Pro tips for planning your dream outdoor wedding in Utah

Jul 7

As a seasoned outdoor wedding veteran, I’ve seen it all. I’ve been a flower girl, a coordinator, guest, and bridesmaid, all at outdoor weddings. I’ve experienced the most magical wedding, nearly passed out at another, and gotten the second worst sunburn of my life, all due to outdoor weddings. So I’ve got some pro tips for you if you’ve been dreaming of an outdoor wedding in Utah.

1. Pick a date that’s not during the peak of summer

My first pro tip is to choose a wedding date that’s not during the peak of summer. Utah has a sweet spot of weather in the late spring and early fall, where the days are warm and sunny, but not too hot yet. And then as any Utah resident could tell you, from mid-June to early September, stepping outside feels like submitting yourself to being slow roasted like Texas bbq. Not necessarily the most romantic feeling to have on your wedding day, and sometimes, actually dangerous due to the very real risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If you take nothing else from this blog, please take Utah heat seriously when planning!

While picking a wedding date usually has many important factors that play into the decision, I’d encourage you to stack the odds in your favor and choose a date with less heat and lower UV. Usually those types of days fall into the May to mid-June, and September to October range. If you’re lucky, a day during that range could also put you in wildflower season or during the autumn color change.

Side note, if you’re planning a wedding in Southern Utah, be mindful of the risk of flash flooding during the spring and summer!

2. Pick the right venue

The second thing to think about is the venue. Depending on the layout, amenities available, or number of trees, your outdoor experience could be vastly different. A venue that’s out of the city is going to be several degrees cooler, even in the heat of summer, and a venue with an indoor reception space and air conditioned rooms is going to make even a hotter day bearable.

I’d always recommend having a sheltered place for guests and yourself, whether that’s simply a shady spot, or an air conditioned room. Wedding outfits, especially your wedding dress can be heavy and very hot. If you’re having elderly guests or small children/infants at your wedding, this is especially important, as they can’t regulate heat as well and are far more prone to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Another thing to think about with your venue is how the location and services offered will affect details like sound quality, lighting, and the decor you use. One of the major downsides of an outdoor space is that there’s rarely a permanent sound set up, which means that your music and the officiant’s voice could be too quiet, too loud, or come through with a lot of crackling or feedback whines. While definitely something that can be worked with, I’d suggest making sure that the venue has a sound guy or maybe have your fiance’s friend who used to be an audio/visual kid in high school come tune up the speakers if this is something you care about.

As far as lighting and decor go, think about how anything you set up will hold up to a breeze. A great example of this is the classic ceremony arch drapes. These can be so beautiful on your pinterest board, but if they’re not tacked up properly or it’s windy that day, you’re going to have a twisted mess in your photos. That’s if they stay on the arch at all. Other victims of outdoor weddings include centerpieces, your hair (without hairspray), slits in bridesmaid’s dresses, and my personal favorite from the first wedding I ever coordinated, melted crayons in the party favors. All of these things have work arounds, it just takes some knowhow!

3. Stay hydrated!

My third tip may seem obvious, but stay hydrated! It’s so common for brides or even bridal party to get nervous or so caught up in the day that they don’t eat or drink. I always recommend having a plan for food and drinks, whether that’s delegating to a bridesmaid or making sure to pack a cooler of your favorite snacks along with you all day. My snack of choice before walking down the aisle was a Gu energy gel and a beef stick. (I did brush my teeth afterwards, for my husband’s sake.)

4. Keep a positive attitude about any curveballs

And finally, stay positive! Outdoor weddings tend to throw curveballs, whether that’s storms or wildfires or bugs. But that doesn’t mean something is doomed to go wrong, or that you can’t have a beautiful and memorable day if something does go off plan. To encourage you, one the most beautiful weddings I’ve ever been to started off with a rainstorm that started in the early morning and kept dumping rain right up to the ceremony time. The parking lot was a swamp, but the bride walked down the aisle surrounded by butterflies (that came out of nowhere) and on grass that was glittering with raindrops in the sunshine. It was magical. And that is the beauty of an outdoor wedding- sometimes you will get the most unexpected and beautiful surprises.

Want help pulling it off?

If you want someone to make sure your décor is secure and that your party favors aren’t melting, I’m your girl. Some people ask, “what’s the point of hiring a coordinator?” And that’s a valid question, if you prefer a full service planner or to not have anyone manage your day. But for the people who want to plan themselves, I’m there to make sure the plan actually happens day of while you enjoy yourself. And for those who are nervous about details, we troubleshoot those and make a plan at our meeting six weeks out. So while I may not pick your venue or find an officiant for you, I can talk you through the flow of the day and troubleshoot the plan you’ve already made. And then, I make sure it all happens day of.

So if what I do would give you peace of mind on your wedding day, click the inquiry link and let’s chat! I’d love to make sure your dream outdoor wedding goes off without a hitch.

Johanna Hill