5 Tips For Throwing An Outdoor Wedding!

It's that time of year again when wedding ceremonies head outside into the hot summer sun. Women trade heels for sandals and men forgo their jackets. Everyone feels happier, more relaxed, and ready for a breezy ceremony in the sun.

However, taking a wedding ceremony outside, away from the air conditioning, lighting, and even a roof can create some seriously sticky situations. Rain, excessive heat, or a swarm of bugs can quickly turn a picture-perfect memory into one you'd rather forget. But don't worry! There are plenty of ideas to keep you cool and calm on your big day!

1. Time of day. Generally, morning is the most humid time of day, while mid-afternoon is the hottest. This is particularly important if you're planning a midday ceremony. Try to avoid noon, when the sun and humidity are both at their peak and shade is at a premium. Instead, consider a sunset ceremony. As the sun goes down, heat and humidity will go with it, leaving plenty of shade and comfort. Also, with the rich sunlight off to the side, your wedding photos will look stunning!

2. Decor. What works inside doesn't necessarily work outside. Candles, flowers, and other decor can all be doomed when it comes to summer weather. Take candles, for example…

Read more tips and ideas about Throwing an Outdoor Wedding from the Celebration Advisor.

Step into a Southern Fantasy at Aspen Hall Manor!

Location, location, location! You have heard it a million times, but it's never been more important than when planning your wedding. Aspen Hall Manor has everything you need to throw a destination wedding to remember: charm, location and elegance. Your guests will truly gasp for air when they approach this stately manor in the gorgeous, southern locale of Harrodsburg, Kentucky.

Read More about Aspen Hall Manor for your wedding or party!

Kudzu Catering Delivers Soul to Every Party!

There are some cooks who know how hit that special spot on your taste buds. The ones, like grandma, know exactly what you're looking for without even having to ask and can ease a craving you didn't even know you had! Kudzu Catering in Macon, Georgia, knows what your taste buds want. They know good cooking and how to execute innovative…

Read More about Kudzu Catering in Macon, Georgia.

Jerry Bell Photography Captures the Special Moments on Your Wedding Day!

With the advancements in digital photography, just about anyone these days can snap a photo. However, it takes a true expert to capture a moment. We all know it's the special moments that make an event memorable: the moment the groom sees the bride, a quiet moment between newlyweds or a split second of pure joy. Jerry Bell Photography in Fort Worth, Texas, knows how to find…

Read More about Jerry Bell Wedding Photographer.

Jessica's Bridal: Bringing Your Dream Wedding Dress to You!

If you walk into Jessica's Bridal and Formal, you will walk out with the wedding dress of your dreams. It's that simple. With over 5,000 square feet of shopping, how could you not? Jessica's Bridal and Formal of Bay, Arkansas, offers excellent customer service to make your shopping experience everything you hoped for. Whether you have been dreaming …

Read More about Jessica's Bridal and Formal of Bay, Arkansas.

• 7 Easy Tricks for Posing in Wedding Photos
• Buttercream or Fondant For An Outdoor Wedding?
• What Everybody Ought To Know About Butterfly Releases
• Intimate At-Home Weddings – What You Need To Know
• Papel Picado: Mexican Wedding Flags Add a Festive Touch to Any Party!

It's that time of year again when wedding ceremonies head outside into the hot summer sun. Women trade heels for sandals and men forgo their jackets. Everyone feels happier, more relaxed, and ready for a breezy ceremony in the sun.

However, taking a wedding ceremony outside, away from the air conditioning, lighting, and even a roof can create some seriously sticky situations. Rain, excessive heat, or a swarm of bugs can quickly turn a picture-perfect memory into one you'd rather forget. But don't worry! There are plenty of ideas to keep you cool and calm on your big day!

1. Time of day. Generally, morning is the most humid time of day, while mid-afternoon is the hottest. This is particularly important if you're planning a midday ceremony. Try to avoid noon, when the sun and humidity are both at their peak and shade is at a premium. Instead, consider a sunset ceremony. As the sun goes down, heat and humidity will go with it, leaving plenty of shade and comfort. Also, with the rich sunlight off to the side, your wedding photos will look stunning!

