To say that just because you can have your wedding outside in March…

[Forwardthinkingcrayfish]

… it doesn’t mean you should?

Wedding is tomorrow and the weather forecast is 12 degrees with winds ranging between 20mph and 40mph where we are, but no rain. I’m involved at the venue. Guests will be outside and suppliers/musicians are booked to serve/perform outside for the ceremony and drinks part. Everyone is likely to be absolutely freezing, yet the bride still “has her heart set” on an outdoor wedding. I just don’t see how anyone would enjoy standing outside for 3 hours in wedding attire?!

This is by far not the first wedding in similar circumstances, and won’t be the last. I have no say on the bride’s decision, but I’m putting it out here because I’m curious!

AIBU to think that the comfort of the guests and staff is more important than going ahead with an outdoor wedding whatever the weather?

This is complete insanity!

On sartorial note, I’d suggest maybe winter day at the races attire? Although hats might be risky with those winds..

I've been to a few outdoor weddings but one was the most ridiculous experience - guests did not know the reception would be held outside. There was a very large marquee so no getting wet if it rained but boy, was it cold. I was wearing stilettos and the ground was mostly grass. Thankfully I had a jumper in the car but it was a very outdoor-pursuits type jumper and definitely not wedding attire! After a couple of hours, the newlyweds and immediate family changed into trackies and trainers and started playing cricket. Guests mostly stood around bemused, and then left.

I wonder if the guests know if it'll be outisde?! If so I'm surprised there haven't been threads on S&B asking what is suitable outdoor wedding attire for March..

I went to a wedding at this time of year and whilst the reception was indoors, the amount of time spent hanging around outside whilst photographs were taken was ridiculous. I wore thermal underwear, dress, cardigan and jacket and was frozen.

I do think people will leave early. Nothing more miserable than standing around freezing cold

YANBU.

We had our wedding in mid April and were lucky that the weather was bright and sunny, so we were outdoors for most of the afternoon - it was beautiful.

BUT we had an indoor plan in case of cold or wet weather, and we also provided blankets in case anyone did get a bit chilly. Guest comfort is the most important thing!

That sounds shit! And unfair that the guests weren't told beforehand so could also bring trackies and trainers

The wedding photos will certainly be memorable with everyone wearing puffa jackets and rain macs. 😂

Definitely - I would have quite enjoyed the novelty if I'd known!

The outside one we went to in June in a barn, a literal open sided barn that the cows had only been cleared out of the day before....with concrete floor, had one outdoor oil bin fire thst ever one huddled round for warmth, taking it in turns to be near tbr front and surreptitiously lettings he old ones and flimsy dressed ones to the front. A few people drove hme d to pick up coats. There was no indoor plan....

I'd dressed reasonably warmly...but was still sooo cold.

There's no such thing as bad weather only bad clothes choices (head tilt and MN tinkly laugh)

Sorry I should have said - there is a back up plan but only if it rains, NOT just if it’s freezing and windy by the sounds of it…

It wasn’t supposed to rain here and it’s currently sleeting. It’s been raining most days for months. Anything but tarmac is a rivery bog.

Hard liquor and wellies OP, best of luck…

I hate pretending to enjoy myself at any sort of outdoor event when the weather is cold/wet!!!

YANBU
I get it that it's the couples wedding and they can chose what they like but it's unfair on guests to expect them to freeze. Nobody, including the bride and groom, are going to enjoy being outside in that conditions.
We got married on the longest day of the year and it poured rain the whole day, we are in Scotland tho so the only part that was planned outside was the photos.

We got married in July some years ago now - DH wanted ceremony among the trees next to venue (we're Jewish so don't have to get married just in a licensed space) and I'm very glad I insisted on a marquee there because it was one of the wettest summers on record! It poured the whole day before, it absolutely bucketed it down just before ceremony but thankfully stopped after that for the rest of the day.

The venue had an eating space but the main floor space would have only been big enough for standing for a ceremony (we used it for dancing later) so I'm very glad we had the extra marquee.

The bride is crazy.
I got married 21st March 1987......it snowed and was freezing.
We braved a few photos before frostbite set in once the sun came out!!!

I used to work in this industry. Couples who want to get married outside are the worst of all bridezillas. They literally do not care about anyone else.

I hope the guests know! A friend went to a similar one recently and it never occurred to her it would be outside (nor did it to most of the guests). Most people had a layer but very much something to wear from the car to the venue/walking across a car park in, not something to stand outside for hours in. Apparently it was miserable for the guests. One of the couple was a doctor and there were quite a few doctors present getting increasingly worried for the more elderly/frail guests.

Two of my friends got married on the side of a valley. Despite June it was freezing and it was a long ceremony (nearly a hour - it wasn’t the legal one so they had multiple speeches, poems, messages from those who couldn’t make it, long vows, pieces of music etc). There was a marquee but no sides so the wind whipped straight through. Why they didn’t think to maybe move some of the ceremony speeches to the (heated indoor marquee) I’ll never know - presumably the view from was more important. The poor bridesmaids were practically blue with cold by the end. The guests were passing cardigans, scarves etc to the front for them to put on. My friends little girl piped up during one of the many readings ‘Mummy the bridesmaids are so cold and so am I’ so even a 3 year old could spot the issue.

Not to be dramatic but this sort of wedding actually makes me question the character of the couple involved. I can’t imagine getting so caught up in what I wanted when it was clear it was going to unpleasant to their guests. They’re either completely clueless/lacking in common sense or just don’t care about the comfort of their supposed nearest and dearest!

YANBU! I was at a wedding in July where the bride had her heart set on outside ceremony despite torrential rain.

We all presumed it would be indoors so most people turned up without umbrellas / coats and had to walk to where the ceremony was talking place which thankfully had a bit where we could shelter under cover but everyone was still drenched at that point.

The photographer made the bridesmaids ditch their umbrellas so they didn’t obscure the bride in photos so they had to walk down the aisle in the rain & spent the rest of the day with frizzy hair & damp dresses. They all grinned & bearer it tbf but I would have been livid as they looked so disheveled

Thank you for your replies - I’m glad I’m not the minority here in thinking this!

To answer this question: No, I doubt the guests know about the ceremony/reception being outside. I only know because I’m in involved at the venue.

I’m going to wear sensible shoes, tights, trousers over the top of the tights, a vest, thermal top, normal top over the top and a jacket on top. 😂 Still worried this won’t be enough!

Agreed!

@CaptainMyCaptain

lol it’s a wedding. People ain’t gonna be knocking about in a parka coat and Ugg boats and a beanie hat are they

We’ve been to outdoor weddings before and staff did wear smart dark coats and were going in and out so weren’t standing in the cold for hours. I find people generally just think of themselves when planning their wedding and can come across as a bit selfish, some don’t care much about the guests so they are definitely not thinking about the staff. I’ve never bothered getting married, seemed like too much hassle to me, so...🤷🏻‍♀️

Oh Lordy, I went to one a bit like this once. Luckily all the attendees knew, which is why so few turned up! Everyone in their massive coats in the photos, except the bride & groom and her immediate family, who took theirs off for the pics. The whole thing was soundtracked by people honking as the freezing cold made everyone’s noses run.