Are you determined to have a spring wedding but you are worried about allergies? Don’t let the threat of a runny nose or sore throat ruin your big day! While potential problems with allergies should be something you should take seriously, they are not a reason to adjust your wedding date. If you know you or your spouse-to-be tends to get a bit sneezy in the spring, here are several great tips to help you plan your dream wedding during allergy season.
Talk to Your Doctor or Allergist
The best way to address the threat of allergies during your spring wedding is to speak with a professional allergist. While there’s no way to completely eliminate the risk of an allergic reaction, an allergist will be able to provide prevention tips and strategies for your big day. The allergist might be able to provide a prescription for a more effective medication to help you through your wedding.
Ask Your Venue about Air Conditioning and Ventilation Systems
When selecting a venue for your wedding ceremony and reception, it’s always a good idea to ask about air conditioning and ventilation. A quality air filtration system that removes allergens will greatly decrease your chances of someone having an allergic reaction. Some locations may even be willing to take additional air purifying measures, such as maintaining stable humidity levels, cleaning the air ducts, changing the filters, or upgrading the ventilation system for your event. Make sure you tell the venue staff that you are concerned about allergies, and see if they will accommodate your request by making adjustments to the air conditioning.
Choose to Have an Indoor Ceremony and Reception
While an outdoor wedding may be your preference, you might be better off with an indoor ceremony and reception. If you know that you or some other member of your wedding party is particularly susceptible to allergens, there’s no reason to tempt fate. When decorated appropriately, an indoor wedding can be just as lovely as an outdoor wedding. There are many options available to an indoor wedding ceremony that are not available to an outdoor wedding: more design opportunities, a more intimate feel, and the elimination of any weather worries.
Find a Location near the Water
If you are absolutely determined to have an outdoor wedding ceremony and reception, consider reserving a location that is near the water. Venues on a big lake or by the ocean are the best, as the wind typically keeps the pollen count down. If a location near the water is not available, look for an outdoor location that does not have a large number of flowering trees and plants such as an open park, picnic area, or other large open space to host your event.
Pick a Time in the Afternoon or Evening
You should avoid planning your event for first thing in the morning when pollen counts are usually the highest. The pollen count typically tapers off in the late afternoon and evening. If you can schedule your wedding later in the day, it will minimize some of the risks of an allergic reaction to high pollen counts.
If you or someone in your wedding party is vulnerable to allergies in the spring, it may be better to choose an indoor location with air conditioning and an air filtration system. If you still choose to have an outdoor wedding ceremony, there are a number of choices that you can make to minimize the problem of allergies at your venue location. With a little planning around allergy issues, there’s no reason that everybody can’t enjoy your wedding celebration, even if they are worried about allergies.
