Wedding Thoughts…

Spring has finally sprung here in Missoula.  I now hear birds singing during my early morning walks and ideas for spring weddings seem to pop up at every corner.   One of my favorite wedding decorators – Mother Nature – provides one of the least expensive, yet beautiful, wedding backdrops.  Timeless in its style and unique in its seasons, there are few venues that can compete.  However, with the beauty sometimes comes the beast – late season snow storms, unexpected showers (with the every present mud), and lighting that doesn’t want to cooperate with your photographer!  How do you ensure that your outdoor wedding and/or reception is as beautiful as you’ve imagined? 

1. Decorations – At an outdoor wedding, Mother Nature provides most of the decorations – trees, flowers, and a view of a lake or hilltop vista.  However, you many want to embellish a bit.  Many couples opt for a beautiful wedding arch to provide a focal point for the ceremony.  The arch can be simple (and/or rustic) and unadorned, or it can be swathed in flowers and ribbons to match those carried by the wedding party.  Coordinate the arch with raised planters sprouting matching flowers and you will add enchantment to an already magical setting.  In addition, if you have to move your ceremony indoors at the last minute, the arch and planters will provide instant decoration to the new location.
2. Have a backup plan – It can be a tent or an old (but clean) barn on the property that can be used in case of inclement weather, but an indoor facility (that can hold all your guests) is a must.
3. Plan for wind – Ensure that all of your decorations (and tenting) are wind-proof.  While the paper party favors may look wonderful in the catalog – they probably won’t look as beautiful when they are sailing across the yard after the first gust of wind.  Heavy items – glass, rocks, etc. will stay put and can still give you the look that you desire.
4. Plan for insects – While no one wants to think about bugs on their wedding day, they will be the uninvited guests that you wished you planned for.  Depending on the season (early spring versus late summer), they may be more or less of a problem.  If you are planning a late evening or night reception, incorporate citronella candles into your decorations.  In extreme situations (a spring evening wedding near a body of water yields lots of mosquitoes) you may want to use special “bug” lighting to attract and trap insects.
5. Don’t leave guests parched – Guests will appreciate a chilled bottle of water or other beverage (and you can have the labels personalized).
6. Sun position – No one wants to look into the sun during the ceremony.  When visiting a potential location, stop to think about the position of the sun relative to the time of day.  You may need to adjust your seating accordingly.
7. Restrooms – Are they available or will you need to provide facilities?
8. Electricity – You will need electriciy for the caterers, the DJ and/or band, fans, lighting, etc. so make sure you have power available or plan on renting a generator. 

The best advice – keep it simple and remember that Mother Nature is in charge.  Don’t be upset if things don’t go exactly as planned.  The unexpected sometimes yields the best memories!

~Debbie