* When a bride is selecting an outdoor location
for her wedding, what do you suggest to her regarding a bad weather
back up plan?
There
are many lovely outdoor wedding locations -
beach
weddings,
lake
front weddings, forest weddings, mountain weddings, garden weddings...the
options are endless! With any outdoor wedding, it is vital that the
bride and groom work with their coordinator or wedding company to
establish a backup plan in the event of bad weather. If the wedding
location is on the grounds of a hotel or inn, coordinate ahead of
time to have a banquet room ready for you in the event of inclement
weather. This option may cost a little more, but it will save you
worry and potential heartache later! Another option is to plan to
have only the ceremony outdoors and the reception inside (or inside
with an outside portion).
In the event of inclement weather, you can simply hold the entire
event in the room you planned to have the reception in - without incurring
extra costs! This is by far the most "secure" and least
expensive way of having an outdoor wedding, and one of the easier
backup plans. If your outdoor wedding will be held in an area with
no building nearby (or a building too small to hold your guests),
such as in a forest clearing or in the garden of a private estate,
consider using a tent for the reception. In the event of bad weather,
you can move the ceremony and reception into the tent. Be sure the
tent is water tight and sturdy! Whatever backup plan you select, be
sure you tell ALL of your wedding vendors (especially those that require
lighting and electricity) of your plan ahead of time. They may bring
up alternate concerns you have not thought of and can help you solidify
a great backup plan. After all, your wedding vendors are professionals,
and have likely had experience with this sort of thing before.
* Can you give us an example of a wedding you've
planned which had to be relocated due to weather and how you worked
with the indoor option to create a memorable event?
Last
January we had an intimate outdoor wedding planned for approximately
55 guests. The bride had her heart set on an outdoor wedding in the
mountains in the winter! She loved the lakeview and wanted to bring
heaters outside so all could enjoy the atmosphere. That morning it
began snowing - and did not stop until late that night! This was a
destination wedding so most of the guests were already in accommodations
nearby. The bride and groom did not let this spoil their day! They
had many gorgeous photos taken outside in the snow, the guests loved
it, and everyone enjoyed a lovely ceremony and reception inside with
a snowy lake as a backdrop. Both fireplaces were roaring and the beverages
flowed.
The
Lake
Arrowhead Weddings staff had a job to do! We had to figure out
what to do with all the guests while we moved all the ceremony seats
(that were supposed to be outside) after the ceremony to make room
for the reception dinner seating and tables! We asked everyone to
adjourn to the great room for appetizers (not part of the original
plan) while we speedily setup for the reception - the guests didn't
even know this wasn't the original plan! Given that the bride had
purchased one of our outdoor wedding packages, she didn't even have
to worry about plan B. We simply asked her if she liked our plan (which
we discussed with her well before the wedding day) and that, in the
event of inclement weather, we would just implement it without further
distracting her on her wedding day. She was able to sit back and enjoy
her day without worrying about what to do about the weather and where
to put her guests.
* What's your most popular outdoor venue? What makes that
location especially magical for couples?
Our
most popular outdoor
wedding
package is our All Inclusive Resort Wedding Package. This package
features an exquisite lake front venue at a well-appointed full service
resort hotel. Couples can exchange vows on an elegant stage overlooking
Lake Arrowhead, surrounded
by towering trees and blue sky. Couples may also have an intimate
wedding poolside with views of the lake in the background. There are
numerous reception banquet rooms to choose from, and a variety of
wedding package options. The grand Arrowhead Ballroom, with its stunning
crystal chandeliers and oak and brass detailing, makes for an elegant
reception. The warm wood tones, mirrored walls, and glass doors that
open to an outdoor terrace with a fabulous view of Lake Arrowhead,
make the Lakeview Terrace Room a very popular reception choice. This
all inclusive wedding package features a stunning atmosphere of blue
skies, towering trees, mild temperatures and a pristine alpine lake.
Add to that the fact that the wedding packages are truly all inclusive
(just bring the dress and rings!) and you have an equation for the
"perfect," stress-free wedding day!
* What special advice do you have for outdoor brides in regard
to dress, veils, makeup?
If you are planning an
outdoor
wedding in the summer, and you think it will be hot - wear a light
gown so that you do not overheat and sweat unnecessarily (not becoming
in photographs). If your dress does have a train, be sure to consider
what the ground you will be walking over is like. Is it dirt that
will turn your train brown? Is it grass? Is the train heavy enough
to where the grass might stain it? Using an aisle runner can help
with this, but, in a windy outdoor setting, if not secured, the runner
will come loose. Be sure to solidly secure your aisle runner before
the ceremony if your location is windy. Also, consider consulting
a professional makeup artist and your photographer about your makeup
plans. The shimmer powder that is so popular today can, if applied
too liberally, and photographed in sunlight, produce a slight glare
in your photographs.
You will also want to use makeup that holds up nicely, even if you
do sweat (or "glow") a little. You want you makeup to hold
up well during the outdoor sunlit ceremony, and through the reception,
without looking caked on or streaking. If your outdoor location may
be slightly windy, opt for a veil that can be secured behind your
head before you walk down the aisle (or don't wear one at all). You
do not want your veil floating in front of your face and moving about
during the ceremony. A bride (or officiate or bridesmaid or groom)
swatting at and moving your veil around during the ceremony does not
make for elegant photographs.
* Do you have any special advice for brides
which take a boat wedding package in regard to dress, shoes, decorations?
For
those brides having a
boat
wedding, be sure to plan accordingly. It is a good idea to bring
along some motion-sickness medication (available over-the-counter),
or take some ahead of time if you have a tendency to be affected by
repeated motion. If the wedding will be proceeding into the night,
be sure to bring a shawl or other decorative piece to help keep you
warm. The air is typically colder over water, and as night falls,
you may get chilly. You can have an informal or formal wedding on
a boat, depending on the time of day and the decor and style of the
boat. For more informal weddings during the daytime you may opt for
a gown with a shorter train and veil.
For more formal evening weddings, you may choose to wear a more embellished
gown with a longer train (be sure the train bustles well for ease
of dancing later on) and a longer veil. Whatever style your dress,
wear shoes that have the look you want, but that are also comfortable!
You will be walking and dancing most of the reception. Another option
is to have only the ceremony or only the reception on the boat, while
having the remainder of the wedding at your favorite hotel, inn or
country club.
Article By Michelle O'Connor
Outdoor
Wedding Packages
