Ah, the perfect sunset wedding. It’s been a pleasantly warm day, the air starts cooling down, the sun just barely dips below the horizon and everything couldn’t be more perfect; until the bugs come out, that is.
There is nothing attractive about huge mosquito covering your body in all your late night wedding pictures, and your guest certainly aren’t going to want to stay for the cake cutting when they themselves seem to be the ones being devoured. As beautiful as a sunset, outdoor wedding may seem in our minds, an abundance of uninvited pests are sure to crash the party quick.
Never fear though, we’ve done a little research. So before you make the switch from June to January, here are a few tips to keep the bugs at a minimum:
1.) Stay away from stagnant water. Bugs breed in the still pools of water, so avoid having your ceremony right on the bank of a pond or lake. You’d be swatting your way through the vows. Moving the ceremony a couple hundred yards away might be your best move yet.
2.) Choose a breezy spot. If you were to move up a hill a few yards to a more breezy location, do that. Besides the bugs Maine refers to as it’s state bird, most insects aren’t strong enough to fly in windy conditions, so they avoid them. Besides, have a soft wind blow the hair back from your face would work wonders for your wedding pictures.
3.) Offer bug repellent in your gift favors. Small little bottles of bug repellent lotion will certainly come in handy later. Allow to choose either the DEET or non-DEET option and leave a few extra in areas around the ceremony and reception area. Even a little station with bug repellent wipes will give guests a quick fix should they start to feel a little nibbled on.
4.) Use plants to your advantage. Believe it or not, mosquitos despise the smell of marigolds. Thai lemongrass can also have the same effect. Tie some with pretty ribbon and hang it from a couple trees. Put a few potted marigolds in the doorway of your tent or spread them around the border of the reception area.
5.) Take advantage of bug-repelling candles. Citronella candles can work fairly well in deterring bugs, just as long as you’re okay with the smell the put off. Take a whiff before buying them in bulk and then spread them along the border with your marigolds or even have them in hanging lamps.
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