2. Decor. What works inside doesn't necessarily work outside. Candles, flowers, and other decor can all be doomed when it comes to summer weather. Take candles, for example. Tea candles can provide a touch of romance indoors, but they can be blown out (or worse, knocked over!) by the wind outdoors. Take note to cover candles with glass hurricanes to prevent accidents at the altar.

Flowers are another indoor staple that may not translate outdoors well, as most flowers like it cool. Choose hardy blooms such as roses, gladiolas, and Gerber daisies. Keep them well-hydrated, and they should withstand a short bout of summer heat. Otherwise, work with your local florist to keep the flowers in the cool indoors until the last possible moment prior to the ceremony.

3. Look down. Way down. Is it sand? Grass? Dirt? While the scenery drew you to the location, it's what's beneath your feet that could potentially sink your fabulous wedding. High heels will sink into grass or sand after a few minutes. Chair legs, altar decorations, or tables may wobble if the ground beneath tends to give. Check several times before the wedding to test the ground and make plans to bring in a dance floor or runner to make getting around the ceremony easier. And speaking of chairs, don't rent metal chairs. Choose wooden or plastic seats that will not scorch guests if left in the sun for a long time.

4. Rearrange the schedule. Normally, guests are invited to enjoy refreshments following the wedding ceremony, usually in the form of a cocktail hour. However, because guests will be sitting outside for an extended period of time, it is a good idea to provide drinks before the ceremony. Lemonade, sangria, or iced tea will quench their thirst and add to the laid-back feel summer weddings are known for.

5. Have a Plan B. Whether it be a tent, nearby reception location, or house, having a place to go in the event of bad weather is a crucial to pulling off an amazing summer wedding. Note the location on the invitation or send out a mass e-mail so guests will not miss the ceremony if it rains. And don't worry if you have to turn to your Plan B. Decorations and guests can easily make their way indoors, and what is truly most important–you marriage–will still go off without a hitch.

With just a little planning ahead and a touch of luck, your outdoor wedding will make beautiful memories that you and your guests will treasure for years to come. After you follow these 5 tips for an outdoor wedding, the only thing left to do is take a deep breath and step out into the sun!

This blog post is sponsored by Caldwell, New Jersey Florists.

A bride should only have the best on her wedding including the setting. Sometimes we forget how important the setting for the wedding really is. The backdrop can mean the difference between okay photos and spectacular ones, or an alright memory compared to a glorious one. Why not let McMurtie Farms be the canvas for your perfect day?

McMurtie farms offers a fantastic assortment of backdrops including a lush oasis, waterfall, meadow, gardens, stone staircase and so much more! The farm is proud of its rich history (over 100 years), endless variety of activities and products, as well as its undeniable beauty. With three event venues to choose from and hundreds of picture perfect settings on the grounds, your wedding or event will look marvelous no matter what the angle!

THE MEADOWS

The first of these venues is "The Meadows." With it's lush green landscape and romantic waterfall, it forms the picture perfect scene any bride would love for her big day.  You won't find a better wedding ceremony setting than the rustic stone staircase next to the orchard and fountain.

No better place exists for your wedding, but don't stop there! Let the McMurtie Farm take care of your family reunion picnic, or how about your daughter's quinceanera ceremony?

THE PECAN PAVILION

The second venue available is the "Pecan Pavilion" – the perfect outdoor reception location for any bride. Even if you aren't an outdoor person, the pavilion can be enclosed with heat and air to keep you nice and cozy. The fun doesn't stop there, the pavilion features a beautiful dance floor for your first dance as a married couple, as well as a romantic gazebo lit with an array of twinkle lights. The Pecan Pavilion easily adapts to your wedding or the event of your choice with it's easy electronic hook-ups for your band, wedding dj or entertainment system. Rent this for your party or corporate event as well!

RAMBLE CREEK LODGE

Lastly, there is the "Ramble Creek Lodge." A gorgeous single story home that can be used as your bridal suite and grooms den during your wedding preparation and  transformed to sleep 10 for the night after the ceremony. The best part is the rental is free when you rent the Pecan Pavilion! It is also available nightly and can be used as a bed and breakfast romantic get-away.

Having your wedding in Pflugerville Texas at the McMurtie Farm is the perfect way to start your beautiful married life together.

Want more advice on where to find party and wedding vendors? Find vendors and other party and wedding planning tips at www.WeddingAndPartyNetwork.com.

Is An At-Home Wedding for You?

