Cold Weather and Outside Ceremonies

I'm from SC so we don't do well with the cold lol. I HATE the cold, so anything under 60 is awful to me That being said, I think anything under 50 would be too cold to most people, at least around here.

I’m from washington and we ended up having to move our outdoor ceremony inside because it was so cold. i think it was high 40s low 50s. i think that’s the lowest i would do it at. Blankets can only do so much haha

I'm in Virginia and outdoor weddings are definitely a thing here at almost any season, especially with all the parks and beaches. I have officiated on a windy pier in 46 degree weather and that was brutal, a sunnier day would have felt nicer. So to me it's not just the temp but the atmosphere. Will it be windy? Will it be sunny? Will blankets or heaters be available? Anything lower than 40 would have me questioning how committed I was to attending.

Also seeing your responses and wisdom in discussions makes me so excited to hear how your wedding goes! So stoked for you!

I think it depends how long your ceremony is and knowing your guests too. I wouldn’t have done anything lower than 60 I think, especially with other relatives who wouldn’t do well in the cold. Maybe you could get away with 50s, if it’s a short ceremony and you provide blankets and you know your crowd?

Older* relatives I meant, not “other”

View Quoted Comment

That seems fair, especially if most of your guests are used to a warmer climate!

View Quoted Comment

This is so sweet and I really appreciate it so much! I'm curious to see how it goes as well lol thank you!

View Quoted Comment

Yeah, 40 would be a real stretch for me as well. I totally understand other factors have a role as well.

View Quoted Comment

That seems super reasonable!

If your ceremony is short, and you are gifting blankets as favors (I remember you mentioning that), I think you can get away with high 40s/low 50s.

I don’t have a temp minimum. The only thing that would make my December wedding move indoors is strong winds. I don’t think we can say “it’s YOUR day, do what you want!” But then also try to dictate a minimum temperature for an outside ceremony.

View Quoted Comment

We are! We're also considering setting up a hot chocolate/apple cider bar, but I know many people here say "if it's cold enough to need blankets, it's too cold for an outside ceremony."

View Quoted Comment

I agree with doing what you want for your wedding day, to an extent. Of course you should make the day your own, but guest comfort should also be a priority. I would never want to make someone uncomfortable or potentially ill just for a photo op.

View Quoted Comment But I think we have to keep in mind that unless you have a longer-than-usual ceremony, we are talking about a half hour or less. There are lots of things people do in the winter that have them outside for a length of 30min or less: finding a Christmas tree, looking at Christmas lights, shopping at an outdoor shopping center, watching a football game, walking the dog...
If you offer amenities like blankets and cocoa and keep it short, I just don’t think it is that big of an ask.

I think anything below 60 is too cold! I live in California where it doesn’t really get colder than high 50s or warmer than mid 70s. I went to a wedding once where it was 50 degrees and pouring rain where we all had to huddle under tents and stand in the mud, I was miserable! When someone asked the bride why she didn’t move it inside she said “if I wanted an inside wedding I would’ve had one.” I think sometimes brides get too hung up on their vision without thinking about the guests and their comfort.

I’m getting married in NC the day after you. I have blankets and hand warmers. The reception will be inside with a fireplace. I think 60s is definitely ok and now I am considering 50s if the sun’s out as we get closer. If it’s rainy or windy or cloudy then definitely 50 is too cold.

I'm from the South and FH and I don't really care for the cold. However, I think we'd both be willing to attend an outdoor ceremony during the colder months if it was anything over 50 degrees!

I’m from Maryland and I think you could get away with upper 50’s I’d the sun is out. Wind or cloudy days could make that a bit unbearable. I think you also need to consider if your crowd is older or younger.

I went to an outdoor wedding that was in the low 50s, it was miserable. They had hot drinks and heaters, but most people left as soon as the ceremony was done (it wasn’t at a meal time).