Indoor vs outdoor wedding reception advice?

As someone originally from western PA, let me tell you the smile I got when I saw fire hall reception. They don’t have fire halls where I’m at now.
But knowing the way the weather is in PA in August, I’d personally stick with the indoor venue just to keep everyone and everything out of the heat and humidity. Especially if everyone is still going to be dressed up.
With outdoor receptions you have to think about getting a tent and potentially sides in case of bad weather, lighting, whether your neighbors will have issues with the sound, possibly a dance floor, fans if it’s hot...But I don’t know the size of the backyard. I know most fire halls will be plenty big enough and you can spread out as desired.

View Quoted Comment Lol I am also from PA but now live in MA and feel the same way about fire hall. Nothing beats the space and price of that for a reception or party.


But OP I think in August its risky because of how hot and humid it can get. My original wedding was supposed to be this Saturday outside and now I’m glad I cant have it. I would sweat to death in my dress and rentals for the tent and tables and chairs are expensive plus you need to get ice delivered if you’re offering your own drinks. And depending where you can’t have a dance floor because it ruins the grass. It seemed more like a headache and stress for us then a venue. And if you have older guests you might need to rent fans for them for in the tent.

We are having our wedding in Bucks County, PA, and our venue has made it clear that we can host our 125 person wedding. This is on 10/4/20, and we are considering an outdoor ceremony (with other outdoor activities) and food and dancing will be inside (it’s a barn). If you can go half/half that would be pretty cool!

I think there's some key differences here though - you'd have to think of all the rentals you'd need and to have a plan for weather just in case

Similar to Brittany we are doing half and half, dinner inside and placing a small white tent outdoors for cocktail hour and post-dinner drinks/mingling 🥰 I’m so happy is PA brides are able to have our weddings!!

I think some guest would be more comfortable outdoors but I’m not very familiar with PA weather. You know your crowd better than anyone. Maybe you can reach out to some guest and ask them what they would most comfortable with.

View Quoted Comment Thanks molly! PA is usually hot in August but found a tent company that provides fans. Just have a gut feeling the outside would better but hard to decide. Thanks for your feeedback!

View Quoted Comment Thanks Katie! Yes thanks god for the green phase. I’m leaning more towards the outside idea . Just want my guests to feel
More comfortable. Will have to worry about weather but with all this Covid stress on brides what’s one more thing to worry about lol. Congrats to you.

View Quoted Comment Thank you Melle! Yes a lot to think about, I do have some items from my home I can use and I think would tent the best. The weather is the only scary thing.

View Quoted Comment Oh awesome bucks county! Congrats to you and us finally being in the green phase! That barn sounds lovely. I just have a gut feeling Guest’s will be more comfortable outside than inside but still a hard decision make and we have 2 and half months to go!

View Quoted Comment Thanks chelseA! Those are all good points! I’m just worried about our guests feeling uncomfortable at the fire hall. All the news report are saying outside is better. Such a tough decision.

View Quoted Comment Thanks Mindy! It’s such a tough decision. And yes PA is unpredictable for weather only bad thing about this. I think we would be able to do the tent and other details on our property. Just trying to think what the guests would rather at this point in time .

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You're welcome! Awesome! I always prefer to be outside at a wedding.