The Sun, Beach and Weather - Planning An Outdoor Wedding!
Yolande Gunawijeya of The Bottom Line Events, an event management company, tells us what it’s like behind the curtains of an outdoor wedding.
Tell us a little about your company and what you do.
The Bottom Line Events is a luxurious wedding planning company based in Sri Lanka, known for most of its creative, elegant and sophisticated weddings in Asia, formed in the days of 2008. We have created a reputation for ourselves which has ever since been synonymous with quality, efficiency, innovation and total customer satisfaction based on fair prices.
How popular are outdoor weddings in Sri Lanka?
Outdoor weddings are exceptionally popular due to the client’s freedom of choice and venue.
Why do people want outdoor weddings rather than indoor weddings?
Indoor weddings have a space limit. Most clients want outdoor weddings because they’d rather have an extravaganza than just a few family and friends because they would like to celebrate their love and unity with the world.
What are some of the most famous locations Sri Lanka use for an outdoor wedding?
Many locations in Galle are popular for outdoor weddings because of the beach front view and atmosphere which gives off an artistic image of sunsets and waves. A few other locations could be Passikuda, Paddy Islands, Stella Beach Villa, Kahana Kanda, Bolgoda lake front etc.
What are the different things to be considered when planning an outdoor wedding as opposed to an indoor wedding?
A few aspects our company considers for outdoor weddings as opposed to indoor weddings are the climate conditions depending on if it’s going to rain, the event would require a marquee, and depending on if it’s a little too tropical we would need the use of outdoor A/Cs or fans. Whereas in indoor weddings there is a roof above your head and there would be no struggle in putting up a marquee.
How important is it for you to have a backup plan?
It’s always important to have a backup plan due to unexpected changes in weather; it is always best to have a few umbrellas ready and kept aside for you and your guests. Make a backup plan with the photographer to have 2 different locations for the couple’s photo-shoot if the weather permits an outdoor photo-shoot. This is one reason why we advise our client to hire and install a marquee in order to avoid any unexpected weather changes. For instance, we recently did a wedding in Galle where the plan was to have the wedding in the paddy field however due to the weather conditions we were unable to have the ceremony in the field as it was flooded. In this circumstance our backup was to use the nearby cottage for the ceremony.
As a wedding planner, what would you consider when planning an outdoor wedding?
As wedding planners, we consider the bright blue skies, the natural décor, the romantic breeze and the reality of nature at its best. We are about coming up with strategies to keeping the guest comfortable from beginning to the end and keeping the service to its highest level.
The most memorable - completely out of the box - outdoor wedding you’ve planned?
“The Bottom Line Events was able to cover up each aspect meticulously. A real accomplishment showing the company’s abilities to organize.” – These are the exact words the client had written about us in their testimonial. Our client’s wedding in the tropical island of Bali was one of the most intriguing and inspiring weddings our company has done so far. This has been one of the most challenging, yet breath-taking weddings we’ve done. It took us 4 months and 2 visits to Bali for us to coordinate this event with our suppliers there and on the day of the wedding; it was effortless as everything fell into place as per our client’s request. The clients envisioned a simple, classy and intimate function. We had to do our research and deliver to their expectation while staying within the budget they had given us.
Do you prefer to plan outdoor weddings over indoor weddings and why?
I believe outdoor weddings have a lot of creativity in it and it can be a cozy and intimate function as we have the opportunity to use vibrant colors and décor that can bring out a touch of our culture and the freedom to incorporate whatever the client wishes. When it comes to indoor weddings we are confined to the colors of the venue, carpet, etc. which we need to work around. Considering the fact that indoor weddings limit the concept of our clients, I am always up for an outdoor wedding.
A wedding planner's golden advice for anyone looking to do an outdoor wedding.
Ideally I would say when you’re looking to have an outdoor wedding, do your research and get a planner who has the skills of planning outdoor weddings and who knows the venue / location. The reason is because if necessary it will be easy to relocate your ceremony to an indoor venue close by as a backup. The most important aspect to having a backup plan is the marquee, privacy of the client and guests, lighting, services and parking for your guests. You need to hire a planner who can deliver to your expectations while staying within the budget. I do believe that outdoor weddings have more logistical planning than indoor weddings.
Interviewed by Panchali Illankoon
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