Whether you're saying 'I do' in your living room, or you're having a backyard wedding, at-home weddings are a challenge. A couple of weeks before our at-home wedding, our neighbor placed a big, honking boatlift on his beach. This wasn't any old boatlift. It was a rickety, rusty eyesore.

I wouldn't have cared. Honest. It's just that my husband-to-be and I spent months getting our lakefront home ready for our backyard wedding. This involved adding flowerbeds, planting a truckload of ever-thirsty impatiens (more on those later), power washing, and even painting.

I envisioned my guests mingling on the spotless deck, cocktails in hand, a soft breeze from Lake Erie cooling their sun-exposed skin. I pictured sailboats in the distance, a beach free of garbage and smelly dead things and an unobstructed view of Fermi II (that's the nuclear power plant across the lake). I did not forsee a rusty, contraption of a boatlift to be part of the picture.

So, I traipsed on over to my neighbor's house and told him we were getting married and we were having an at-home wedding. And by the way, can you move your boatlift, because it won't look nice in my wedding photos? (The nerve of me!)

Our wedding day came and went, and the boatlift didn't budge. And you know what? It didn't matter. Not a single bit. I did not harbor bad feelings towards my neighbor, and he did not hold my temporary lapse of reason against me. In fact, the day before our wedding, he offered us the use of a wooden platform that we ended up using it as a stage for the Irish band!

Looking back, I can't believe that I was so petty. But that's what planning a wedding can do to you. Even a small wedding. It can make you crazy. Unrecognizable. The evil twin sister you didn't know you had can suddenly rear her ugly head. Heck, there are even TV shows about this kind of thing.

And having an at-home wedding can intensify the symptoms -especially if you are a perfectionist. There are so many extra details involved with planning an at-home wedding that it can be overwhelming for anyone – but especially those who have a penchant for perfection.

Not only will you be running around like a hen with her head missing trying to cross off the zillion things on your to-do list, you'll also want to make sure your home is extra-tidy, extra-lovely, extra-special for your extra-important big day. And that will take Effort. (Note the capital 'E' for emphasis.)

One of the first things Darin and I did when we decided to have a backyard wedding was head out to a local nursery to load up on flowers, and other bedding plants. In fact, we spent the entire spring and summer landscaping our property, which included planting dozens of flats of impatiens, as well as an assortment of perennials.

Through it all, I discovered a new passion – gardening, and I lost weight without even trying! (Hauling wheelbarrows full of earth day after day will get you in shape pretty fast!)I also discovered that impatiens and a scorching hot summer climate make for a very LARGE water bill.

Even though we were having our at-home wedding outdoors, Darin and I decided not only to landscape the yard – but also fix up our house before the wedding. This included stripping wallpaper, painting, stripping more wallpaper, and did I mention stripping wallpaper? We had plenty of help from family, but Darin and I truly busted our behinds trying to get things in order.

Of course, not all couples planning an at-home wedding spend months fixing up their place. Some people don't lift a finger on home improvements. If that's the case, planning can be a whole lot easier.

However, there are still things to keep in mind if you are planning an at-home wedding.

1. Toilets. It's probably the least romantic thing about your wedding, but it's probably one of the most important. No matter where you decide to have your wedding, you're going to need at least one. If you are having your wedding at home, you might decide that guests can use the washrooms in your home. But after giving it some serious thought, you might change your mind. If you are having an outdoor wedding, do you really want your guests traipsing in and out of your home? Can your plumbing system take the wear and tear? Is it possible that your septic system will be overstressed, causing a plumbing nightmare on the biggest day of your life? (Ever see Meet the Parents?) After doing some research, we discovered that port-a-johns definitely aren't what they used to be. There are new user-friendly models in a variety of colors. Not only are they more pleasing to the eye, they have sinks and flush toilets. Even though they are more expensive, they were definitely worth the splurge.

2. Neighbors. Warn them in advance and give them a heads up closer to the big day. They might even offer up their driveways for parking – or a portable stage! Be extra kind to them as you get close to your wedding day, so that they will put up with potentially high noise levels from your happy wedding guests.

3. Invite your caterer over before the big day so s/he can scope out your kitchen. S/he'll need to know how much space there is to work in – as well as fridge and stove details.

4. If you are doing the outdoor thing, rent a tent. That is, unless you have a huge tolerance for risk. (Which I do not.)

