A Successful Outdoor Wedding / Reception Without Flying Pests

In the immortal stage play reimagined into the ultimate chick-flick, “Steel Magnolias,” the father of the bride spends the majority of the morning of the nuptials trying to scare birds off his property. Since this is where the wedding reception is to be held later, his attempts at using a crossbow that shot firecrackers into a tree proved to be effective, but it left him hard of hearing for his daughter’s wedding ceremony.

While releasing doves after the ceremony is certainly beautiful and romantic, having a flock of other feathered friends lingering around a reception is anything but pleasant. Bird droppings on the bride and chattering in the trees is not the ideal setting for this once-in-a-lifetime event. It’s not recommended that you resort to the use of weaponry and illegal fireworks when there’s other, easier ways to rid your venue of unwanted birds and other flying pests.

Visually Stunning

One way to rid an outdoor area of birds is to use visual deterrents to keep them at bay. While plastic decoys like owls, falcons or other phony predators placed around the premises have proved successful, they could interfere with the beauty, ambiance and theme of your event.

Instead, experts recommend the use of mylar tape or strips that could be hung in trees or other high places. The rainbow images that will cascade down from above will add beauty to your scenery while they will cast light emitting rays into the sky that wreak havoc on a bird’s ability to fly and send them into the opposite direction. They also put out a very low-pitched hum that won’t interfere with you or your guests, but it bothers birds in flight.

Biting Pilots

Another possible pest that could show up at your outdoor service is mosquitos or flies, which are always problematic. While flies will be more drawn to food, mosquitos could be on the prowl to inflict painful, itchy bites on your guests. Here’s some tricks to take care of both of these problems:

MOSQUITO ABATEMENT

Citronella: Candles are always beautiful at weddings and it is possible to get white candles that contain citronella that will not only give off a pleasant scent, they’ll also deter mosquitos.

Prevention: A couple weeks before the service and/or reception, make sure there’s no standing water anywhere on or near the venue. If there is something like a pond or lake, consider adding some insect-devouring fish to keep these populations low.

FLY PATROL

It’s not very visually appealing to have a crew running around swatting at flies, so it’s best to use other methods to keep them away from the food and your guests. Although fly strips are equally unappealing, they can be hung where the food is being prepared, underneath food tables, in the rear, where the linen is often open so they can work their magic without being seen by guests.

While these are all methods that a caterer or wedding planner may already use, be sure to mention them to your crew. If you, a friend or family member will be in charge of the event, make sure they’re educated on these techniques. Fewer pests will make better memories for your wonderful wedding and after party.