For brides and grooms planning outdoor weddings, it is crucial to have a backup plan! We had a beautiful wedding on Saturday (more to come on that!) but if we had not had proper planning it could have been a disaster Saturday's forecast called for a high in the low to mid 50's... a 20-degree drop from our average this time of year! Luckily, we had planned well in advance to not only have a tent but also heaters. About a month before the wedding, we even added the side walls for the tent to keep the heat inside the tent better.

On Saturday morning, I arrived at the site, and not only was it in the high 40s, but it was raining. No worries though! Our tent was warm and dry and looking beautiful. And by the time the ceremony was over, the sun was even making a guest appearance.

Here are some things to think about if you have a non-traditional venue:

Do you have adequate restroom facilities?
What will happen if there is inclement weather? Don't just think about temperature or rain - what about high winds?
What is the cancellation policy if you don't need the tent/heater/etc.?
What is the ground like - is it even? If it rains, will it be soggy?
Where will your vendors load in?
Is there enough parking for your guests?

If you are thinking of hiring a planner/coordinator, be sure they have worked with this type of venue before! There are lots of little things to think about, and you don't want to realize you need to think about them when it's too late.