Outdoor Weddings

Where to hide the bride?!

So I have been considering having my wedding at a park. I like the outdoor idea and we're getting married in the summer so it would be cute. The issue I'm having is figuring out where I would be while I'm wating for the ceremony to start and how I'll walk to the aisle without my husband-to-be seeing me.  I went to a wedding where they hid the bride behind a sheet and it was just awful... I just need help with some ideas. If I can't figure out something that will look nice I have to nix the park idea.
Help please!

Re: Where to hide the bride?!

  • I've watched several beach weddings on YouTube and the bride just walked parallel to the ocean for a bit, turned, and walked down the aisle.  Sure, the groom saw her coming for a bit as she walked down the beach but how much could he see until she got closer?
    Does someone in your wedding party live close enough where you could wait and go somewhat at the last minute in a limo or something and then just step out just before the ceremony?  I know the logistics are tough because you need to do last minute arranging of dress, hair etc. but trying to think of suggestions.  
    I like the park idea too!
    I'm sure some other, more creative Knotties can think of ways that you could put up some sort of blinds in a park shelter or something if a last minute arrival won't do.

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  • I'm doing an outdoor wedding and was running into the same problem.  So, I'm renting a hotel that is VERY close to the venue... (less than 1 mile) and being dropped off very close to the ceremony location.  the guests and my fiance will see me getting dropped off, but the car/limo (haven't decided which one yet) will sort of block the view.... 

    So... I'm staying at the hotel until pretty much everyone is seated and in place and then driving over.    I don't know how long the entrance is from the parking area where you would be coming to where your actual ceremony is... but, is doing something like that an option?
  • When you have  an outdoor wedding, you just have to accept the fact that you probabaly won't get that "doors of the church opening" type of moment, and that people will see you as you make your way to the aisle.

    There's a picture floating around of ushers holding fake doors for a bride to walk through, and I think it just looks..well...weird.    

    If you want to keep just THE GROOM from seeing you, then maybe have him stay facing the front until the best man tells him to turn around.   At Will and Kate's wedding, he didn't even watch her come down the aisle...he waited until she was next to him to turn around and look at her (I guess this is the tradition).  As she walked down the aisle Harry leaned over to him and told her how beautiful she looked.   I think that was actually kind of cute.    
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  • haha wow I need to learn to proof read. but that's not a bad idea!  I just don't want my groom to see me..until he can really look at me. I think he'd have time to take in how fantastic I look...I prefer the shock and awe effect!
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_outdoor-weddings_where-to-hide-the-bird?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:666Discussion:0fd3886a-329e-4921-a0b5-86a6d80d44d6Post:657e367f-9b2f-45c5-af1a-715cde96e5da">Re: Where to hide the bride?!</a>:
    [QUOTE]haha wow I need to learn to proof read. but that's not a bad idea!  I just don't want my groom to see me..until he can really look at me. I think he'd have time to take in how fantastic I look...I prefer the shock and awe effect!
    Posted by nay93[/QUOTE]

    <div>It wasn't a commend on your proof-reading skills :-)  Just was wondering if it was the groom you were worried about seeing you, or EVERYONE seeing you.  If it's just the groom, then having the best man tell him when to turn around should work.  It might also make a cute photo-op.   This won't work if you don't want ANYONE to see you.... :-)</div>
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  • eospassioneospassion member
    10 Comments
    edited March 2012
    If you would like to touch up at the site before being see, you could use a screen canopy that is next to your parked car. From there you could be unveiled by pulling back the curtains and inside you could unwrinkle your dress and touch up your hair, train, veil, lip gloss, etc for a couple of minutes before walking down the aisle. It could also be a cute canopy that is deocrated.
    ~All the love you put out will return to you~
  • A cute little white canvase tent? Near where your ok being seen from and maybe decorated a little so it doesn't look out of place?
  • I went to one where thr bride was driven up in a nice Golf Cart with a curtain around the back and she stepped out. It was all done really really nice.
  • Wow.
    We're getting married outdoors and I never thought of that! so thank you!
    Secondly, I think that doing a nice tent set up would be kind of cute, you could set up another for cocktails so it wouldn't be too out of place. Or like someone else suggested, having him not turn around until your going down the "aisle". I think either would be tasteful, and relatively easy to pull off :)
    Good luck!
  • I have the same problem.  I'm thinking about using privacy screens along the back row of seats and have one in the middle that covers the opening but is not in line with the others so I'm hidden but it's still easy to manuver around. (does this make any sense?) However, I'm able to be dropped off right in front of the screens so I'm hidden the entire time.  
  • we want to have our wedding at the park as well, but the only think is tat when the time comes and everyone shows up for the wedding and take pics that u might see the pool and hopin the trees will cover it up and u wont see it in the picture, but if we turn the other dirsctions then u can see the play ground, but it's one of these cases that once summer gets her and we go back to the park so see how full it is that maybe it's all covered up.... and if that doersn't work then we will go to the other park and be next to the little lake, and again where am i gonna hide from my soon to be husband....soo much to look and find out for sure..Ughhhh...just donn't know...lol
  • I know you said you didn't want your groom to see you before the wedding, but I recommend a "First Look" photo session. Before the ceremony, your photographer sets up a very private and intimate space for your husband-to-be to see you for the first time and they capture it on camera. It's a nice way for him to have a great reaction, without interrupting the ceremony.

    Just a suggestion. I'm walking down a long pathway too. I've just accepted that people are going to see me. It just gives them more time to sigh in awe! :)
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  • I'm doing a horse drawn carriage for mine-- I'm so excited!
  • You could add parasols to your wedding party. Have your bridesmaids carry one over their shoulder and you walk behind them. You could even carry one yourself and use it to sheild yourself until you're ready to be seen and hand it off to an usher.
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