Mosquito Repellent
Do you attract mosquitoes?
Fortunately, I rarely get bit by mosquitoes for some reason, but when I have been harassed by mosquitoes (usually when I am by a pond fishing), it was the most nagging experience. If you agree, then there is no need for those little rascals to torment your wedding guests. Right? So, how do you combat them?
My best suggestion would be to invest in a few of Thermacell’s Mosquito Repellents. “ThermaCELL provides 98% effective mosquito protection without the mess or stink of sprays or lotions applied on the skin.”
Thermacell’s Mosquito Repellent is a cordless device and just one provides protection against mosquitos for a 15 X 15 ft space. This mosquito repellent has been tested and approved by the U.S. Army as well as by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to repelling mosquitoes, they also repell flies. To learn how it works, please click here.
If you are having an outdoor wedding, I think this is a “must have” that you should invest in for your event. The cost for one is only $25.99. Best of all, you can reuse them by purchasing refills, which cost about seven bucks.
Read MoreOutdoor Wedding Essentials: Tips to Combat the Heat
Today, I wanted to talk more about weather, specifically some outdoor wedding essentials that you will need to make your wedding as heat-friendly as possible for your guests. If you are a native of Eastern North Carolina, you know firsthand how hot it can get here. From the end of June to the end of August, it is not uncommon to experience a series of heat waves and heat advisories.
Just ask me, not only did I suffer from sun poisoning last summer, but at a couple of my outdoor weddings, I had a few guests who got too hot and fainted (three at one of these events), both of which these clients did not know about. As I have mentioned before, there are a lot of behind the scenes issues that occur that brides may never know happened, which is why you should hire a professional wedding day coordinator that can think and move fast to handle any issue that may arise. I may elaborate more about this in another post.
Following are some practical tips to make sure your guests are comfortable at your outdoor wedding.
- Consider hosting your outdoor wedding in the evening! If you are having an outdoor wedding in the late spring or summer when and where the weather gets very hot, ideally you should host your wedding in the evening when the sun is about to set (no sooner than six o’clock). In this way, the sun is not directly shining down on your guests. This is especially important if you are having your outdoor ceremony some place that is overlooking the water because not only is the sun directly shining down, but it is also reflecting back from the water.
- Choose a location that offers shade! In some outdoor venues, you may be able to setup in an area that is shaded or at least next to a shaded area. This is important if you are hosting your wedding outside early in the day when the sun is the highest in the sky. If your outdoor wedding site does not offer any shade consider only hosting the ceremony outside. Even then, you should invest in paper parasols and fans for your guests. Trust me they do come in handy, and of course they make for great favors. Otherwise, if your entire event will be outside, you really should consider having a tent wedding.
- Keep your guests hydrated! This seems like a given, but I think it is worth mentioning. As your guests are arriving to your ceremony, have your hosts to pass out chilled water bottles as your guests are being seated. If you want to spruce up the water bottles, you can order personalized labels in your wedding colors to put on them. As I always say, personalization is everything.
Another thing to note is that elderly guests tend to be very susceptible to the heat, so if you are having a great deal of elderly guests, you want to be especially considerate of them. Even more, they should be made aware that you are having an outdoor wedding. This may determine whether or not they attend depending on their sensitivity to the heat. Another factor is that they may be taking medicine that makes them more sensitive to the sun exposure. I know about this firsthand because I take a diuretic everyday to regulate my blood pressure.
Read MoreOutdoor Wedding Essentials: Check City Ordinances!
If you are planning an outdoor wedding, especially on the beach or in a public park, you absolutely must contact the local governing body to find out if any permits are required as well as any stipulations they may have.
For NC Beach Weddings
In the beach towns we are familiar with—Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, Carolina Beach, Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills—they are public access beaches and do not require a permit. However, they do have various guidelines and concerns. For example, you cannot block public access, no tents can be setup directly on the beach, no fires, and in places like Nags Head, there is a limit to the number of chairs you can have on the beach for weddings.
Our beaches are ideal for small, intimate outdoor wedding ceremonies. If you are interested in having a larger wedding on the beach, it is subject to approval meaning that you will have to obtain permission from the Town’s Council. One thing to note is that the biggest concern is public safety and parking.
For Public Park and Tent Weddings
For weddings that take place in public parks, you will more than likely require some type of permit and or a combination of permits (i.e. special event permit, tent and canopy permit, and or amplified sound permit). There may be a list of other rules and guidelines you will have to follow, as well. These requirements will vary from city to city.
As for tent weddings, you may be required to apply for a permit for the tent or canopy. Typically, this is the case for anything that is over 200 square feet. In addition to the tent and canopy permit, the fire marshal will have to come and inspect it to make sure the setup is compliant with the city’s wind and fire code.
Lastly, your city may require an amplified sound permit, for example, if you will be having a live band for your outdoor wedding. Please also note that an amplified sound permit may be required for outdoor weddings that take place at a private home residence, as well.
Happy Planning!
Read MoreBlog Series :: Outdoor Wedding Essentials
Featured on the Always Fabulous Events’ blog by Randi Martin
Also featured were Mark Kingsdorf of The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consulting and Christina Mitchell of Heaven Sent Wedding Consultants. Go check out the blog posts to here what we had to say.
Read More 
