Has anyone successfully had/attended an outdoor ceremony in November?

I've been to outdoor weddings in late October... and they were fine. The weddings I went to were in Oklahoma/Texas. It was freezing to me, but I wouldn't say unbearable..and everything was pretty. I think it depends on how your climate is. My wedding is planned for early November..and it's outdoors. But I live in Phoenix, so the weather here isn't an issue. I would worry about it being cold or possibly rainy.

We went to an early November wedding last year in Virginia. It was outside, in the evening, and absolutely beautiful. The ceremony was short and sweet as well.

I wouldn't do it unless I was happy with that venue's backup plan, and ready to accept that it likely will have to be moved indoors. Also talk to the venue about how late in the year they usually have outdoor ceremonies. Maybe they have some kind of heater option.

I would be more worried about late season hurricanes/ hurricane aftermath than snow. For early November, both are unlikely (although remember Superstorm Sandy hit NJ at the end of October). As far as the venue goes, you could check to see if they have heat lamps in case it's chilly.

I wouldn't. You remember snow-tober right?

IMHO, couples get fixated on being outside and whatever it's doing; rain, snow, 104 degrees doesn't seem to matter to them, but it's mattering to your guests.

Make the call in the morning and stick to it; don't spend your entire wedding day looking at the Doppler.

We have had some terrible weather in late October/early November in recent years. However, this past year was beautiful in early November. I remember because 1. Halloween wasn't snowed out and 2. My FH and I visited our venue on Veteran's Day weekend and it was unseasonably warm and beautiful. Unfortunately I don't think you can get a reliable prediction on this matter. I think you should talk more with your venue coordinator rather than other WW brides on this one. You can plan for outside, but be sure you are happy with their backup plan for bad weather.

Listen to Celia and Jaqui. The climate is so unpredictable in NJ that time of year, I'd just have it indoors!

I'm in NJ, essentially the same day this year. Ceremony's indoors. I'm hoping it's warm enough to take some pictures outside, but I wouldn't subject my guests to sitting outside.

ETA: If you're set on an outside ceremony, I'd pick a new date. Move it up by at least a month.

I'm in MA/NH area and that is right around my birthday so I tend to remember the weather better. I would say 80% of the time it is too cold for outdoors. You could get lucky but I hate being cold and as a guest I wouldn't be happy if I had to be outside. I'm having an outdoor wedding in October and I'm worried my guests will be too cold. If I were you I wouldn't even bother with outside.

Honestly, for a short ceremony, as long as it's not raining/snowing, I think you're fine. If you let people know in advance that the ceremony will be outside weather permitting, they can dress for the temperature. You could also have blankets and warm cider/cocoa available for your guests to give it a cozy fall feel.

I agree with Emily re: notice of an outdoor ceremony and cider, blankets. I'm from New England and am perfectly fine with 50 degree weather or some light snow-- but you do want to have a backup plan in case the weather is severe.

I went to an outdoor ceremony in northern Colorado in early spring. It was picturesque (it had snowed earlier in the week), a little chilly, but clear. The next day, there was a huge snowstorm.

We are planning to have our ceremony outdoors in Maryland. It could be chilly, so we are prepared to rent patio heaters if necessary. If it is raining or freezing, our venue has a back up plan that I am ok with. I did put on our website that it could be cold so people should dress accordingly. I think as long as you have a Plan B that you are happy with, its worth the chance.

I went to a wedding in mid-November 2014. It was flurrying so we assumed they'd have the ceremony indoors. We were wrong. They had it outside and it was freezing. They had hot chocolate and tea but it was so cold that they instantly turned to chocolate milk and iced tea. In the end it worked out and it was a beautiful wedding but we would have enjoyed the ceremony and focused more on it if they had moved it indoors.

Thank you ladies!! I definitely know that I take a chance with precipitation. But honestly, you take that chance no matter what month you get married. I am just worried about freezing out my guests. We have three options, which is why I'm asking this question.

FH and I both prefer outside- but know that we are looking at the odds being against that. We have two options for indoor. We can have it at the venue's atrium or we could have it at a local church. If we want to go the local church route, they need to know asap because they want to meet us and go through all the formal marriage preparations. We aren't sure what to do! If we should completely give up any hope of having an outdoor ceremony and go with the church, or wait it out, hope for the best and make a decision that morning based on what the weather and temp is predicting.

@Ana Nope, not super late at night. We're looking at a ceremony around 4pm.

In regards to your latest post, I would say have the backup be the atrium. That way, if it is nice, you can still have it outside. (Doubtful, but it has happened. I'm in PA.)

Just no Emily. Even if the guests are 'dressed', there is still the bride and bridal party to consider (the groomsmen and groom have more clothes......

I attended an outdoor wedding in November last year in Louisiana (I dont even want to imagine NJ in November). It was bitterly cold. And you may think short & sweet 15 minutes but remember ppl will be there before it starts (if its cold they will wait in their car like we did), so thats another 15 minutes. I would recommend against it unless there will be a heated waiting area for before the ceremony. It was a beautiful replica of a Irish castle and when the bride walked out rose petals fell from the sky. I am sure it was worth it from the B&G prospective.

It's not 15 minutes. Ever.

I mean, FH and I are having our ceremony outdoors 2 weeks before yours in the Finger Lakes in NY. The weather could be anywhere from 70 and sunny to 30 and snowing. We do have a backup option at the venue that we're not crazy about, but know may need to be used. I guess my advice is to make sure your venue has a plan b just in case, late October and early November could bring anything.