Your wedding day is the one day you have dreamed of your whole entire life. You want it to be perfect. You want it to go smoothly. You want it outdoors. Outdoor weddings come with a lot of issues, but if you do some simple planning you can avoid major problems. 

Tip 1. Things to consider when choosing your site

When you are choosing your site you need to consider some important things. Are you going to hold it in a family owned spot, public or privately owned spot? Check out the area available for parking. Look at the exact area you plan on having the ceremony. Check for wet ground. Look out for animals that may call this home and not be too happy having there space invaded. Look for uneven ground or holes in the ground. Assess exactly what problems could come up and how to fix them. It is important that the spot is practical just not beautiful.

Tip 2. Check the rules for the place you have chosen

Even if the wedding will be in your parents backyard you still need to do some research into laws. For backyard weddings you need to check into laws regarding noise, parking and general rules on the gathering of crowds. You need to speak to the owner of the venue when using a place not owned by you or family. Check rules on smoking, drinking, noise, crowds and parking. You may need to secure permits for certain things. To avoid a wedding day arrest check into everything before the big day comes.

Tip 3. Always keep the weather in mind

Think about what the weather will likely be at the time of day and month of the year of your outdoor wedding. Sunny and hot? Don't leave your guests uncomfortably melting – have your ushers give guests ice-cold bottles of water as they are seated. Consider printing your wedding program on a fan so that guests may cool themselves. Don't forget to have plenty of sunscreen on hand as well. For a very warm location, look into renting large electric fans (don't forget a generator) and/or a tent to shade the suns rays. If it will be cold and damp, make sure you tell guests that so they can wear extra layers. A simple xeroxed insert will do. You might want to have lap blankets on hand, or rent portable heaters.

Tip 4. Decorations

At an outdoor wedding, Mother Nature provides most of the decorations -- trees, flowers, a view of a lake or a hilltop vista. But you may want to embellish a bit. Many couples opt for a beautiful wedding arch to provide a focal point for the ceremony. The arch can be left simple and unadorned, or can be swathed in flowers and ribbons to match those carried by the wedding party. An arch dripping with flowers also provides a wonderful backdrop for wedding photos. Coordinate the arch with raised planters sprouting matching flowers and you’ll add enchantment to an already magical setting. And if you have to move your ceremony indoors at the last minute, the arch and planters will provide instant decoration to the new location.

Tip 5. Have a backup plan

What will you do if it rains? The ideal outdoor wedding location has an indoor location waiting just in case. Many brides and grooms opt to have their ceremony outside and reception inside. In a pinch, the tables can be scooted to the back of the room during the ceremony. A tent is another option, but only for light to moderate rain storms. A heavy rain will soak the ground underneath, leaving guests with soggy and muddy shoes. Make sure any tent you rent is sturdy so it won't flip over, and that it has thick and weighted sides.