An indoor wedding ceremony vs an outdoor one
Choosing a venue can be one of the most exciting parts of a wedding ceremony; after all, there are so
many different options. While some people still favour the traditional indoor wedding, lots of couples
are now opting to take their big day outside. But there are some factors you need to consider before
you decide.
Weather
The weather is particularly important in the decision making process when tossing between an indoor or
outdoor ceremony. In some countries, some seasons can be pretty challenging and an outdoor wedding
during this time would be disastrous; think wet food and wind-swept hair. Even if you decide to take
your wedding overseas, there are some countries where you will be battling a tropical climate, and
those rain season storms are not something you want to be fighting with. Unfortunately, no matter how
hard you try, good weather cannot be guaranteed and even having your ceremony in the height of
summer might lead to disappointment. If you decide to have your wedding in the open you must always
have a contingency plan in the event of bad weather. Umbrellas, portable marquees, even a back up
venue; all of these are useful to consider if you decide to say ‘I do’ outdoors. And don’t forget to notify
your officiate in the event of change of venueJ
Guests
The number of guests you want to have at your wedding is useful to consider when choosing between
an indoor and an outdoor ceremony. Indoor venues typically have restrictions on capacity, so even if
there is a place that you have been dreaming of since you were young, it might not be realistic if you are
planning on having a large wedding with all of your friends and family in attendance. Similarly, if you
want a quiet wedding but have your eye on that huge stately home, you might find that no matter how
much love and warmth is in the room during your big day, it actually feels quite cold and empty. While
there can be some flexibility with the space in indoor wedding venues, you will find that you have a lot
more freedom with an outdoor ceremony. Your wedding can be as big or as small as you like, providing
that the company providing the chairs has enough to go around!
Decor
While an indoor wedding can provide limitations in terms of space, it offers up a whole world of
flexibility when it comes to decoration. Generally, with an indoor wedding, you can decorate the venue
to suit your preferences, reassured by the fact that extreme wind or rain won’t damage those delicate
centre pieces you’ve worked on tirelessly for the last few months to create. An outdoor wedding, on the
other hand, provides a natural backdrop, and could be an incredible setting for the wedding photos.
However, it is likely you won’t have as much artistic license due to restrictions with weather conditions
and places to hang things. A minimalist approach would be best, making the most of the natural beauty
of the surrounding landscape and the unique atmosphere that an outdoor ceremony will provide.
Cost
Depending on the venue, an indoor wedding might sometimes be dearer, especially if you choose to get
married during peak season. However, you should be able to opt for a package which includes
everything you need, which means that you might be in a better position to negotiate a good deal. An
outdoor wedding is essentially a blank canvas, you do have to consider that you will need to hire almost
everything, even down to toilets for your guests. Which brings us on to…
Toilets
Yes, it may sound odd, but this is something you really do need to consider when deciding between an
indoor or outdoor ceremony. It is highly likely that an indoor venue will come with convenient and clean
toilet facilities. An outdoor wedding, on the other hand, is a different case entirely. There may be toilet
facilities at a venue nearby, but for elderly members of the family, this might not be entirely convenient.
Your other option would be to hire these facilities; for some, this wouldn’t be a problem, but for others,
this could be a deal breaker.
Regardless of what you choose, you need to identify what suits your individual preferences to ensure
that your wedding is special for both of you. If you’re finding it difficult to decide, it is possible to have
the best of both worlds; an outdoor ceremony combined with an indoor reception. Still, it would be a
good idea to take the above factors into consideration in order to ensure that you remember your big
day for all of the right reasons.