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Where do you perform wedding ceremonies?
We have two attractive locations - one in the Blue Ridge Mountains near
Wintergreen Resort and the other is in Virginia Beach.
Tip: If you are planning a destination wedding, you
want to be sure there is someone located at the destination that can help
you with planning, details and wedding arrangements.
 Can
you recommend an appropriate location for our wedding?
Yes. We have information about many different locations (both indoor and
outdoor) that are suitable for weddings. We would need to discuss what
kind of atmosphere, etc. you are looking for. We will make recommendations
and give you contact information, and then you may make the arrangements.
If you want an outdoor wedding, have a viable rain plan already in place
from the beginning so there is not a last-minute scramble to move.
See list of
wedding sites >>
What
time of day is good for outdoor weddings?
Remember, with outdoor weddings you need to consider where the sun is
in the sky at particular times of day. The sun is more directly overhead
from
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. which is not good for photography because harsh shadows
can make unflattering pictures. A little later in the afternoon or earlier
in the morning may work better if this is not too inconvenient for out-of-town
guests. But then again, if you are in a shaded area this is not a concern.
Do you require pre-marital counseling?
No. But if you want,you can print out this compatibility
questionnaire. You can discuss your answers with each other and that
will help you to know you are making a commitment you will keep.
What is your fee?
For smaller weddings or elopements, you might want to see our special
packages for small weddings. The fee for each is clearly identified.
...
Outdoor weddings can be beautiful. Whether on a mountaintop, beside the
riverbank or in a graceful garden, outdoor weddings can capture nature
at its finest moment and weave it into your dream. But it can also be
a nightmare. This article will help guide you toward a pleasant outcome
by pointing out possible pitfalls and giving some tips on how to avoid
them.
Advice
We recommend that you visit prospective outdoor wedding sites at the same
time of day you expect to hold your wedding. This way you can anticipate
what the elements will be like at the time of your wedding. Some elements
to consider:
- Sun (outdoor wedding advice)
If you have ever been to an outdoor wedding in which the guests were
squinting into a glaring sun and mopping the sweat off their foreheads,
you know what that's like. Another issue with the sun is its location
in the sky at the time of your photo session. From 11 am—3 pm,
the sun is more directly overhead. This makes it difficult for your
photographer to get good pictures because of harsh, unflattering shadows.
If, however, you have a shaded area for the photo session, this is not
a concern.
- Wind (outdoor wedding advice)
Try to avoid a windy corner lest your flower arrangements, hairdos and
dresses fly askew.
- Rain (outdoor wedding advice)
“It won’t rain on my wedding day” may seem like positive
thinking. But there are some cases in which results are not affected
by positive thinking—and weather is one of them. Therefore, HAVE
A VIABLE RAIN PLAN already in place. If your wedding is going to be
held in the garden of a public facility like a museum, historic home
or hotel, ask their wedding planner about their policies. Most likely
you will need to pay the full price for reserving an indoor location
just to have it as a back-up, but it is well worth it. If the weather
is nice, you may be able to use that same room for another purpose such
as the reception or as a changing room. Many wedding facilities offer
a tent option, and tents these days can be quite elaborate and comfortable.
But again, don’t expect anyone to put up a tent on the morning
of your wedding if it has started to rain. The tent will need to be
arranged well in advance and you should expect to pay for it whether
or not it is used. Think of it as insurance.
The Outdoor Unity
Candle
The Unity candle is a way that many people like to show the blending
of two families and the joining together of the lives of two distinct
individuals. There are alternative ways of representing this other than
trying to keep a flame lit outdoors. Believe me - the flame will
go out if the candle is outdoors. The wording that goes in conjunction
with the Unity candle ceremony talks about the importance of "keeping
the flame alive" and this can become a joke when the flame goes out.
Unless comic relief is your intent, remember: Unity candles are for inside
only. Our client-couples can ask about the alternative ways of showing
unity and we will gladly share them.
More advice
Another bit of advice is to ask the wedding planner at your prospective
wedding site about their amount of experience with outdoor weddings.
This will let you know whether or not they are able to anticipate potential
problems and solve them. They should be able to offer answers to small
details such as
- from where does the bride enter?
- are there dressing rooms for the wedding party?
- are the musicians going to be in a place where they can be heard?
- is the reception site clearly separated from the ceremony site?
- will non-wedding guests be kept from wandering into our ceremony?
- will noise from other activities be abated?
- is there a location for use in the event of rain or bad weather?
- if the weather is questionable, what time must a decision be made
regarding whether we are inside or outside?
 Very,
very small outdoor weddings
So far, we have been talking about rather large weddings. But we should
offer a little advice about very small outdoor weddings. Here there is
a great deal more freedom in terms of choosing the location. Many people
contact us who want to get married on a mountain overlook at some particular
time of day such as sunrise, sunset or by moonlight. The first question
we ask is “how many people will be attending?” If it is just
the couple or perhaps the couple plus two or three friends, this is entirely
possible to do with no back-up rain plan. The logistics are easy in this
case. It is possible to get married in a national forest or park anywhere
as long as there are no chairs, no music, no decorations and a fairly
brief ceremony. As long as other visitors are not disturbed or made to
feel uncomfortable in any way, there is nothing wrong with getting married
in any location you like. If your wedding is very small and very simple,
you can use your imagination to create the kind of setting that represents
you and your uniqueness.
As a Virginia wedding officiant, similar to a Justice of the Peace, Frankee
Love offers wedding services for both large and small weddings - from
the casual, intimate wedding to the large formal wedding.
See special packages for very small
weddings >>
And finally
Our last bit of advice about choosing a site for your outdoor wedding
is to have fun with your planning! These moments that you
spend together creating the setting that speaks most about you will set
the stage for your lifetime together. Cherish them!
Blue Ridge Weddings: Your online source
for information and tips on weddings, wedding officiant, justice of the
peace, elopement packages, destination weddings, beach weddings, mountaintop
weddings, winery weddings, unique weddings, outdoor weddings, weddings
in unique locations and more.
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