Outdoor Fall Wedding...in Minnesota

I'm actually jealous of your weather. My wedding is 10/14 in Missouri and this week the forecast for that day had been steadily rising ..... currently at 85! I was really looking forward to a 70º wedding as was predicted a week ago ...... argh!! At least the forecast has no rain (fingers crossed it stays that way)!!!

I'm from MN, though I now live in NYC. People in Minnesota know how to dress for the outdoors. Heck, I used to spend six hours outside in October at major cross-country meets. Have some warm drinks on hand and you'll be fine.

Just the ceremony? Maybe..... Ceremony &the reception? No.

There's a weird disconnect in the whole "people can decline - your nearest and dearest will come". So her nearest and dearest are immune to cold? They won't be her nearest and dearest anymore if they don't come? Don't assume that the people who love you most will somehow suck it up. My grandmother loves me dearly, but she couldn't and will not manage temperatures under 60 for hours on end for me. She's immunocompromised and that could kill her.

Wait the whole wedding is outside??? I thought it was just the ceremony.

Same!! My date is October 28th..Minnesota too! I'm expecting the weather to be okay as well lol good thing by the end of the month 50 degrees is actually warm. We're having some warm beverages available since both the ceremony and reception are outside good luck with yours!

@Keisha

No, the OP says in the original post that the event is ALL outdoors, for the full three hours.

I second renting heaters! I personally am always cold and being cold makes me beyond miserable. I find even 70 a little chilly. But I think if you have outdoor heaters that might help keep it warmer for guests on top of everything else you mentioned

@Del I don’t know how I didn’t catch that. Up in Canada I know we use a different metric system but 60 degrees is sweater weather. And that’s 60 degrees during the day it will drop drastically at night. You seriously need a better game plan OP and everyone else thinking this is ok.

You're living in an area in which October means, "you never know what you'll get", but you opted to gamble? Okay...hope it pays off for you. If your guests are natives (and if you want to know what they're thinking, it will be something along the lines of "Geez, what a gamble." The truth is, rain and cold tend to affect most of us the same way...and fun isn't the word that comes to mind.

Your rain plan isn't much of a rain plan. It sounds like you're going to still be outside, but under a pavilion. Wet, damp, and cold isn't a rain plan. Go with the heated garage...go with the heated garage...go with the heated garage. Did I mention that I think you should go with the heated garage? People can go informal in a heartbeat IF they are warm, dry, and there's a bar and food. Go with the heated garage. It could actually be a blast, and something that exceeds your 4:00 PM end time.

I just googled your area and read this, when it comes to October, "In Minnesota, the month of October is characterized by rapidly falling daily high temperatures, with daily highs decreasing by 14°F, from 65°F to 51°F over the course of the month, and rarely exceeding 78°F or dropping below 36°F." Why did you think it was a good idea to have an outdoor wedding in your state in late October?

Sorry, I wouldn't be one of the guests who could "figure it out". I wouldn't be one of the guests who thought the shawls, bonfire, and hot drinks would combat the uncomfortable temps (I know...you're going to say that you're happy you didn't invite me -- and you would be, because I'd probably decide the day of if I were attending or not...but hey, you'd still get a gift).

I'd suggest you stock a healthy bar. Yep...that's what I'd do. And to your credit, it's a three hour affair, and it might be okay until the sun starts to set, so maybe you'll be alright.

It's just not something I ever would have done, but that ship has sailed. Can you bring in heaters or just decide to host the reception in the heated garage? I really think you and your guests will have a much better experience there, whether it sounds like it or not, that's really what I wish for you.

Do you have a plan if it snows? It has definitely snowed in October in MN before. If I was invited to your wedding and I woke up that morning to it snowing and you had no back up plan I would definitely decide not to go.

Why don't you order a tent with heaters? Rather than changing all of your plans last minute that way if it does rain you'll still be covered!

Sounds like you have it covered. Yum, what warm beverages are you serving?? Our weather keeps changing too. One day sunny, another rainy. We have a rain alternative for the ceremony which is set to be outdoors.

To Minnesotans, 50 degrees is warm. Seriously, people there start wearing shorts in March when temps hit 45 degrees.

Hey there!! MN bride here as well. Got married last Saturday at the MN Landscape Arboretum. It was awesome! Our ceremony was only about ten minutes long (11am service) but we were outside for about an hour for photos and lingering. Go for it - I would however have a back up place in case it does rain. No one wants to be in the rain for three hours. Cold is one thing, rain is another. Best wishes!!

Edited to add: Please look into renting huge tents to have your reception in. I am a native MN girl but three hours outside in mid October would get long. You just never know about the weather. I am afraid you are running the risk of people leaving your wonderful party early and having sparse guests. The tents will hold the warmth in if you have smudge pots and keep the wind at by. I am a rugged outdoorsy girl and three hours for me would be long. And I like the cold!