Woohoooo..Outside Wedding Anyone?

[SarahLovesJS]

Okay, wow things change quick. It looks like the church I was narrowing things down to may not be working out. If I am reading the information they sent me correctly, not only will they not allow any photography (most churches I''ve considered have at least allowed non-flash photography), but they won''t allow ANY music not about God. This includes no wedding march, etc. They say those songs are not about God, so they shouldn''t be in a church. Any songs about love, but not about specifically God''s are not acceptable as well. I am going to call and confirm, but I don''t believe this is working out. This may be okay for some people, but that''s not how I worship and I want some of these things at my wedding. Here''s the pics of LG and whatnot

So! Looks like we''re now considering an outside ceremony at Lewis-Ginter that I posted earlier for the reception venue. I am going to call tomorrow to make sure this is even possible (e.g. the date is still available send me some dust please).

Anyone else doing outside ceremonies? Is anyone nervous about it raining? How are you dealing with that?! Any advice?

I will stop freaking now, if I can.

 

[monarch64]

Ok, Sarah...time to stop freaking, although I totally understand why you are. We planned and pulled off an outdoor ceremony/indoor reception back in ''03, everything went off without a hitch even though it rained every weekend leading up to our wedding! Our plan B was a little room that was all enclosed in windows with a baby grand in the middle, it would''ve been just fine (since we had a plan b!) I think it is key that you have an indoor location just in case.

gah, I can''t emphasize enough how important it is to have that plan B, and be just as happy with it as your outdoor venue. Eveything will be fine, though! As long as you plan for everything, doing an outdoor location is not that big of a deal.

Mara got married in HI, I believe, as did several other PS''rs, and they can all also give you advice. Anything specific you want to know, just ask, we''re here for ya.

 

[Stephanie]

Both the ceremony and reception are outside for me! Since FI and I aren''t really religious and churches aren''t really our thing, we found our outside venue and it was just perfect. They have backups for rain and cold (hello, Novemeber cold snaps) - that''s all I needed to be convinced that outside was the way to go. Don''t worry about it, if it''s right, then you will know.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I am planning on an outdoor ceremony as well but have an indoor backup which I think is critical. I am getting married on Sep 21 but in some years the first big snow fall happens before that!

 

[sumbride]

I had an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception last October. And it rained EVERY SINGLE DAY for 6 months prior to the wedding, and every day of the week prior to the wedding, but it DID NOT RAIN on the day itself.

Because of the deluge the area suffered through all summer, everyone was just sure it was going to rain. Everyone except me and my mother. I had checked Weather.com to get "average rainfalls" on my day/week, and my mom just KNEW in her heart that it couldn''t possibly rain and ruin the day. My florist and planner pushed for an indoor backup though, and we definitely had one. I wasn''t keen on the idea, but I knew it would work if we had to do it.

It rained the day before, during the rehearsal, and when I talked to my florist that evening he was still asking me if I was SURE I wanted him to set up outside. I said "YES." The dark clouds threatened, but you know what? As soon as we went outside to start the procession, they cleared. They CLEARED. We have photos of it. It was sooo cool! And my mom said "I told them it wasn''t going to rain!"

So prepare for it to rain but expect that it won''t. Many Many Many brides have outdoor ceremonies successfully. Just check your area''s weather trends for the last several years, have a backup plan, and keep your spirits up. You can do it!

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Thank you everyone for the advice and reassurance! They have two different inside options, so I''d definitely have somewhere to go. Ahh, I guess it all doesn''t matter in the end, right? If it rains well then I am still getting married, does it really matter where? Hehe. I guess it kind of does, but the indoor locations aren''t bad.

I am going to look up the average rainfalls, that''s a really good idea!

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 4/2/2008 2:56:25 AM
Author:SarahLovesJS
Okay, wow things change quick. It looks like the church I was narrowing things down to may not be working out. If I am reading the information they sent me correctly, not only will they not allow any photography (most churches I''ve considered have at least allowed non-flash photography), but they won''t allow ANY music not about God. This includes no wedding march, etc. They say those songs are not about God, so they shouldn''t be in a church. Any songs about love, but not about specifically God''s are not acceptable as well. I am going to call and confirm, but I don''t believe this is working out. This may be okay for some people, but that''s not how I worship and I want some of these things at my wedding. Here''s the pics of LG and whatnot

So! Looks like we''re now considering an outside ceremony at Lewis-Ginter that I posted earlier for the reception venue. I am going to call tomorrow to make sure this is even possible (e.g. the date is still available send me some dust please).

