43 OUTDOOR WEDDINGS How to plan an al fresco celebration Love for the great outdoors is blooming. After being shut up indoors during the pandemic, there’s a growing appreciation for open spaces, fresh air and all that nature has to offer. Demand for chilled al fresco weddings continues to rise and shows no sign of stopping any time soon. Luckily, we’re blessed in South Wales with everything from beautiful beaches and countryside to magical woods and more, so the world’s your oyster. Here we share tips on how to pull off an outdoor wedding in style... THE PERFECT SETTING Vicky and Jake Carpenter, the owners of Monmouth wedding venue Caer Llan (www.caerllan.co.uk), give their advice for choosing a property for your outdoor celebration. The number one essential for an outdoor wedding has to be to have a contingency for all eventualities so you’re prepared for whatever the weather on your day. For an outdoor summer wedding, shade from the hot sun for all guests is just as essential as protecting them from rain. Hope for the best but plan for the worst. It’s also important to think of all your guests comfort on the day, including the elderly grandparents and any wheelchair users. Can they access your ceremony and reception area and all facilities without difficulty? At Caer Llan we have the idyllic backdrop already in place thanks to the sensational countryside views from the property. We have a large 12m x 12m stretch tent attached to the house covering the patio during the summer months, so that wedding couples and guests can enjoy this stunning backdrop for outdoor ceremonies, receptions and evening parties, but the house facilities, such as the bar, dancefloor, cosy sitting rooms and toilets, are all just yards away and all on the same level. There is an equally beautiful indoor area just inside the house with the same scenic backdrop so that your day need not be affected by extreme weather such as thunderstorms, high winds and cold temperatures. The table plans and seating plans correspond between the two areas and allow for a decision for an outdoor or indoor service to be made on the morning of the wedding at a time when the weather for the day is a much more known quantity. OUTDOORS The great www.jennyhannah.co.uk www.martinellardweddingphotography.co.uk www.loveseen.co.uk
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