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Few venues can compare with the great outdoors when it comes to inspiring
wedding-day awe. Imagine the rocky shore of the ocean, a fragrant botanical
garden, even the coziness and familiarity of your own backyard. Think of
sunsets, cool breezes, the tranquility of a star-filled sky -- the great
outdoors presents the perfect setting for weddings. Here are some ideas and
pointers.
GREAT OUTDOOR SITE IDEAS
Here are some of our picks for amazing outdoor wedding sites:
Beach
Leafy city park
Gazebo outside a resort hotel
Grassy meadow
Cliff in the mountains
National Park with an amazing view as the backdrop
Grounds of a little country inn
Grounds of a grand mansion or historical home
Outside your church or temple, in an adjacent garden or the front lawn
Forest clearing
Slopes at a ski resort
Poolside at a hotel
Backyard of the home where you grew up
Backyard of a friend or relative's fantastic home
Apartment-building roof with a fabulous view
Top of a building like the Empire State
Ice-skating rink
Ballpark or on a football or soccer field
Yacht, barge, or cruise ship
10 TIPS FOR DOING IT RIGHT
Okay, you've picked an idyllic setting, but be forewarned -- outdoor weddings
require special planning, consideration, and handling. Here are the top 10
things to remember if you're marrying outside:
1) Make sure that the weather will be predictably good at the time of year you
choose. For instance, don't plan a coastal wedding during hurricane season. If
getting married abroad, remember that the other hemisphere's weather is the
opposite of ours -- i.e., it's summer in Australia during Christmas.
2) Definitely order a festive tent (striped, colored, with scalloped flaps);
because even the most powerful positive thinking can't prevent a thunderstorm.
For that matter, make sure you reserve an alternative indoor site, preferably
near your outdoor one, in case the weather's so bad the party can't go on as
planned.
3) Consider ordering a dance floor; you don't want to get grass stains on those
dainty silk wedding slippers.
4) Make sure you're not pitching the tent over some underground power lines,
sprinklers, cables or sewer easements. Talk to the site owners about the
disaster zones to avoid.
5) When working with a rental agency (you can rent not only the tent, but tables,
chairs, and all the tableware you'll need, from tablecloths to flatware), start
planning at least 3 to 6 months in advance, ask for references, and find out who
will be actually setting up your event that day (don't automatically assume it
will be the person you've made all the arrangements with). Also, make sure you
understand what your legal liability is for the items rented.
6) If you want to get married on public property (a beach, park, or garden), make
sure that you plan far enough in advance for getting reservations or any
necessary permits. Check with your local parks association or town hall. Also
coordinate with your caterer; he or she will probably have to set up a
make-shift kitchen on site. Some public places have catering and dining
facilities available. The crystal-palace/conservatory Palm House at the Brooklyn
Botanical Gardens in New York, for example, is specially designed for functions
like wedding receptions.
7) Keep in mind that if you choose a particularly wooded or flowery site, you won't
have to put as much money and time into floral arrangements -- you'll have
natural, beautiful foliage.
8) Don't forget to think about parking/transportation. If you're going to a public
park in a city area, you may want to rent a bus(es) as a service to your guests
(so they won't have to hassle with finding parking or cabs).
9) Unless your house has an unusual amount of facilities, you may want to rent
port-o-sans. You may not believe it, but they can be just as pleasant as real
bathrooms, with flushing water, sinks, flowers on a counter, etc. Have at least
two set up in their own mini pavilion not too far from the dining tent. (The
other advantage of port-o-sans over inside bathrooms? Convenience.)
10) Since most private homes don't have parking lots set to handle the cars of 200
guests, you may want to hire a valet parking service (or several trusted teenage
neighbors) to take care of the logistics and to keep your guests from having to
walk a great distance, which could be muddy (or dangerous).
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