As you start the process of planning your perfect wedding, you will find there are many different choices for every aspect of this special day—including wedding venues. Many couples are now looking for that special venue with the option of having an outdoor wedding ceremony.

An outdoor wedding often requires a bit more thought than an indoor wedding, but with the right preparation, you can have the wedding of your dreams!

Here are some great tips that will help you plan the perfect outdoor wedding ceremony.

Think of extra costs

When looking for outdoor wedding venues, watch for additional and sometimes hidden costs. One of the biggest hidden costs of an outdoor wedding ceremony is the cost of delivery. If your venue is located far away from the parking area far from parking, caterers and rental companies may charge you more for setup fees.

At Hollow Hill Event Center, our buildings and ceremony locations are easily accessible for caterers and guests alike. For those who may need or prefer transportation, we provide transport to and from the ceremony site via our 6-seater golf cart.

Assess the power situation

Wedding ceremonies take power. This is something that is very important to remember when it comes to your outdoor ceremony. If you don’t have power on site, you will need to make sure that you bring power generators for lighting, music, food, and your other wedding needs.

Hollow Hill has several outdoor sites with access to electricity – including the Heart Arbor, Pond, Pecan Grove, Windmill, and Mission Courtyard.

Always have a Plan B

Planning for an outdoor ceremony is difficult because you can never predict or control the weather. Even if the reports are calling for a clear sunny day, a storm could roll through unexpectedly.

Weather is another important consideration when planning an outdoor wedding ceremony. Even if the weather reports are calling for a clear, sunny day, here in Texas a storm could suddenly decide to roll through very unexpectedly.

Therefore, it’s always important to have a Plan B, just in case.

Here at Hollow Hill, we have multiple indoor options for that Plan B — and we work with you ahead of time to be sure that everything flows as smoothly as possible should the need arise.

Capture the moments

Make sure the venue is set up to capture the moments before, during and after the main event. Hollow Hill offers beautiful landscapes, abundant gardens, and picturesque architecture – and we allow you plenty of time during the day to take full advantage of these many photo ops!

View our photo gallery »

Keep your guests hydrated

If you are getting married in the summer, an outdoor ceremony may get a little uncomfortable in the sun and there is nothing worse than wearing dress clothes that are too hot for the occasion.

Offer water or lemonade to your guests before and during the ceremony to keep them comfortable and hydrated.

We have seen several ways wedding planners accommodate the comfort of guests during the warmer months of the year. One of the most common ways to help guests stay hydrated is to have an old-fashioned washtub full of iced down water bottles located at the entrance to the ceremony site.

A couple of our brides have also provided fans for their guests, which not only offered a bit of relief from the heat but are also a unique wedding favor. We have several areas in our Pecan Arbor that are quite shady, depending on the time of day. The Mission at Hollow Hill is a fantastic covered outdoor area open to the outside breezes.

Create pathways

Although an outdoor wedding in the country can present a few little bumps, proper planning can help avoid most of them. One of those little bumps may concern the foot attire of your female guests. While spiked-heels may be beautiful, they may not always be the best choice for country events.

Our chauffeured golf cart can help alleviate a good portion of this problem. It is also a good idea to let your guests know ahead of time that they will be in a country setting.

So, while you may have to do some additional planning, you can rest assured that your special outdoor wedding will be beautiful and successful as long as you plan ahead.

Planning an outdoor wedding?

Contact us today, and schedule a tour at Hollow Hill!