Anyone that knows me knows that I love outdoor weddings! I’ve always dreamt of having an outdoor wedding myself; maybe on the grounds of a chateau somewhere out in France or maybe overlooking a lake somewhere… Having said that, I’m glad I’ve been able to participate in so many Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies before having to plan my own because there are some things I would never have thought to take into consideration had I not. Today I want to share some of those valuable tips to keep in mind as you’re choosing your ceremony location & creating your timeline! Next week we will cover tips for outdoor receptions! Let’s get to it:

Backup Plans

First and foremost, you need A) an indoor backup plan, or B) the willingness to potentially rock out your ceremony in rain, wind, thunderstorms or whatever Mother Nature has in store for that day. I don’t care how clear and blue Google tells you the skies will be that day; there is absolutely no way of knowing for sure. Having A in place will allow you to rest easy knowing you’re prepared for the worst. If you plan on going with B, perhaps have a stash of umbrellas that you and your guests may use during the ceremony and have a stack of towels in the bathroom for guests to dry off afterwards.

Lighting

Be aware of what the lighting will look at the time of your ceremony. If you can find a ceremony site that covers you and all of your guests in shade, that is perfect!! If not, I would advise you to consider having your ceremony in the hours leading up to sunset. The lighting during the middle of the day is going to be much harsher, creating less than flattering shadows for your photography; whereas the light gets much softer and prettier the closer it gets to sunset. For example, if you have a 30-45mins ceremony, I would recommend starting around 2hrs before sunset. This leaves plenty of time for family formals after the ceremony and then leaves you with those gorgeous 30 or so minutes leading right up to sunset for some beautiful romantic photos of just you and your new husband/wife!

Whatever time of day you decide to go with, be aware of the direction in which your guests will be facing. If the sun is directly in front of your guests during your ceremony they will have a very difficult time enjoying all of its beauty if they cannot see.

Make A Visit

Once you decide on a ceremony site and time, VISIT your venue a few weeks before your wedding at the same time as your ceremony so you can be sure you’re happy with the lighting or have time to make any changes or other arrangements if not. Keep in mind the sun placement and timing changes from season to season, so the lighting will not look the same in August as it did in Feb.

Bonus Tips:

• If you’re getting married in the summer and it’s going to be a beautifully sunny and hot day, maybe consider setting out some fans or sunhats for your guests so they don’t bake. Also, leaving out some water to help keep your guests hydrated is always a nice gesture. And vice versa if it’s going to be a really chilly day, it might be nice to set out some blankets just in case some of your guests don’t come well prepared.
• If you’re getting married in grass, definitely give plastic heel protectors a try – you won’t want to fight sinking into the grass the whole time! I would recommend giving these two a try: The Solemates and Heels Above.

I hope these were helpful! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me in the comments below or shoot me an email: Stefani@StefaniCiottiPhotography.com. I’m happy to help answer any questions! Also, if you have any other tips you would add to the list, please feel free to leave them in the comments below – I would love to hear them!