Outdoor ceremony heeeelp!

[KatyWI]

So... I have this huge dilemma that I need to solve like... THIS WEEK.

I DESPERATELY WANT TO GET MARRIED OUTSIDE... but reserving the site (if it''s still available) is going to cost almost a grand. (This may seem like peanuts to some, but I''ve already spent a lot, and the budget is super tight at this point.)

Doing the ceremony at the big beautiful old theater where we''re having the reception is free. And it is a stunning place... we would use it as our rain location over any of the indoor spaces available at the other place.

If the weather is nice.... IT IS TOTALLY WORTH THE MONEY (or more!) to do it at the outside venue!!! But if it rains, I lose all of that money.

This feels like the most important lottery I''ll ever enter... And I cant decide if I''ll be more pissed if I pay for it and it rains, or if I don''t pay for it and it is a BEAUTIFUL day and I''ll totally regret not having paid for it.

I am leaning hard toward the latter (the chance at the wedding of my dreams for only $1000?!?), but then I stop myself and say "That''s insane! You''ve spent enough! Just take some outside pictures and be happy with that, and put the money into the honeymoon!"

Any advice???

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

When are you getting married?

 

[KatyWI]

Hahaha. That would be relevant, wouldn''t it?

Friday, September 4th of this year. 5pmish.

 

[Jen_91909]

Welllll, I am probably going to be a bit biased here because an outdoor wedding has always been my dream too. And I am the same way- I just knew if I planned an indoor ceremony/wedding and it was a gorgeous day out I would seriously regret not having done it outside. It IS a gamble- I am crossing my fingers everyday for good weather for my own wedding - but in my opinion it''s worth taking for the chance at your dream wedding.

Of course- that''s only if the $1,000 isn''t going to put a strain on you. That''s not peanuts at all, and the chance at having paid that and losing it does add another dimension to the whole thing.

Many may think it''s (understandably) crazy, but I myself would probably take the risk.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Are you willing to get married on a cloudy/dreary day? What''s your cut off for weather?

 

[rhbgirl24]

I am getting married outside so I''m biased too. I have a beautiful just-in-case-it-rains venue booked too.... but I would absolutely pay the extra to get married outside! Personal opinion though!

 

[sammyj]

I also dream of an outdoor ceremony, but I don''t think I would be comfortable with losing out on $1000 if it rained, especially if there isn''t a covered option (i.e. a tent, pavilion or indoor space) at this venue. If there is another option in case it rains, then I would be more inclined to go for it.

Here''s my situation if it helps: Our reception venue doesn''t have an option for an outdoor ceremony. We''re looking into a local park with tons of foliage and an indoor option in the case of rain. We''ll have to rent chairs for our ceremony (I''m guessing it will be about $500-600 for chairs because I want pretty ones!). The cost to book the ceremony venue is $180. If we went ahead and had our ceremony at our reception venue it would cost us $750 (with blah chairs that I would have to rent chair covers for anyway). I weighed the options and it was a pretty easy decision...especially with the added bonus of having a nice semi-outdoor location as a back-up in case of inclement weather.

Would you also have to pay a fee to have the ceremony at your reception venue if you had to change your plans at the the last minute?

I''m sorry...but I''ve never been much of a gambler and $1000 is a lot to gamble (for me, at least!)!!!! Again, weigh the options and decide what''s worth $1000 and what your biggest regrets would be in the end. Good luck!

 

[mayachel]

As someone who is wishing and hoping for her own outdoor ceremony, I will pass on what was recently commented to me...it is 30min. It is an amazing, important, teary 30min. but 30min none the less. SO...is it worth the $1000? Sure, if you can swing it and it is all going to work out. Could your alternative be just as amazing? Yup. Likely.

This feels like the most important lottery I''ll ever enter... this is exactly what it adds up to.

You may want to try the weather channel website...they have a section for brides to predict the likely hood of rain on your date. ''Cause you know your heart is saying yes, so why not get some validation.

 

[ilovesparkles]

I also have to make this decision and it hasn''t been an easy one to consider. I am not far enough into the planning yet to actually make it, but my head is swirling with the "what if its an icky day out?" Don''''t have any advice, but some general support!

 

[kama_s]

For those having outdoor ceremonies: we are having our ceremony oudoor as well, and we contemplated this decision for MONTHS. In the end, we decided we really wanted to have it outside so we invested in a few dozen spare umbrella''s and asked our guests to wear comfy shoes. We''re getting married outside come rain or shine!

Makes for a quirky wedding too. I''m saying this now, but might be biting my tongue when I''m drenched, mud stains on the dress and hair a frizz ball.

 

[House Cat]

Have you checked weather.com and the farmer''s almanac website to see what historical weather looks like for that date or time of year in your city? Might not be as much of a gamble as you think.

I''ve found that the farmer''s almanac website was better because you can go back years and years to check the weather trends for your date.

Farmer''s Almanac Weather Site

Scroll down to weather history and go from there. Hopefully you''ll see a weather trend of beautiful days and the $1000 will be worth it.

 

[Kelli]

I wouldn''t be willing to pay an extra thousand if I already had a beautiful (and FREE) place to do it, but I was never one who had a "dream wedding" either. If you really have always dreamed of having an outdoor wedding, it may be worth it. But, as much as I''d like to help, only you can decide that. Good luck!!

 

[EC-theory]

ditto!! outside wedding is a total dream of mine; can''t let the weather scare you away!!