Photo Credit: Pinterest
Outdoor weddings are pleasant; natural lighting just has a way of provoking beautiful pictures and creating the right atmosphere for you and your better half when exchanging vows. You can tell from the sound of the beach waves or the rustling of the leaves when the wind blows, that it adds special effects to the occasion. Wedding planning comes with lots of unsolicited advice from friends and family but you are under no obligation to heed all of them.
Here are a few notes to help out in wedding planning:
- Be Inspired. There are tons of wedding inspirations out there and it can be too overwhelming. However, you should have a style or theme preference and get inspiration from social media platforms like Sugar Weddings, Pinterest, Instagram, etc. or from wedding albums and bridal magazines.
- Plan It Together. Share your ideas with your significant other and ask for their input. Don’t plan for the wedding alone; you will need some free time to take care of other personal or work-related stuff. The wedding project is going to be more tedious and stressful than most couples imagine.
- Budget & Priority. Set a realistic budget based on your pocket and update it as need be. Prioritize the elements that are the most important to you. Start from the most important stuff and work your way down. A priority list helps you stick to the budget. Remember that there are things that you would need to compromise.
- Decide on a Planner. If you have the means to afford a planner to take care of everything, you can go that route.
- Hire Professionals. If you cannot afford a planner, hire professionals. Don't rely only on Aunty Bose for the meals or on the photos that Uncle Ben has offered to take, well unless they are professionals in their rights. You want a Chef who will give your guests meals to remember or a Photographer who will capture the best moments forever. You would need to rely on recommendations from trusted friends and family on this one.
- Decorations. The best part of an outdoor wedding is being able to use the natural landscape to your decorating advantage. Prepare by visiting the site a week before the wedding to ensure everything is in good order; the leaves are raked, the grass is cut, and the flowers are in bloom.
- Food. Item seven is key at every wedding. Perhaps the largest expense of your reception is food because it is one of the metrics by which your wedding will be judged as to how successful it was, plus people won’t leave early if there is so much to eat.
- Guests Come First. Always remember that there would be no party without the guests. How many guests you would want at your wedding is dependent on your budget. You would have to decide on the number of guests before you can settle for a venue so that there is ample space for everyone. Mention in your invitation card that the wedding will be outdoor so that your guests can dress accordingly.
- Weather. Outdoor weddings and rains do not mix. You might need to speak to a meteorologist friend or a rainmaker if you want to avoid a storm on your wedding day. Heed the weather and other potential disturbances from the sky if you want to have a successful ceremony.
- Choice of Venue. Your choice of venue is going to depend on several factors such as budget, number of guests, proximity to landmarks, wedding theme/style, accessibility by road etc.
- Have a Plan B. Always have a Plan B especially to avoid unexpected weather chaos. You don't want the rain to ruin your wedding.
Wedding planning can be incredibly stressful if you let it consume your time or if you obsess over every detail. At the end of the day, a wedding is really about you and your partner, your love, your vows and the people you've chosen to surround yourself with.