For us Albertans, we have a very small window during the year to have an outdoor wedding. The vision of a beautiful white tent (or marquee), decorated to the nines is the dream of many a bride.

But what most brides do not realize is that a tented wedding is one of the most expensive and challenging events to plan.  Here are some important things to keep in mind if you are considering having an outdoor wedding:

Mother Nature is Not Always Your Friend - When planning an outdoor wedding, it is essential to have a back-up plan! Not only is it important to have an indoor location set aside in the event of rain, but other factors such as wind or pesky insects could also force you to take your wedding inside.  Even if the morning of your wedding day is rain-free, your venue may be mudslicked from the downpour days before.

Wind can also affect the temperature and comfort of your guests.  While you may not feel the cold amidst the excitment of your day, don’t forget that your guests will be sitting for 20-40 minutes during your ceremony. Wind can also affect how sound travels – you may want to consider having a microphone on hand so that your guests will be able to hear you exchange your vows.

{photo courtesy of ArisingImages.com}

You’re Going to Need Some Power - If you are dreaming of a tented dinner with a great dance party reception afterwards, don’t forget that you’re going to need electricty to make that happen! Depending on where you will be setting up your tent, you may be looking at renting generators for things such as: lighting, refrigeration and heating/cooling.

Make Sure Your Guests Are Comfortable - Whatever the weather, make sure that your guests are comfortable. If it’s chilly, provide lap blankets and hot drinks; if it’s warm, provide bottles of water and fans so that guests can keep cool.

Another thing to consider is – where are the washrooms? If you are setting up your tent in an area where there are no facilities nearby, you will have to provide portable washrooms for your guests. (Forget the typical “Port-A-Potty”! There are new luxury washroom units that you can rent that won’t put off your guests.)

{image courtesy of oncewed.com}

Bringing It All In - If you have to provide your own tent at your venue, keep in mind that you will have to rent everything! From the tables and chairs, to heating/cooling and even flooring, everything will need to be brought in. This means that you will have to budget more for rentals and delivery and set-up costs.

Do You Have a Permit For That? - Depending on what you have selected as your venue, you may need to obtain a permit from the city or parks administration office.  Don’t forget to ask questions regarding trash removal, do’s and don’ts for the site, noise restrictions and any other regulations.