Anyone else doing outside ceremonies? Is anyone nervous about it raining? How are you dealing with that?! Any advice?

I will stop freaking now, if I can.

WOW. That''s nutz, if you are reading it right. I''m having an outside ceremony. I wasn''t worried about the weather till htis weekend, when John pointed out that HE was.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Date: 4/2/2008 11:31:03 AM
Author: Gypsy

Date: 4/2/2008 2:56:25 AM

Author:SarahLovesJS

Okay, wow things change quick. It looks like the church I was narrowing things down to may not be working out. If I am reading the information they sent me correctly, not only will they not allow any photography (most churches I''ve considered have at least allowed non-flash photography), but they won''t allow ANY music not about God. This includes no wedding march, etc. They say those songs are not about God, so they shouldn''t be in a church. Any songs about love, but not about specifically God''s are not acceptable as well. I am going to call and confirm, but I don''t believe this is working out. This may be okay for some people, but that''s not how I worship and I want some of these things at my wedding. Here''s the pics of LG and whatnot


So! Looks like we''re now considering an outside ceremony at Lewis-Ginter that I posted earlier for the reception venue. I am going to call tomorrow to make sure this is even possible (e.g. the date is still available send me some dust please).


Anyone else doing outside ceremonies? Is anyone nervous about it raining? How are you dealing with that?! Any advice?

I will stop freaking now, if I can.

WOW. That''s nutz, if you are reading it right. I''m having an outside ceremony. I wasn''t worried about the weather till htis weekend, when John pointed out that HE was.

Oh no!! That''s definitely a way to make you go:

. I called and they do still have the date available for ceremony and reception. The ceremony wouldn''t start until 6, but doesn''t bother me because it means it''d be cooling off a bit which I think is nice. It''d end up being right before the transition to sunset.

I was really excited about the church because it was at the college we attended together before I transferred and he graduated, but whatever. I guess everything works out for a reason. Now I''ll get my string quartet.

 

[karasue91]

another outdoor ceremony here!! our indoor backup is our ugly reception hall.....Calgary is a pretty dry city, especially in August so I think we'll be pretty safe, but I do wish we had a little nicer backup plan. But whatev, you are right, when it comes down to it, it doesn't really matter.

i saw some amazing pictures of a couple who got married in British Columbia with these huge black clouds in the sky the whole time. but the rain held off until after the ceremony!! and the pictures were just fantastic....off to search for them....

ETA: http://offbeatbride.com/2008/02/staceys-elegant-stormy-wedding#more-656

 

[doodle]

i too am having an outdoor ceremony with indoor reception, and the reception space can be used as a backup in case of rain. my venue is oakhurst farm in georgia. if we can''t have the ceremony outside, you do it inside, start upstairs, come down the stairs, and exchange vows in front of the fireplace. here''s a few pix just for fun. part of the outside scenery...

 

[doodle]

the area where we''ll be having our ceremony...

 

[doodle]

and plan b inside the reception hall. sorry they''re so small; i don''t know how to enlarge them! the website is oakhurstfarm.org.

 

[neatfreak]

We did an outside wedding in San Francisco and the weather was horrible for 3 days before and 3 days after but the day of it was flawless. I think the key to NOT freaking out about it is having a backup location that you are content with as well. That way it isn't a big deal if it rains. I wasn't freaking out about it because I also loved our backup location, so I would have been happy either way.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Date: 4/2/2008 11:48:26 AM
Author: karasue91
another outdoor ceremony here!! our indoor backup is our ugly reception hall.....Calgary is a pretty dry city, especially in August so I think we''ll be pretty safe, but I do wish we had a little nicer backup plan. But whatev, you are right, when it comes down to it, it doesn''t really matter.


i saw some amazing pictures of a couple who got married in British Columbia with these huge black clouds in the sky the whole time. but the rain held off until after the ceremony!! and the pictures were just fantastic....off to search for them....


ETA: http://offbeatbride.com/2008/02/staceys-elegant-stormy-wedding#more-656

What a beautiful stormy wedding! Well, I think the atrium (back-up location) is beautiful. It''s a little coldish/stoneish, but it''s also like a blank canvas. So I guess the best bet would be to buy some back-up/rent some back-up decorations in case it rains and we need to use the inside. Thanks again for the support and information everyone! I am feeling a lot better already. I looked it up and June is not that rainy in Virginia on average, the most rainy month in the area was July.