5. Hire a cleaning person to clean your home thoroughly prior to your wedding – not to mention after your big day. Unless of course, you have a lovely friend or relative who has kindly offered to take on this task.

6. Have bug spray handy. Citronella candles might provide ambiance, but they are useless when it comes to fending off hungry 'mossies'.

7. If your guests like to over-imbibe, be prepared: some might want to crash at your house. We had a pretty tame crowd at our wedding, but like any good party, there's a chance this will happen at your wedding. If you're not equipped for sleepovers, be smart and call a cab.

8. Enjoy the journey. Easy for me to say – I got married eight years ago. But, really, try not to sweat the small stuff – like boatlifts.

9. Give yourself a pat on the back for pulling it off. Planning a wedding at home is no small feat, but it's one of the most rewarding things you will accomplish. Raise a glass to yourself – (and to your neighbor) for a job well done!

Christina Friedrichsen is the author of Intimate Weddings: Planning a Small Wedding that Fits Your Budget and Style and owner of IntimateWeddings.com, a website dedicated to small weddings.

A special thanks to:

Photography by memoriesINtime, a Milan MO photographer, for the beautiful photo of a wedding ceremony in front of a lake.

Hollyhock Flowers, a Weare NH florist, who create the fabulous flowers decorating the wooden bridge in the second photo.

Petals-a-Florist, an Atlanta GA florist, who designed the sensational pew markers in the third photo.

I love outdoor weddings. There’s just something about the natural beauty of the greenery that makes them so fabulous. Outdoor wedding reception decorations and table centerpieces can be somewhat tricky though, because you don’t want to take away from the natural scenery. The new overall wedding decoration idea trend is "earthy glamorous" and this theme is even more beautiful outdoors.

This can be done using twigs, leaves, containers of grass, and several other resources. Table decorations and centerpiece options are endless with this theme. Long low containers of grass with a Continue reading "Take Advantage of Natural Beauty… Outdoor Wedding Table Decorations" »

Looking for a unique way to personalize your wedding ceremony? Think about using sand in your wedding. A sand wedding ceremony uses two vessels of sand; one for the bride and one for the groom which are poured together into a keepsake container or released into the wind symbolizing the coming together of two separate lives.

This is unique wedding idea is commonly done at beach weddings or outdoor wedding ceremonies. Although I have seen it performed at indoor ceremonies, it seems that the unity candle is preferred Continue reading "Memorable and Unique Wedding Ideas- Sand Wedding Ceremony" »

The Perfect Wedding Venue: Outdoor Chapels

Getting married in an outdoor wedding chapel is a beautiful, natural experience that will create pleasant memories for a lifetime. Of the many types of outdoor chapels available for wedding ceremonies, glass chapels are perhaps the most popular. Glass chapels and outdoor chapels allow the guests to enjoy your wedding ceremony with a scenic view of the gorgeous countryside. Glass chapels such as Thorncrown Chapel and Anthony Chapel are usually Continue reading "Unique Wedding Venues: Marriage in Outdoor Ceremony Sites" »

Outdoor Wedding Ideas

For many brides, an outdoor wedding is the dream of a lifetime. So, when planning an outdoor wedding, choosing the right location is critical. And, of course, no outdoor wedding is complete without "A Bad Weather Plan B". Even though you picture a perfect day, the weather may not co-operate and last minute plans may have to be put in place.

When considering a location for an outdoor wedding, you may also want to think about the reception. Do you plan to have only the wedding outdoors, or do you plan to have both the wedding ceremony and the reception outdoors? What are your outdoor wedding ideas? Do you picture your wedding on a beach, by a stream, in a park, a garden, a country inn, a golf course, a historic estate, a scenic landmark, or in the backyard?

Before planning an outdoor wedding discuss the advantages and disadvantages with your wedding planner. Great sources for outdoor wedding ideas are Continue reading "OUTDOOR WEDDING IDEAS" »

When planning an outdoor wedding, it is a good idea to order a fondant wedding cake. Rolled, draped, or fitted over a wedding cake, fondant is a sugar paste that will hold up in many situations. Fondant wedding cakes won’t drip or melt under any conditions. Fondant also seals in moisture and allows for advanced display time for the wedding cake. Besides the durability of fondant, it is available in a variety of colors that will match virtually any color scheme.