Bliss Events by Katie - Advice for Outdoor Ceremonies | Bliss Events by Katie: Multi Award-Winning Venue Dressing & Styling for Weddings & Events across the North West

Advice on Outdoor Ceremonies

We love an outdoor ceremony and we often get asked ‘Can we have our decor outside?’

This is a tricky one as we are of course at the mercy of the Great British Weather.

The answer is yes and no - allow us to explain.

The suitability of our decor is based upon more than just the weather. We all hope it will be gorgeous on your Wedding Day and even if it is there are still things to consider from a styling perspective. Including how the venue operates such as - when do they make a decision / what is the cut off to it being a yes or no. The venue normally only have to move your chairs and the ceremony table - sometimes they have separate chairs for outside and therefore setup both so they are ready for all outcomes. We have to dress the space and potentially move large items. Already you can see that like the weather, this is not cut and dry.

Things to note from the Bliss side of things

We have to take into consideration safety first and foremost for you and your guests when supplying our decor. Not all decor is suitable for outdoor use as you may expect but as we will also explain
Our visibility during your turnaround - if is it nice weather you may be having your drinks reception outside and of course photos. Seeing us scurrying around moving all your decor isn’t ideal - our work should be done (where possible) behind the scenes. There is also the practicality of getting everything outside back in the rooms you will then be using - potentially walking through guest areas etc.
Prior weather conditions - this is more for ceremonies on grass of course but we don’t want any damp florals so we may recommend you opt for something more suitable, such as lanterns or florals not directly on the floor.
Ground Suitability - If you have a patio / paved area or will be getting married in front of a pagoda / pavilion then this is a better option for decor / decoration. The options of how we can dress the space increase as we can make use of the structures already there.

At Bliss Events we are more than Venue Stylists - Katie is a qualified and experienced Wedding Planner & On the Day Co-ordinator; both sets of knowledge form the basis of this guidance.

Bliss Events by Katie - Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

Feature Decor

Arch / Moongate / Rustic Frames - we take a view on their outdoor suitability at the time of our walkthrough meeting if we have one OR if the ceremony is guaranteed to be on a patio area then we will agree in principle to it. Our general terms and conditions do apply here with us reserving the right to make the right decision for your safety and so far, we haven't had to go off this. They are heavy items and relocating them isn’t ideal as often they need to be laid flat and dismantled to get them back indoors. We know that for some venues they have to be relocated between rooms anyway but, being outdoors poses more complexities and actually it is more time sensitive so we are out of your way. The forecast on the day also needs to be considered - you being outside for 30 mins and all of you making a run for cover is fine, us with an Arch however...it would resemble a carry on film!

Flower Walls / Sequin Walls are not suitable for outdoor ceremonies (or use in general) unfortunately due to their size and heavy nature. Even with our heavy duty stand these are more susceptible to wind due to their surface area and therefore have an increased chance of being blown over. Some may say we have the head bump to prove the reason we now say this - AKA Sophie & James' Wedding 2024!

Aisle Runner - unfortunately Maisie our pristine Aisle Runner she just isn't suitable for the great outdoors. She loves a good wedding as much as the next carpet but Katie is not a fan of cleaning grass stains out of her (been there done that!). So, what we do in this instance is if you are dead set on having it for an indoor ceremony then we bring her along ready to roll (literally), in the back of the van. If the ceremony ends up indoors then what we can do is bill you for using this after the wedding...we don't want you paying for decor you don't need so we think this is a fair way to get the best of both worlds.

Ok, we hear you Bliss...so what do we do?

It probably sounds like we are saying no until this point - it isn’t a no as such, please don’t think that. We wouldn’t be doing our job very well if we didn’t put these things at the forefront of planning for an outdoor ceremony. Your wedding maybe your first time but we have been doing this for many years and helped lots of couples have the most amazing day in all weather!

Firstly we (you and us at Bliss) work with a Plan A (Outdoors) and a Plan B (Indoors) both together from a decor perspective and with your venue. It is important to understand the logistics of how your outdoor ceremony will work AND your indoor one should we need to change on the day.
Secondly, you have chosen a gorgeous venue and it is for a reason. If you want an outdoor ceremony it is for the beauty it offers. Maybe we don’t need to go too wild on decorating outdoors. The area to get married isn’t going to be facing the bin store after all! For example things such as candles outdoors - if it’s sunny you can’t really see they are on...
We work together to create a plan of what we will do that works with your vision, what will be effective and all the nitty gritty behind the scenes.

We truly believe that Venue Dressing & Styling is so much more than turning up on the day. This is why we take the time to get to know you, your plans and your venue to ensure we can deliver the wedding of your dreams. Be it in heels or wellies you will have a beautifully styled day if you choose Bliss Events.