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Meghan
Master August 2011

The Great Debate- Indoor or Outdoor Ceremony?

Meghan, on April 22, 2011 at 11:18 AM Posted in Planning 0 33

We're still having this discussion- we haven't decided if we want to do an indoor or outdoor ceremony.

Outdoor:

1) Natural decor. Don't have to do much!

2) Worry about traffic, or extreme heat (guests would gather indoors until ceremony time, so they wouldn't sit in the heat.

3) Our venue has a great big beautiful lawn on a hill. And a very pretty back patio. But do I want to risk having chairs set up in the background for our pictures?

4) Photographer can move around much more freely.

5) Last minute change in case of inclement weather...

Indoor:

1) Air conditioning.

2) Smaller room, with backdrop of large mirror that might glare for pictures.

3) Harder for my photog to meander around the guests.

4) Would require more decorating work.

5) Weather isn't a worry.

Opinions? I'm half tempted to flip a coin...

33 Comments

Latest activity by Thumbelina, on April 23, 2011 at 6:32 PM
  • Kells
    Devoted June 2011
    Kells ·
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    I would go for outdoor- but I'm biased- our wedding is out doors with the "if needed" backup plan of moving it into the mansion or the tent. Out doors would cost you less in decor and how beautiful the bright blue sky. I feel like your outdoor list has more positives.

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  • Anonymous
    Super July 2011
    Anonymous ·
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    I think it depends on what kind of weather you have in your area. If you are lucky enough to have decent weather outside, then I would do it outside.

    Natural decor all the way

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  • Mrs Gonzales
    VIP September 2011
    Mrs Gonzales ·
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    I agree outdoors as well! Less money spent as well as the natural beauty

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  • sailingnurseMD
    VIP September 2011
    sailingnurseMD ·
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    Go for outdoor and use the indoor as backup?? :-)

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  • Tara
    Expert April 2013
    Tara ·
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    I think you have to go with what you and your FH want. Don't worry about the photographer, chairs, etc. As long as you have a pro doing it, they have great zoom lenses, can crop stuff out, and make any photos GREAT!!

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  • Tameka
    Expert April 2012
    Tameka ·
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    My wedding is outdoors, but it also depends on the time of the year or state. Like I don't think I would have a outdoor wedding in July because it's too hot in Texas! I love the fact that it doesn't involve too many decorations. You seems as if you would like to have it outdoor because you have more nice things to say about it. The only thing that I see with the indoor is Air conditioning on your list, so you kind of answered your own question.

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  • ashlee
    Master January 2012
    ashlee ·
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    I am doing an outdoor ceremony - - just trying not to *think* about the possibility of inclement weather - - what time is your ceremony and what city?

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  • Meghan
    Master August 2011
    Meghan ·
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    Tara- that's the problem. We can't decide what we want! We change our minds daily! It's getting closer and closer and I have to go over our layout at the venue on Memorial Day weekend.

    We're at the point where we need to make a decision and run with it.

    I keep trying to list pros and cons... and it's not helping. I think I'm getting to the point where i jsut need FH to look at me and say INSIDE/OUTSIDE WOMAN!

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  • Jaemi C. fka Jaemi S. :-)
    Master October 2010
    Jaemi C. fka Jaemi S. :-) ·
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    As someone who got married outside I am partial to saying outside! If you do get the decorations for indoor, who is going to set it up? Can you move someplace else on the grass so the chairs are not in the photos? You could also try and do some photos after when the chairs are all picked up.

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  • Meghan
    Master August 2011
    Meghan ·
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    We'll have all day Friday to do setup indoors. Outdoor stuff will have to be set up that morning (which isn't a big deal).

    We're getting married in Oklahoma, in July. It will be hot. If we do the ceremony outside, we'd use the room we would have used for the ceremony as a gathering place- where guests can relax without being subjected to the heat waiting for things to start.

    My big draw against it- figuring out my entrance with the layout of the venue and stuff... I'm getting selfish! I want that grand entrance moment where everyone goes WOW!

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  • ashlee
    Master January 2012
    ashlee ·
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    Ayyyyye -- okay, i'm from texas - so i know what july in that part of the country feels like . . . i know what you mean about wanting that 'moment' - you are allowed to be selfish about it!! Smiley surprise) i dunno, meghan . . . the average high temp in OK in july is 93 degrees . . . i don't want you sweating in what i am sure is a gorgeous dress girl!

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  • Jaemi C. fka Jaemi S. :-)
    Master October 2010
    Jaemi C. fka Jaemi S. :-) ·
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    Well outdoors you could do fan programs (if you are going that route of having them) I understand wanting your WOW moment. I know the way my venue was set up the room where people gathered before was where we started and when I walked out of the door it was WOW! No one could see me before that and DH couldn't even see me until I rounded the corner and entered the tent

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  • Meghan
    Master August 2011
    Meghan ·
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    That's the thing- outdoors, I can't be hidden. Indoors, they can close the doors, I'll slip up to a room right outside, and no one can see me.

    I've already decided the only people allowed in the bridal suite are my mom, the hair/makeup people and our kiddos.

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  • Chesty LaRue
    Master August 2011
    Chesty LaRue ·
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    What are the average ages of your guests? Anybody have health problems? I wanted an outside ceremony as well but i decided to do it indoors just because I don't want anyone to pass out on me. Indoors can still be beautiful. As for the mirror is there anyway you can cover it up with decor? And if the inside of the venue is pretty it really won't take much more than a nice aisle runner some tulle and a few pew bows

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  • Kimberly
    VIP August 2011
    Kimberly ·
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    Outdoor!! The photographer can always photoshop the chairs out of the pictures~

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  • Jaemi C. fka Jaemi S. :-)
    Master October 2010
    Jaemi C. fka Jaemi S. :-) ·
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    Damn you outdoor setup! You need two people with big umbrellas covering you a'la P. Diddy style. :-) @Chuwana asks a good question is it a lot to cover the mirrors?

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  • countrybride*H*
    Master April 2012
    countrybride*H* ·
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    My personal opinion, I would go with outdoor. But then again that could be because I'm biased and I want an outdoor ceremony sooo bad, but money just won't allow for it.

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  • Carole M (a.k.a "old tart")
    Master October 2011
    Carole M (a.k.a "old tart") ·
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    We really wanted an outdoor wedding. Come on, it doesn't get any better than fall in Vermont, as a wedding backdrop. What stopped us? The cost of chair rental and a tent rental. I would never do an outdoor ceremony unless I had a tent.

    Since you are a July wedding, and yes, I know the July heat of Oklahoma, and its unpredictable weather, I would go with the inside for the ceremony. You chose your venue because it is gorgeous. Take advantage of it. Reserve the outside for your pictures.

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  • Ashley
    VIP September 2011
    Ashley ·
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    Humidity, heat, and unpredictable weather is a huge problem (for me anyway) with the outdoors, otherwise it'd be a no-brainer to have our ceremony outside. I love the outdoors, just not for a day where thousands of pictures will be taken.

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  • A
    Just Said Yes February 2013
    Amber ·
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    I'm having the same debate and I have way too long to debate it too. However, your situation would be more clear cut to me. I don't think I would ever have it outside in that heat, but that's just a personal preference. I've lived in both humid and dry heat and the makeup/hair was melting in 2.3 seconds and it just wouldn't be worth it to ME...but you gotta do whats best for YOU.

    I'm in Virginia Beach and having it in October...the weather will probably be perfect (temp wise), but I have to take a chance during hurricane season...but my reception venue is right on the ocean and we can have the ceremony right there in front and it's breath taking...decisions, decisions!

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