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Step 1
Plan for a windy wedding day. Even gentle breezes can disrupt your outdoor wedding by toppling flower arrangements, disturbing the bride's veil or mussing her hair. To prevent such mishaps, anchor flowers arrangements with landscaping stakes. Have a friend stand by to hold down the dress or veil. Have some extra hairspray and bobby pins on hand to restrain errant locks.
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Step 2
Plan for excessive heat or cold. Guests sitting in the sun in their formal attire can quickly become overheated. Have an electric fan or two to create a breeze. Also have cold water on hand. If your outdoor wedding is planned for autumn or winter, or if your wedding will be near the ocean, you may wish to rent propane patio heaters to keep your guests warm.
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Step 3
Plan for a rainy wedding day. If your outdoor wedding will be in a region that experiences capricious weather, plan for rain even if it is not in the forecast. Tell your guests in the invitation that the wedding will be outdoors, and that there's a possibility of rain so they can bring their own umbrellas. You can also find inexpensive compact umbrellas in your wedding colors to have on hand for guests who don't bring their own. Rent a portable cover for the area where the bridal party will stand for the ceremony. You may also wish to rent a large party tent which will be useful if your guests need protection from sun, wind or rain.
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Step 4
If you're the bride, wear waterproof makeup for your outdoor wedding. Plan this ahead of time with your makeup artist if you're using one.
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Step 5
Choose shoes that won't sink into soggy ground. Outdoor weddings are often casual, so flats may work well. But if the bride or bridesmaids really must wear high heels, the less pointy the heel the better. If you know the wedding party will be walking on grass, bridesmaids and the bride should bring a pair of flats in case the terrain cannot be navigated in heels.
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Step 6
Don't forget a wrap. If you're the bride, you may choose a summery wedding dress for your outdoor wedding, and you won't want to cover your the dress on the big day, even if you're cold. However, your maid of honor or another friend can hold a pretty bolero jacket or a shawl for you, so that it's handy to cover your shoulders before and after the ceremony and while photographs aren't being taken.
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Step 7
Have an indoor wedding venue on standby. It's a good idea to have a nearby auditorium or event hall at the ready in the event that weather conditions are so severe that an outdoor wedding is truly impossible. This does not need to be your fantasy wedding venue--a high school gymnasium or a church hall will do. After all, it's only for use in case of a true emergency. Make plans ahead of time for alerting your wedding guests to the change of wedding venue, just in case. Also plan to move the wedding decorations and seating.
