Outdoor Wedding in Hawaii? Here's Something Fun

Call me Kimipele. That's Hawaiian for Kimberly! Hawaii's beautiful beaches and tropical gardens make wonderful settings for outdoor weddings. If you've chosen Hawaii for a destination wedding, here's a fun idea. Why not surprise your guests by addressing their invitations using their Hawaiian names? At a-beach-wedding.com, you'll find a complete A to Z guide for translating names to Hawaiian.

Flowers for Your Ceremony, Dolphins for Your Reception

If you're looking for a unique Midwest wedding setting, you might want to consider the Indianapolis Zoo. Couples can marry outdoors in the Efroymson Wedding Garden at White River Gardens, then hold their reception inside the Dolphin Adventure Gallery, a dome-shaped dolphin tank that will give you the sense of being under the sea. For details, call (317) 630-2008.

And They're Off

While we're on the topic of weather-related changes to your outdoor wedding plans, here's a heartwarming story from the Louisville Courier-Journal about a New Orleans couple who had to relocate their October 18 wedding due to Hurricane Katrina. The two were determined to still marry on the anniversary of their first date. They were staying with family in Louisville, Kentucky, and were able to hold their outdoor wedding in the rose garden at Churchill Downs--not too shabby! The key quote in the article comes from a bridesmaid, who said of the bride, "She still got the wedding of her dreams." It's a good reminder to all those planning outdoor weddings that even if a last-minute change of plans is required, you'll still be off and running and starting a new life with the one you love.

Rain On Your Wedding Day? Just Say "Cheese"

Here in the Northeast where I live, it rained for eight straight days in October. That left many couples who had hoped for glorious fall days for their outdoor wedding celebrations scrambling to arrange for a back-up location. The Kennebec Journal shares the story of one Maine couple who relocated their wedding to a pizza parlor! It may not have been what they planned, but they'll always have special memories of their unique wedding day.

A Ghoulish Gazebo for your Halloween Outdoor Wedding

In Las Vegas, Halloween is the third most popular wedding date after Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve, and lovetripper.com reports that the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel offers a variety of spooky Halloween wedding packages for couples, including the Ghoulish Gazebo Wedding for those who want to marry outdoors. Wedding packages are priced starting at $225 during the day and $375 on Halloween night. Now, all that's left is to find an orange wedding gown!

For the Mother of the Outdoor Bride or Groom

Is your mother a nervous wreck because you've broken the news that you plan to get married outdoors? I just stumbled upon a lovely essay, written by Janis Jaquith and published by "The Hook" in Charlottesville, Virginia, that you must share with her. Jaquith confesses to "obsessing" about the risks associated with her son's planned outdoor wedding on the beach, but in the end, she realizes that an outdoor wedding is "a perfect metaphor for marriage."