We all love the beautiful outdoors – especially when it comes to an outdoor wedding in Texas. Here are some key tips to keep in mind during the planning process from a wedding photographer’s perspective.
Have a backup plan. I can not stress this enough when planning an outdoor wedding, especially in Texas. The weather is very unpredictable here so it is best to have a backup plan. Most venues offer a backup indoor area scenario in case of unfavorable weather on the day of the wedding. Be sure to inquire about those backup plans during your planning process with the venue. We all hope that everything goes as planned and that you’d get your beautiful dream outdoor wedding. However, in the worst case scenario, it is always best to have a backup plan.
Add some useful items guests can use during the wedding. Depending on the time of year that you have your wedding, you can incorporate fun items for your guests to use during the wedding. In the hot summer months, a fan placed on each seat prior to the ceremony would be very much appreciated by your guests. Another item that would be useful is bug spray. This would be incredibly useful to your guests, especially if your wedding is in an area that is prone to bugs or mosquitos.
Make sure to account for outdoor noise. When you’re outdoors, there may be a lot of noises that may prevent your guests from getting the full feel of the wedding day. Be sure your DJ or whoever is playing the music for your wedding ceremony accounts for this.
Make sure the wedding attire fits well with the weather. Keep this in mind when selecting yours and the bridal party wedding day attire. If it is during the summer months, shorter or lighter weight fabric would be better for you and your bridesmaids. You may want to consider having the groomsmen go without a suit jacket. If your wedding day is during the winter months, you may want to select longer sleeves for your bridesmaids dresses and a fur stole for yourself.
Account for wind. Be sure to secure your wedding day arbor or floral arrangements. Any signs or loose wedding decorations that may blow away may also need to be tied, weighted, or taped down. This also pertains to your hairstyle choices. Be sure that yours and your bridesmaid’s hairdos are secured well that day if you notice that it is a particularly windy day.
Use the beautiful surroundings. Add florals to a make it extra special. If your wedding venue is already naturally beautiful, use that to your advantage. It can be minimally decorated in this case. If you are wanting it to be extra special, you can also dress it up with florals.
Timing is everything. Timing is everything when it comes to having an outdoor wedding in Texas. The best months would be when the weather is nicer. The months of March, April, late September, October, and early November are the preferred months. Another time frame to consider is the time of day that the ceremony would be taking place. The best time to photograph an outdoor would be in the later afternoon when the sun is not as harsh.
I hope some of these tips help you as you plan your outdoor weddings in Texas. Be sure to check back often on the blog for more tips for planning your wedding day!
