Whether you choose a garden, beach, park, or any other gorgeous outdoor venue for your wedding, there’s one thing you’ll always want to consider as much as the guest list and the floral arrangements — the safety of everyone involved.
Outdoor weddings, as popular as they are, can present some safety risks that could leave you with injured guests or damaged rentals in some worst-case situations. And if you don’t have the right wedding insurance, you could be on the hook to pay for the resulting medical costs or damages, which is probably not how you imagined launching your marriage.
Here are some safety tips to remember as you plan your event to avoid common wedding day mishaps.
What You Will Learn
- 1. Plan for the Weather — And Not Just Rain
- 2. Choose Your Attire Appropriately
- 3. Consider Accessibility
- 4. Avoid Food-Borne Illness
- 5. Prevent Pesky Insects
- 6. Light Up Your Space
- 7. Have a Backup Plan
- 8. Buy Comprehensive Wedding Insurance
- Outdoor Wedding Safety FAQs
- Protect Your Outdoor Wedding with Briteco Insurance
1. Plan for the Weather — And Not Just Rain
When you think of weather ruining your outdoor big day, you might only think of rain potentially washing out your nuptials. However, weather of all types, inclement or not, can impact your event and safety.
For example, let’s say you’ve planned a July wedding on the grounds of a gorgeous Southern mansion. The day of your wedding is a scorcher. While no rain is in sight, the hot temperatures can be a hazard to some of your guests. The last thing you want is Aunt Linda to pass out from heat stroke in the middle of exchanging vows. If you’re planning a summer outdoor wedding, you’ll want to think about how to keep your guests cool and comfortable, such as:
- Creating some sort of shade over the seating area
- Providing fans for all guests
- Offering water as guests arrive
And don’t think that you’re out of the woods just because you plan a snowy winter wedding. Outdoor cold-weather ceremonies are often short since no one really wants to stand out in the snow for a long time. Still, hypothermia can set in quickly. Plan accordingly by:
- Telling guests to dress warmly
- Keeping the ceremony as short as possible
- Heating the space with outdoor heaters
- Providing blankets for guests (that match the décor, of course!)
2. Choose Your Attire Appropriately
It is not just guests who need to dress appropriately for an outdoor wedding. You should also plan your attire and that of the wedding party according to the season. A winter wedding is not the time to have the bridesmaids in strapless gowns, and a summer wedding is not the time to have the groom crew in woolen suits.
3. Consider Accessibility
Most weddings have at least a few guests with mobility issues, and they may require a wheelchair, cane, or other mobility device to get around the venue. But even for the general group, you’ll want to be mindful of particularly unsteady surfaces — such as a ceremony in a wooded area or park — that can prove a hazard.
Before committing to a space, walk through it carefully and think about what could potentially cause an injury or make it more difficult for guests to get around. Then, see if it’s possible to address those potential hazards beforehand. For example, if one path to and from your wooded ceremony space is especially rocky, uneven, and root-covered, you may need to block it off and direct your guests to another route.
4. Avoid Food-Borne Illness
There are so many catering options when planning a wedding. Gone are the days when your only options might be a buffet or sit-down dinner. Now, you can hire a food truck, or multiple food trucks for that matter. You can arrange a massive barbecue or even plan a potluck (a popular option for many budget-friendly and micro weddings).
Whatever you choose, consider the risks of food-borne illnesses at outdoor events. Certain foods should not be kept out in hot weather for an extended period, and caterers or food providers should have ample access to the supplies and amenities to keep food hot or cold and out of the lukewarm area where bacteria thrive.
Talk to your vendor as you plan the wedding menu and ensure they have everything necessary. You may also want to see if renting a generator for food service is necessary to ensure they are fully equipped.
5. Prevent Pesky Insects
Imagine you’re standing at the altar and exchanging vows. Everything is going so well — and then you realize your floral arrangements have attracted a substantial number of bees and your fiancé is allergic. This could turn disastrous really quickly unless you are prepared.
Talk to your venue about what insects may be in the outdoor spaces and how to avoid them. Sometimes, you may need to take special precautions, such as not serving food outdoors or avoiding certain flowers or perfumes. In other cases, you may need to arrange for an exterminator to spray the space a few days before the wedding. You can also incorporate carefully hidden bug-repelling devices into your décor to help.
6. Light Up Your Space
If a portion of your wedding will occur after dark, ensure the outdoor space is adequately lit to avoid guests taking a tumble. If your venue cannot provide sufficient lighting, rent extra sources. The rental company should advise you on what kinds of lights work best and how many you’ll need to thoroughly illuminate the event areas.
7. Have a Backup Plan
Unfortunately, even the most careful plans can go sideways. If it ultimately appears like your outdoor wedding will be unsafe, even if it’s determined on the day of, don’t try to push through just because you’ve come this far. If there’s a risk of lightning, for example, you’ll have to figure out another option besides holding your wedding ceremony in an open field.
This is why a backup plan is crucial any time you plan an outdoor wedding. Luckily, many outdoor wedding venues will have some backup space you can use if needed. The venues are also adept at helping shift to a new space at the last minute. While this can be disappointing, keeping yourself and your guests safe is the most important thing.
8. Buy Comprehensive Wedding Insurance
Lastly, be sure to buy a good wedding insurance policy for your big day. For a typically minimal cost, wedding liability insurance keeps you (and your wallet!) safe in the event that someone is injured during your wedding, or someone damages the property on which you’re hosting the wedding. And cancellation insurance helps in the event of severe weather or illness.
Outdoor Wedding Safety FAQs
How Can You Keep Bugs Away During an Outdoor Wedding?
The good news is that you and all your guests don’t need to slather on stinky bug spray! You can keep mosquitos and other pests at bay by incorporating natural or tech-related repellents into your décor with care. Consider also incorporating naturally repelling florals, such as lavender or marigolds, into arrangements.
How Cold Is Too Cold for an Outdoor Wedding?
If the temperature is going to be below 50 degrees Fahrenheit at any point in your wedding, you should prepare for how to keep your guests warm and take proper precautions to avoid weather-related safety issues by offering blankets, adding outdoor heaters, etc.
How Hot Is Too Hot for an Outdoor Wedding?
If the temperature looks like it will creep above 80 degrees Fahrenheit on your wedding day, you’ll need to take precautions to keep your guests cool and avoid heat stroke, such as portable air conditioning, handheld fans, and offering lots of bottled water and hydrating liquids.
How Can You Make Weddings in Hot Weather More Comfortable?
It may seem like a Herculean effort to stave off the heat, but there are options. Provide shade and fans. Be sure that everyone is properly hydrated. If possible, plan the wedding for a cooler time of day. Instruct guests to dress in light clothing. And if the reception area is outdoors, plan to serve light, rather than heavy, foods.
Can You Serve Food During an Outdoor Wedding?
Yes, but be sure that your catering team keeps the temperature in mind and takes all precautions necessary to keep foods at a safe temperature for consumption.
Protect Your Outdoor Wedding with Briteco Insurance
In addition to taking the right precautions to keep your guests safe, you’ll also want to ensure your investment is secure. Wedding liability insurance and cancellation coverage will protect you from any costs related to unforeseen injuries, illnesses, and weather-related events.
Get your wedding insurance quote from BriteCo now.
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