With Summer around the corner, many brides are opting for a beautiful outdoor wedding in the Okanagan Valley. From stunning wineries and romantic beach shores, to warm familiar backyards and quaint parks, there are many picturesque outdoor Okanagan wedding venues.
However, as gorgeous and romantic as an outdoor wedding may seem, there is also a significant amount of preparations that go into planning your special day. Here at All Occasions, we know how much work goes into planning an outdoor wedding, so we’ve compiled a few tips to help you create your special day.
Transform Your Venue Into a Charming Space
Whether you’re getting married on a picturesque beach, a friendly backyard or a rustic barn, lounge furniture can make your venue friendly and inviting. Pull out those plush couches, chairs and lots of pillows to give your venue character, charm and comfort. In addition to creating atmosphere, lounge furniture can give your guests a more relaxed space at your venue to socialize. It can also create the perfect backdrop for photos.
If you need furniture for your wedding, be sure to check out our collection of lounge furniture here. We’re proud to be the Okanagan’s largest supplier of lounge furniture and would be happy to help.
Transforming your venue into your vision also includes decorating, of course! Have fun with it. You may want to keep the natural setting of your outdoor wedding in mind and work with it. One of the best parts of having an outdoor wedding means using the natural beauty of your location to your advantage. You may want to visit your site a week or a few days before the ceremony to make sure the grass is cut, leaves are raked and everything is in good order.
Depending on the season, you may want to consider having your site sprayed by an exterminator a few days before your ceremony, or placing citronella candles throughout your venue to keep pesky critters away.
Think About the Extras & Rent Them
If you’re renting a tent for your outdoor wedding, you have a great blank canvas to begin creating your vision. You’ll likely want to add some extra touches to make the tent your own. There are many tent accessories you can add such as tent liners, tiebacks, fun chandeliers, and even leg drapes to give your venue a unique look. If you’re unsure which tent to get, be sure to check out our previous post on ‘Choosing a Tent for Your Event’ here.
Keep in mind if your outdoor wedding is during the hotter months in the Okanagan, you may also want to rent tent fans or cooling units to keep guests comfortable and happy.
Set the Mood with Lighting
Adding the right lighting to your venue can truly bring your vision to life. Lighting can help set the mood and also help guests see each other if you’re at your venue after dark. Paper lanterns, chandeliers, and even coloured lighting can all help give character and mood to your special day.
Consider adding tea lights, twinkle lights, or even coloured or edison LEDs to your wedding venue to capture the mood you want to set for your wedding.
On a more functional note, you may also want to consider lighting up walkways that lead to the bathrooms and parking to make sure guests find their way after dark. Additionally, you may want to make sure you have a lighting expert on-site (who has experience with wedding lighting) to make sure your lights stay in place and lit up all evening.
Provide the Essentials for Your Guests
Part of hosting a great wedding is making sure your guests stay comfortable and happy. You may want to think ahead to anything your guests may need throughout your day and add a few extra touches to your wedding. To make sure your guests are protected from the heat of an Okanagan summer, you may want to provide sunscreen, cool beverages and even fans or a cooling unit. Some brides even choose to provide inexpensive flip-flops for guests so they can stay comfortable as they dance the night away. Anticipating your guests’ needs makes sure everyone stays happy and comfortable.
As always, keep the weather in mind as you plan for your big day. Check the weather frequently before your date and have a backup option just in case the weather isn’t what you expected.
From all of us here at All Occasions Party and Event Rentals, we wish you happy wedding planning! Check out our rental catalogue here if you’d like some inspiration for your outdoor wedding. Additionally, if you have any questions about what to rent for your outdoor wedding, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d be happy to help in any way we can.