It’s summertime and the air is filled with the sweet scent of flowers and love. Weddings al fresco are all the rage. What could be more beautiful than taking your vows in a flower filled garden; the sun gently settling behind the mountains in the distance bathing the world in reds, pinks and oranges? Not much, until you factor in the heat, humidity and bugs.

Every year there are brides that fall into the trap of thinking only of the beauty of the location and forget the reality of outdoor weddings. If you are planning an outdoor wedding without the help of a wedding planner, let me offer some lifesaving tips. And I mean things beside the obvious one about an alternate plan for rain. You already have that don’t you?

Today I want to talk about comfort, yours, your families, your guests and your vendors.

First, the happy couple.

Brides please consider how many layers of fabric you will be under. Each layer of fabric in your skirt or lingerie adds heat. Think less not more. Shoes must be accounted for too. Those stilettos you found that are oh so sexy are going to sink right into that lovely lawn, save them for the honeymoon. If you are wearing your hair down for your ceremony, consider a way to get it off you neck later. The last outdoor wedding I worked, the bride finally resorted to a plain rubber band ponytail by mid reception. Trust me, it did not enhance her look. Plan your up do in advance.

Guys, that tux may be the stylish statement you want to make but please reconsider. A full tux is hot inside in the winter, why would you insist on making yourself and your boys miserable on the happiest day of your life. An outdoor location lends a certain air of informality so go with it. Wear a summer weight suit or blazer and khakis. Even if you are planning your ceremony for early evening when (hopefully) it has begun to cool, your pictures will be in late afternoon at the hottest part of the day. That means at least an hour posing in the blazing sun trying to look fresh and relaxed, not limp and sweaty.

For your family and guests.

A good host concerns themselves with the comfort of their guests. Please let you guests know that this will be an outdoor event so that they may dress appropriately. Offer cold beverages such as bottled water or lemonade as guest arrive. Your guests will appreciate something cold as they sit in the garden awaiting your grand entrance.

Try to arrange your site so your guests are not starring directly into the sun as they watch you make your vows. If it is the only way to orient the site consider passing out cheap sunglasses for a fun and funky touch. What a fun shot that would be; everyone from Granny to your three-year-old niece in matching Ray-ban knock-offs.

Speaking of Granny, provide your older guest some shade or other relief from the heat. It is just the smart thing to do.

Creepy crawlies.

Check to see if your site sprays for insects prior to an event. If they don’t, see if you can hire it done. Have plenty of insect repellant on hand for your guests. You can stock it in the bathroom baskets along with some sunscreen for those that forgot.

If your cake will be outside protect it beautifully under a festive mosquito net. Bugs love sugar, guests don’t want to eat bugs, and caterers don’t want to have to pick them off.

The staff that makes it all happen.

As you plan your al fresco soiree tell every vendor you hire that it is outside. They can suggest subtle changes that will make the day go smoother. Your florist may suggest alternate flowers that give a similar look but hold up to the heat better. Your caterer may need a tent to prep in and you musicians may require shade for the sake of their instruments. Listen to your vendors; they have been there, done that, got the sunburn. Your hair and makeup person needs to adjust for the heat and humidity. Tell everyone even if you think it will not matter.

I know that this all sounds rather doom and gloomy and I don’t mean to dissuade you from having your outdoor wedding; I just want you to be prepared so you have the best day possible and the wedding of your dreams

This just makes me sad.

I have been chatting with a group of Bridal Salon owners over the last couple of day on the subject of the personal grooming habits of people trying on wedding gowns. Who would have thought this would be a problem?
I seems that some of our young ladies have forgotten the lessons thier mommas taught them! They are doing things like not bothering to shower between their work-out and their stop by the salon. Or coming right from the spray on tan booth or on their way home from their their job as a landscaper or chef. You get the idea. Salons are at their wits end trying to figure out how to polietly tell these stinky young ladies to please bathe before you come to their salon to try on $3000 worth of silk. Where did the break down in what is socially acceptable occur?
More disturbing is the young ladies arriving without the benefit of panties. Come on. Even if you always go commando to avoid panty lines have a little respect for other people. I would not want to try on a gown that someone else’s naked sweaty bootie had been in! Salons have had to resort to keeping disposable paper panties on hand for these rude women. so unless you want to try on your wedding gown in a reasonably facsimile to Depends, wear panties.
Some brides take the slightest remark from a salon owner or employee as “Unbelievably rude service.” I think if they weren’t often subjected to unbelievably thoughtless behavior from brides they wouldn’t have to make the policies they do.
It was also brought up that brides sometimes bring small children with them. Ok, I know your child is a perfect angel that will sit quietly in the corner and not be tempted to finger all the pretty fabrics or hide in the racks of gowns.But just in case they go completely against their usual perfect behavior, do not for God’s sake arm them with chocolate! (once again, could I make this up?)
Let’s have a little respect for these hard working retail associates out there and the deep investment the owners have made.

