Dreaming of an idyllic outdoor wedding that triumphs over the ever-changeable whims of Mother Nature? Look no further. This guide is your first step towards planning a foolproof, weatherproof celebration amidst the beauty of the great outdoors.

“Would everyone please take their seats for the ceremony?”

And so, it begins. A sweaty, uncomfortable, hellish marathon. No breeze, no shade, no escape. Your neck sizzles. Sweat rivers down your back, pooling on the chair between your cheeks. You sneak a look at your guests; a sea of invites-turned-fans, waving lazily in the heat.

Nana looks peaky.

You stand up (for God-knows-what this time), and in a fuggy haze, wonder if anyone’s noticed the arse-mark on your chair. Oh God, it’s dripping down your leg.

Wait, what did she say? Shit, that’s you.

“Yes, yes. I do”

Oh, for Christ’s sake, why did we need two readings?! For the love of God, just hurry the fuck up.

Mother Nature is a beauty, but she can be a bitch. Sunburn, sun-stroke, rain, wind, bugs, mud… (have you thought about getting married indoors?!) But there, beyond the chasm of inconvenience, lies the promised land. A flawless Hawaiian beach; a sun-drenched, love-drunk festival; a dramatic Scottish clifftop… do it right, and an outdoor wedding has ‘dream wedding’ potential.

But only if you do it right. Do it wrong, and there’ll be years of wide-eyed anecdotes at your expense.

So, what’s the deciding factor, then? What makes the difference between the perfect day and a cautionary tale? Just one thing, my friend: preparation.

Let’s prepare, shall we? Here’s how to plan a foolproof, weather-proof, outdoor wedding.

Sweaty Mess in Calvin Klein

There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. A beach in the Bahamas would be hell in ski gear, and fresh powder would be a bitch in a tiki shirt. The first step to getting married outdoors is to make sure everyone is dressed the part.

It’s common knowledge, but it bears repeating: black absorbs heat, white reflects it. And however ‘James Bond’ you might look in a black tux, “sweaty mess in Calvin Klein” is not a vibe.

For summer weddings (and weddings abroad especially) light, loose clothing is the way forward. As a general rule, if the buildings are white, your clothes should be too. And please don’t forget your guests. With all due respect to Nana and co, people are stupid. So, spell it out for them. Tell people what the weather will be like; come up with an appropriate dress code and specify it for them in the invites. It’ll also look great in the photos if everyone’s dressed in the same palette (just saying).

Your wedding should be a celebration, not an extreme weather endurance test. If everyone comes wearing the right clothes, that’s one giant pebble in the jar.

The Ceremony Set Up

An outdoor ceremony – done well – requires some serious forethought. Your guests will be stuck there for half an hour, sitting exactly where you’ve told them to sit. They’re not allowed to move, find shade, or get a drink. And all they’ll have for comfort is… well, whatever you’ve given them for comfort. For those thirty minutes, Nana’s life is in your hands.

If possible, have the ceremony set up in the shade. If there is no shade (or you really want that ‘wow shot’), consider having the ceremony later on in the afternoon, when it’s not so punishingly hot. It’s also worth bearing in mind, most photographers don’t like working in direct, blazing sunlight. It’s too harsh, and tricky to edit.

And speaking of photography, your outdoor ceremony has the potential to be hella photogenic. My wedding photographer wife says the following: “The potential to get creative with an outdoor ceremony is massive. You can rearrange chairs; be in the round, have a snake, anything you like. You can also choose your backdrop. Pick a focal point, and set your ceremony up around that. Have it framed behind your arch/altar, and it’ll give your ceremony photos a gorgeous natural backdrop.”

Use Your Imagination (and Put Your Guests’ Comfort First)

If it’s hot? Have water bottles on each chair, parasols and fans (if you’re feeling bougie, you can even get them personalised as wedding favours). I saw a wedding once where someone walked down the aisle half-way through with a cool box, handing out beers and drinks to everyone. If it’s muddy, consider having a throw/carpet down the aisle. If it’s chilly, or there might be a bit of rain, have umbrellas and blankets for your guests. Y’know, just be considerate.

You want the weather to be enjoyed, not endured, and it’s amazing how just a few small, thoughtful touches can completely elevate your guests’ experience.

Alanis Had No Plan B

Isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think? How after all that whinging, it never occurred to her to have a backup plan.

When you’re getting married outside, always – ALWAYS – have a contingency plan. Even if it says “only one day of rain per month”, don’t get complacent; that day might be yours. Make sure you have a plan for every eventuality, and discuss it with your venue (and planner/stylist) in advance. If nothing else, it will save you frantically refreshing your weather app in the weeks before.

And remember, it’s not just you and your guests who might get wet. Chairs, cushions, PA systems, musicians and their instruments… you might be OK with a bit of drizzle, but your string quartet won’t be.

Talk to any of your suppliers who will be affected by bad weather. Make sure you have a foolproof plan (in writing!) so everyone knows what to do in every situation. The more you have your ducks in a row, the happier those ducks will be if it rains.

Here Comes Captain Sensible

Maybe it’s my years of heavy-drinking experience talking, or perhaps my increasing proclivity for crippling hangovers, but if you’re drinking in the sun all day, take note: The key to longevity is hydration.

Alcohol is a diuretic, so the more you drink, the more dehydrated you get. Add with the sun (hopefully), the excitement, all that chit-chat… if you’re not careful, you’ll be giving your speech as a well-dressed raisin. This goes for your guests too; give them nothing but alcohol, and they’ll drop like flies mid-afternoon.

So, make a thing of it. Make sure it’s easy (and tasty!) to stay hydrated. Have pitchers filled with water, or those bougie water dispensers you get. Put lemons in there, ice, cucumber, whatever. Keep the party healthy, and the party will rage. Your guests (and your hangovers) will thank you.

Style It Out

If you were getting married in a bright pink room, you’d style your wedding accordingly. When you’re getting married outside, the outdoors becomes your backdrop. So, for extra styling bonus points, consider the season, the plants and the light, and choose your styling match.

Find photos of the venue/destination at that time of year, and see what flowers are in bloom. Look at the colours, the foliage, the rocks, the sea, whatever. Just find out what natural palette you’re working with. It may seem like a small detail, but it will look super satisfying if everything just *goes*.

Create an Experience

I once saw a wedding where the couple had a summer fayre. They had whack-a-rat, a coconut shy, sack races, a tombola. It was nostalgic, fun, and just so joyfully British.

Another couple had a festival for their wedding – not a festival-style wedding, an actual festival. We’re talking wrist bands, blade signs, banners, a stage, a band, cider in plastic cups. They went all-out. It was epic.

My point is, you have an opportunity here. A chance to create an experience, to have fun with it, get creative, go crazy and be silly. You can literally do whatever the fuck you want. So, embrace it, lean into it.

Don’t just have a normal wedding, outdoors. Have an epic outdoor wedding!

About Jon Carpenter

Jon has been writing about weddings for over six years and been married to a wedding photographer for seven. He proposed in Kefalonia, got married in Whitstable, eloped in Vegas and now lives in…well, Drayton. But at least the first three sounded cool. Either way, wedding-wise, he’s pretty wedding wise.

This article originally appeared in issue 56 of Rock n Roll Bride magazine. You can purchase the latest copy here, or why not subscribe to never miss an issue?