California is home to some of the most gorgeous natural views in the US – views that would make an incredible backdrop for any wedding. When planning an outdoor ceremony, however, you’ll want to be as prepared as possible.
The following are the best tips and tricks to making your outdoor California wedding ceremony as perfect as you always dreamed.
1. Know Your Location and Weather
Let’s face it – California is a large state. The difference in weather between Georgia and Pennsylvania can be quite different, and California covers the same amount of ground on the west coast. As you would expect with so much land mass, there are also many different climate zones present throughout the state.
Southeastern California is a desert climate, with scorching, arid temperatures in the summer. In the fall, the days remain hot and dry while the nights can dip down into cooler temperatures (60’s).
The mountainous regions of California, however, experience a wider temperature range and more mild summers with highs occasionally breaking the 80’s and lows hovering in the 40’s and 50’s. It only gets colder as you move into fall, with highs in the 60’s and lows already getting down into the 20’s.
As you move into the south-central part of the state, the weather changes again to a more semi-arid climate. This means hot summers and slightly cooler falls, but a warmer climate overall.
In north-central California, you get a hot-summer-Mediterranean climate. As the name implies, the summers are hot but the weather begins to turn more mild in the fall.
Coastal and northeastern California experience that mild, Mediterranean-esque climate that so many other states are jealous of. This is where the summer and fall temperatures stay solidly with highs in the 70’s and lows in the 60’s.
As with the temperature, where you are in California also plays a huge role in your rain chances. Almost across the board, the dry season in California extends from May to September. Starting in October rainfall becomes more frequent, so if you’re planning a late October wedding you may want to keep an eye on the forecast. The mountainous regions and northwestern California experience much more rainfall than the rest of the state. The southern coastal regions are not quite as wet as those, while the southern-central and northeastern regions fall on the more arid side. In the southeast, rainfall is scarce even in the wet season.
Knowing exactly what to expect from your wedding’s location is the first step to preparing for the weather and planning a successful ceremony.
2. Beat the Heat
As you’ve seen, there is a wide temperature range in the summer depending on where your wedding will be – but the more desert-like regions are scorching hot. The last thing you want is for one of your guests, your bridal party, or the bride or groom themselves to experience heat exhaustion.
Consider using an area of the venue that is naturally in the shade, or has a tent, canopy, or similar shade available. Make sure water is available to your guests, and consider providing fans or other cooling measures. Be sure to drink plenty of water yourself!
As for your bridal party’s outfits, make sure you choose breathable fabric types, shorter dress styles, and lighter colors if you are going to have an outdoor wedding in the heat. The last thing you want is for the best man to faint in his heavy, black suit during your vows.
In that same vein – make sure your guests know it’s an outdoor ceremony. That way they can choose their own outfits to both match your dress code and stay cool, and they can otherwise prepare accordingly i.e. bringing sunglasses, having fans, etc.
3. Have a Backup Plan
Despite the dry season persisting through the summer and into the fall, Mother Nature sometimes delivers curveballs. Discuss ahead of time with your venue what their contingency plans are in case of rain, so that you can have a tent rented on standby if they do not have an indoor space for your ceremony. That way your wedding can still go off without a hitch even if the weather does not cooperate.
4. Use the Natural Scenery to Your Advantage
You likely picked out your venue because of the stunning views and natural elements. Be sure to arrange your ceremony’s seating and stage so that you get the most out of the views rather than blocking or missing them. While decorating, choose themes and items that highlight the venue and its beauty rather than reduce it or distract from it. You wouldn’t set a modern industrial/clockwork theme in a lush forest, and so on.
5. Direct Your Guests
If you’re doing your ceremony and cocktail hour outside, oftentimes your interior seating won’t be available to your guests until it’s time for dinner. Have signs or ushers directing them from the ceremony to the cocktail area, have signs pointing the way to the restrooms, and make sure that the flow of the event and space is clear to your guests. That way they always know where they are meant to be.
In conclusion, California enjoys a dry and warm to mild climate in many areas in the summer and fall. It also has an abundance of gorgeous, natural views to serve as the backdrop to your wedding, and outdoor ceremonies are very popular. Making sure you and your guests are prepared is the best way to ensure that you have the wedding of your dreams.
References
https://www.visitcalifornia.com/experience/weather-timing-your-visit/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_California
https://www.theknot.com/content/outdoor-wedding-planning-guide
