Getting married outdoors in growing in popularity in Ireland, and from experience, is pretty special. And outside can be anywhere; top of a mountain, on a beach, on an island in the middle of a lake, or even in your own back garden. The options are endless. When I got married in 2019, we had our ceremony on the grounds of the venue, meaning that we could have a truly relaxing day without having to worry about getting to the next place. We were already there.
Here are some top tips to consider for your outdoor ceremony.
Sunscreen. Wear some regardless of the projected weather. And leave some bottles out for your guests. - While I remembered to put some on, there were a lot of burnt arms, faces and indeed heads, afterward. Mea culpa.
If you're thinking of wearing high heels, either buy 'heel protectors' to stop you from sinking in the grass or wear wedges. Or simply go barefoot! If you were thinking of leaving flip-flops in the bathroom, perhaps consider leaving them outside so that people can have them for the ceremony.
Candles. Our celebrant reminded us to purchase lanterns for our candles. Don't ignore this advice. Even the stillest day can blow out a candle We got these nice simple ones from Ikea & they worked perfectly. - And take your time lighting them, you're not in a rush.
Don't wear sunglasses during the ceremony. You might feel like your permanently squinting, but your eyes will adjust. ( Have them handy so that you can throw them on after the ceremony).
PA Systems: Let your vendors know in advance that you're hoping to have an outdoor wedding. While your venue may be able to provide suitable equipment, your individual vendors might prefer to bring their own.
The most important piece of advice I can give you on having an outdoor ceremony is this; don't have your heart set on an outdoor ceremony. This is Ireland. The weather can change in a heartbeat. Let me and the venue make this decision for you. Trust us. It was a chilly morning on the day that my husband and I got married, so I assumed that we would be getting married indoors. The room was set up and it looked spectacular. By noon, however, it was hitting 16C, so the venue told me that they would be more than happy to move everything outdoors. It worked out well for me, but the important thing is, that I didn't obsess over it. Remember, your venue and other vendors will want you to have your dream day. If we can, we will move mountains for you. (Not literally)
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