 

[zoebartlett]

Our ceremony will be on the grounds of the restaurant we''re having the reception at. If we need to, we''ll just move the ceremony indoors. I''m sorry to hear that your original plans may not work out.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Date: 4/2/2008 11:51:05 AM
Author: doodle
and plan b inside the reception hall. sorry they''re so small; i don''t know how to enlarge them! the website is oakhurstfarm.org.

Just wanted to say your site looks beautiful!

 

[Gwyn]

Our ceremony will be outside and our reception will be in a with walls opened to the outdoors as well.

We can move the ceremony indoors if needed (though not at all v.. pretty) or put up tents (at our expense).

As for the reception, there are plastic flaps to close off the stone walls.

Ive included a few pics so you can see what I am talking about.

FI and I love our outdoor area, it was alot of the reason why we chose our venue It would be near impossible to tent that whole flower archway thing and the gazebo is so big, rain would guarantee we would have to move it indoors. So we are hoping it wont rain, but we have just tried not to think about it since there isnt much we can do if it does.

THe wedding is in October in Southern california, I dont think there is usually rain then.

 

[Gwyn]

Here is the reception location, you can kind of see through the stone that it is all open (the room itself sits right on a lake) we reallly liked the open feel without being completely outdoors. There are plastic flap things that can be pulled over the open area so, it wouldnt be too bad if it started to rain during the reception, could get a little stuffy.

 

[doodle]

WOW! there are some STUNNING venues on here--now i feel like mine''s a landfill, haha. beautimus!

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Wow beautiful everyone! And nooo yours is just as beautiful

 

[swimmer]

Gorgeous venues indeed!
I''m getting scared about rain. This tent is our backup plan really. yikes I hope its like when you give a speech, you don''t sneeze because you just don''t... Magical thinking also works.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Love the tent! It''s nice to have the site covered like that I think.

 

[CJ2008]

Hi Sarah, we're having the reception outdoors too...BUT can move inside if we need to. Might end up looking somewhat like this?

ETA: there's a room adjacent to the one you see in the picture, which would be open too...

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Ooh that''s pretty, I like how people can wander in and out!

 

[CJ2008]

Thanks, Sarah! We''re actually thinking of maybe having the dinner set up in the other room inside (the one you don''t see) and then doing something "loungy" where you see that table now...so the room you''re looking at inside would be the dancefloor, and people can hang out and watch, drink in hand, if they don''t feel like sitting at their table...

 

[SarahLovesJS]

I love that idea!

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I want to play!
This is the indoor backup. It is actually really pretty and the fireplace is huge, its just hard to see in the picture. You can see the edge of the staircase on the left. If we do it inside I will be coming down the stairs and down the aisle.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

Now for the front where I REALLY want to get married.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Wow, how gorgeous! I love the architecture. Where is your venue located if you don''t mind me asking? Looks Southernish to me, but maybe not.

 

[miraclesrule]

Well, we''re supposed to be living in "It never rains in Southern California", but one of my best friends weddings was in Del Mar on the beach and it rained for days leading up to her wedding and the night before I was talking to the BM''s and MOH, who were calling me, beside themselves, because Bride refused to even consider a PlanB. Seriously refused to even consider it. I begged, they begged, but bride say "No, it''s not going to rain on my day!!" Discussion closed!

While I was driving up to the wedding, it was raining the entire time, but the rain stopped two exits before the one for the wedding. It was freaky. At the wedding, on the beach, it was just perfect. We all saw the clouds TWO freakin'' exits away, and prayed.

It was cold as heck, but the rain never touched us. It was uncanny.

When I read all the posts in this thread it astonishes me that the weather cooperates when you need it to the most.

Although I have to say, the last wedding I went to, which happens to be in the venue we are getting married, had a power outage 2 hours before her nuptials

They had no generators. The cocktail hour was outside and the reception inside. The band, thank gawd, had generators. The venue offered to postpone the wedding until the next day...ummmmm, no, said the Bride. It was one of the most memorable weddings I have ever been to. Although we had no tray passed Whore-derves, they opened the bar

They ended up grilling all of our food on site, so it was actually better and the videographer provided the light needed inside the dark reception room for readings by the parents until the band got there. The florist ran out and brought back 300 extra candles which had the venue

due to liability, but what could they say, other than HUGE FREAKIN'' DISCOUNT?!!?!?!?!?

I say outdoor weddings ROCK!!! You never know what you''re gonna get.