Bride’s Guide: Creating a Lounge Area for an Outdoor Wedding

When you plan an alfresco affair, you need to consider your guests’ comfort and safety. You don’t want your attendees getting bug bites or migraines from the sun. You want to encourage friendly, stress-free mingling.

With that in mind, here’s how you can create a lounge area for an outdoor wedding.

The first thing you need to do is provide a place for your guests to get out of the elements. If you’re trying to minimize indoor foot traffic, ensure you provide enough canopy space. You can reduce coverage costs by making use of assets like covered decks and gazebos.

Your garage can make an excellent roof from wind, rain and excessive heat. You can further cool this room with an industrial strength ceiling fan. It should be able to withstand any debris that permeates the space, like sawdust from a home improvement project.

High temperatures can wilt summer weddings, but what if you plan to say “I do” in one of the other three seasons? Spring and fall temps can vary widely in many locations, and winters tend to get chilly everywhere, at least after dark.

Ensure you rent sufficient patio heaters to keep your guests cozy. You can also use space heaters in enclosed areas like garages, although you must follow proper safety rules. Keep them at least three feet away from any flammable surfaces, and take care your train doesn’t brush up against them.

You don’t want insect pests to ruin your big day. You’ll want plenty of citronella candles and bug zappers to keep your guests from getting bit.

You also need to protect your food. Put table legs in buckets of water to discourage ants and cover all dishes to keep flies at bay.

If you host your wedding at a park or nature center, no one can stop the public from watching the festivities — or trying to swipe a guest’s wallet. You also need to secure your gifts.

Experts recommend keeping the gift table away from the fringes of your gathering to discourage would-be thieves. You can also include an insert in your invitations advising guests of security concerns so that they leave their valuables at home or locked in their trunk.

The comfort and safety of your guests are paramount. Create the perfect lounge area for your outdoor wedding with these four tips.