Very few things in the world are as romantic as the perfect outdoor wedding, but these events can be extremely challenging. Even if the wedding is being held in a temperate climate, the weather can turn around in the blink of an eye. Here is a look at four insights that will help you plan an unforgettable outdoor wedding that your guests talk about for years to come.

Create a Backup Plan

Nature has a mind of its own, and that is why you need to have a backup plan in place. Many brides and grooms decide to carry out part of the ceremony inside so that their guests have a place to go if it rains or the wind picks up. If there isn’t a large enough building at the venue, then you should have drivers ready to take your guests to a nearby facility that you’ve already arranged to have the backup wedding at. Such facilities could be local churches, hotel lobbies, or even a clubhouse of a really nice apartment complex.

Contact an Equipment Rental Company

Renting equipment for a wedding is generally much more affordable if you contact the company a few months in advance. The rental company might let you reserve the equipment at a reduced cost or refund the money if it isn’t used. Quite a bit of equipment might be needed at your outdoor wedding including lights, generators, mobile toilets, and ice makers. If it gets cold towards the evening where your wedding will be located at, you might want to rent patio heaters to put around the areas where people will socialize during the reception. This way, guests will be warm and not be tempted to leave too early due to feeling cold.

Set up Covered Areas

Your guests need to be able to get out of the elements if they aren’t feeling well or the weather is particularly bad. Covering three or four areas with rented canopies is an affordable way to deal with minor weather issues such as light rain. Many brides, grooms, and wedding planners are now renting enclosed tents as well. Those tents allow guests to enjoy the ambiance of the venue without being stuck out in the heat or rain.

Keep Your Guests Hydrated

Keeping your guests well-fed and hydrated is going to make your outdoor wedding much more enjoyable. As a general rule, you should assume that each guest will have at least one drink per hour. If it is warm outside or the guests are sitting in direct sunlight, then they might drink up to three beverages per hour. In addition to your favorite alcoholic beverages, you should also have refreshing juices, ice cold water, and other drinks that won’t dehydrate them.

Organizing an outdoor wedding can be challenging, and you must spend some extra time getting your team ready for any number of roadblocks you might experience along the way. There is no guarantee that the weather will be ideal, but you can limit your risks with a little bit of foresight and some extra work during the planning stages.