How romantic. Getting married outdoors under a gazebo canopy. It was certainly my first choice in wedding locations. If you have a big yard, or a small garden you can easily find a temporary gazebo that will fit.
There are a few things to think about before you decide to get married outdoors though, and they are possible show stoppers.
When are You Getting Married?
What time of year are you planning to get married? Each season brings with it possible weather difficulties. Make sure you have a plan to deal with any inclimate weather that may occur. It is a must when planning an outdoor wedding to have a plan B.
How Big Is Your Wedding?
This is a question you need to ask, like any other venue you need to take into consideration the amount of space you will have available.
My neighbors have this amazing “secret” garden. Seriously, you would never know it was there until you open the gate, and walk under some huge trees into its full glory. I wanted to have my wedding there. They have this amazing wrought iron gazebo, where I pictured us saying our vows. Phew, it was gorgeous in my head. Here’s the problem. The garden is relatively large, but the way it is set up would not accommodate many people. Other issues arose and I was unable to have my wedding there, but I’m not sure everyone would have fit. And if they did, it would have been close and I would have worried about people stomping on the beautiful flowers.
Make sure you take into consideration how many guests you want, and the size of your outdoor space.
What’s Your Plan? How Big of a Gazebo Will You Need?
It may seem obvious, but there are some questions of size you need to answer before you decide on an outdoor wedding under a gazebo canopy. Will it just be you and your fiancee, or will everyone be under the gazebo? If you are planning to have everyone under the gazebo you will need a large one. The larger you go, the more it’s going to cost. So make sure you have a budget set and make some calls to see if your dream plans match what your pocketbook has to offer.
I know I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating. If you are planning an outdoor wedding please, make sure you have a plan B that can easily be implemented. There are a million details to planning an outdoor wedding, your gazebo is only one of the first.