Planning ahead is key to marrying outdoors

For Julia, the dream of having an outdoor wedding began long ago. In August, she plans to marry her fiancée at The Lyons Manor, at the base of the Rocky Mountains.

"My biggest hope," says Julia, "Is that it doesn't rain. We decided to go for it, but if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate, we'll of course wed indoors."

Experts say rain is everybody's biggest concern, yet outdoor weddings are beautiful when everything works out. "The key is to envision and plan for both scenarios," says Mary Jane Forrester, adding that she has attended outdoor weddings for as many as 250 to 300 people.

If you're planning your ceremony at a public park, have an alternate indoor site and indicate it on the invitation, she suggests. A private home makes the best alternate site, as a function hall is likely to require that you reserve and pay for space, even if it is never used.

"There are very sophisticated tents available for rental today" too, she says, adding that tents should be set up the night before the event so the ground beneath will be dry. "They can be heated or air-conditioned and equipped with (full or partial) hardwood floors for dancing."

Tents are a good idea even if the weather turns out to be perfect. "Have one anyway so your guests may seek shade. The food and the cake should also be sheltered from the sun so nothing melts or goes awry."

When marrying outdoors, whether it be at home or in a public location, Forrester says you should enclose maps with clear directions to guests with your wedding invitation. She strongly suggests checking with local officials to see if special permits are required for cooking fires or increased parking and traffic. If you'll be too busy to do it yourself, designate a friend or family member to be responsible for obtaining permit fee and payment schedule information.

One of the things that will make the event less of a personal headache is hiring a wedding consultant who agrees to be on hand for the event. "They'll come to your home and take care of things like keeping votives lit in the bathrooms and ensuring there are plenty of guest towels."

Once you've done all the necessary planning, there's nothing left to do but pray for good weather. But even with rain, an outdoor wedding can be beautiful. "Rain on the wedding day is considered good luck for the couple," says Forrester. "Rain ensures that crops will grow and bountiful crops
insure that the couple will eat and prosper."