Many brides fantacize about an outdoor spring wedding. Spring weather can be beautiful; it can also be quite warm in Texas. Use these tips to plan an outdoor ceremony that will be more comfortable for you and your guests.

• There is often a line at the sign-in book. Provide (or ask your venue to provide) a patio umbrella so guests can sign the book without fighting glare or drizzle.
• After guests sign in, have buckets with bottles of cool water for them to drink. Ushers can offer water to guests as they are seating them.
• Programs are a staple of today’s weddings. Fans are essential to an outdoor wedding. Why not combine the two? Program information can be printed on heavy cover stock and then affixed to handles to keep guests cool and in the know.
• When selecting a ceremony site, try to imagine it on the hottest day of the year. Then, try to imagine it on a misty day. While images of blue skies and white puffy clouds may dance in your mind, the sun beating down on guests can be brutal. In contrast, if there is a tiny sprinkle, you probably won’t relocate your ceremony, but it might not be pleasant for your guests. (Remember, guests sit there a long time before you walk down the aisle.) Provide umbrellas to your guests so they can have protection from the sun and light rain. If you order umbrellas in colors to match your event, this can provide a lot of color to your ceremony. If it will not rain, but you have concerns about the heat, consider affordable parasol umbrellas; these also provide a more elegant touch. Umbrellas that are your wedding colors(s)–and also one shade lighter and one shade darker–will give a really spectacular view from the back of the aisle.
  see this amazing photo by Patricia Mark Photography in Napa, California.

  

Outdoor ceremonies are beautiful and provide an excellent opportunity for beautiful portraits and candid images. recommends that you consider your guests’ comfort when planning, and you’ll add smiles to even more faces!