Outdoor wedding have increased significantly in popularity in recent years, and while they can be both romantic and exotic, it’s important to plan the event appropriately. Here are several outdoor wedding ideas that can make your wedding day memorable for both you and your guests.

Many larger weddings will include guests from out of town. When sending your wedding invitations, include local weather information guides that will help your guests who are not familiar with the area. Outdoor wedding ideas should always be designed with the best interests of your guests in mind as well.

Many couples forget the considerations of wedding officials when planning outdoor wedding ideas. Some ministers or pastors will only officiate weddings within their houses of worship, so check with yours in advance to understand their policies regarding outdoor weddings.

Flowers are an important part of planning outdoor weddings. Some great outdoor wedding ideas for flowers include keeping your flower arrangements indoors until just before the start of the ceremony. This will prevent the flowers from wilting in the sun. Ask your florist to put preservatives in the arrangements as well to help keep them fresh.

In keeping with the principle that outdoor wedding ideas should include the comfort of your guests, it’s a good idea to have several different items on hand, such as insect repellant, sun screen, paper fans, umbrellas and even water bottles.

Outdoor wedding ideas for locations should always include a backup plan. The wedding day forecast may call for a sunny day, but can change at the drop of a hat. If indoor facilities aren’t available for a backup, consider renting a tent to have available should the need arise. If planning the event near the ocean, gusting waves and wave action can be loud, so consider a portable sound system with microphones for the wedding official and the bride and groom.

Outdoor wedding ideas are plentiful in nature, but require extra planning, so make sure you research all of your options in order to make your wedding day one to look back on fondly.