What would your Momma say?

I went to a fabulous party last night for the Tennessee Wedding and Events Specialists Association. The annual Bar-be-cue and pool party is always a great time to let my hair down and catch up with all my friends in the industry. It was great fun to table hop all night.

I was chatting with Dave Nuding of Blue Tone Music and Doug Spangler, DJ extraordinaire. I was telling them about the staging I had been doing lately and they loved it. Dave was saying that it was a great idea for all coordinators (especially new ones) to stage with the different specialties. Every different specialty in the event industry has its own quirks and the only way to really understand them is to live through it. Something to think about as you interview potential wedding planners.

As usual, I fell into conversation with a bunch of my photographer friends. The topic on everyone’s mind was timing. With so many different vendors involved in a wedding it is so important that everyone is a pro and understands how crucial it is to stick to the timeline. If any one vendor is late or runs over time it effects the entire day. This goes double for brides!! If the makeup runs long, it makes the bride arrive late. That sucks time from the photographer and they don’t get all the pre-wedding shots you want. It doesn’t matter who the broken link is it still affects everyone. I once worked a wedding where the mother had planned a beautiful musical prelude to the ceremony. Most of the guests were from out of town so she had hired tour busses to get everyone to the wedding in time to enjoy the music. The busses were on time, the music was ready but the guests wouldn’t leave the TV in the hotel lounge until the Kentucky Derby was over. Arrrrrrrrggggggghhhh! Mom stalled the music and the ceremony was 45 minutes late. The caterer had to hold the food, etc,etc. Oh well, it was still a beautiful wedding, but everyone was stressed more then was necessary.

I ran into a wedding planner friend at the bar that was telling me one of her destination wedding brides had given her personal email address to EVERY ONE OF HER GUESTS and told them to send the planner their travel plans. Her inbox filled up with itineraries from 200 unknown addresses, often with no explanation just the travel arrangements. What a headache. I am going to assume that your guests are grown ups and can handle their own travel plans. Don’t do a blast email to your guests with your planner’s personal email addy. It can make for one very overworked and cranky planner if you don’t at least warn her.

Oh, the life of a wedding pro.

It has occurred to me that most brides have no idea what is involved in altering a wedding gown.

Take a look at that gorgeous ball gown with 5 layers of fabric making that fabulous pouffy skirt, admire the 4″ wide border of crystal adorned beading at the hem. Now what do you think it takes to hem something like that? Well that skirt has to be removed and shortened from the waist, without ruining the lines.
Some of the sheath dresses with princess seams have to be hemmed at the shoulders which may or may not means recutting the the armholes and neckline.

I know, so what? It’s not you wielding the needles. What does it matter to the bride, you just want it right. Here is why it matters and what you can do about it.

As you find yourself narrowing down your dress selection find out what it will take to make your gown fit right. Ask the seamstress to look at the dress you are considering. A good tailor will be able to tell if the gown is cut in such a way that the adjustments needed for your figure are do-able. For instance, I am short-waisted. There are some gowns whose look would be destroyed in the process of making them fit me. I personally love the look of the ‘Fit and Flair’ style in the Rivini collection. Unfortunately I would have to either have one custom made by the designer or risk the bodice ending somewhere around my knees. Now that would make dancing fun.

If you are in love with a dress that is going to have to be adjusted at the shoulders, where will that put the waist? I don’t know and you probably don’t either. That is why you need the help of people who handle these dresses everyday and know how they are made.

Just one more thing to think about as you search for the perfect gown for your wedding. sorry