It seems winter has hit the Austin area. But who knows how long it will be here? With Texas weather as unpredictable as it is, it could be here until March or it could be here for just the next two days.

Because of the sudden weather change, we decided to take this time to chat about staying warm at your outdoor events.

The Austin area has so many beautiful outdoor venues and because of the {extremely} unpredictable nature of Texas weather, you may not have been anticipating cold weather on the day of your event. What do you do to keep your guests warm?

Well, we’ve compiled a list of ten things to help you stay prepared for a cooler temperature change, should it happen to you.

1. Rent a tent and tent heater. If your event is strictly outdoors, you’re going to want a weather contingency plan from the get go. Renting a tent with a tent heater creates what feels like an indoor space for your outdoor venue. Check out our guide to renting a tent if you need helping figuring out where to start. 
2. Place blankets on chairs. We’ve seen couples do this with their winter outdoor weddings quite a bit. If your wedding ceremony is outside, you could place a basket full of blankets for guests to take as needed. If your reception is outside as well, perhaps a few blankets placed on the backs of chairs will do the trick! Your guests will think it’s the cutest thing ever and thank you for the extra warmth.
3. Warm specialty cocktail. If you are planning on doing a signature cocktail for the evening, doing something that is warm or will warm guest’s bellies (our minds immediately go to whiskey here) is a great way to knock two birds out with one stone. Just be sure that’s not the only things guests have as a warming option or you may have to cut some folks off before the night really even gets started.

   

4. Serve coffee or hot chocolate. If the temperatures are low, warm drinks are a good way to keep your guests’ bellies and hands warm. And really, is there anything better than a cup of coffee or glass of hot chocolate when it’s a bit chilly? You could have a coffee station or hot cocoa station set up for guests to help themselves to throughout the night.
5. Fire pits. If your venue allows it, fire pits are a great way to get guests warmed for the night. And seriously, who doesn’t love a good campfire!? Just be sure to double and triple check with your venue that they allow it and there aren’t any local burn bans before committing to this idea.
6. S’mores station. S’mores stations are a great way to get your guests a sweet treat and warm them up a little bit at the same time. Standing around a fire (whether it is a propane controlled set up or a wood burning campfire) will give your guests a short reprieve from the cold. Plus, if you have any little guests in attendance, this will be the highlight of the night (or year!) for them.
7. Patio heaters. If tenting isn’t an option, or it’s not ridiculously cold outside, renting patio heaters to place throughout your outdoor space should be sufficient for your guests. These typically heat a 15 foot radius around each unit. Keep in mind, that radius will likely go down the colder the weather is or if it is particularly windy that day.

   

8. Hand warmers. Have you ever been camping and used the personal hand warmers? Weren’t they fantastic? You can use them for your hands or even put them in your shoes to keep your toes from going numb. Set up a bucket with a cute little sign for your guests to take a few as needed. Your event staff will also love you endlessly for this if you give them their own stash.
9. Serve a warm food, like soup. If you’re having an event during the fall or winter months, you will likely choose your menu from a list of seasonal options. If you anticipate that it might be a little cooler on your event date, something like a soup appetizer (or main dish) will be welcomed by your guests in attendance.
10. Dance it out. Get your guests moving and grooving. One of the best ways to defeat the cold is to get up and move. If you’re having dancing at your event, this is a great way to combat the chills. Get the tunes pumping and your guests out of their seats. They won’t even remember it’s cold after a couple of songs!

    

We hope this list helps inspire you and makes you feel a bit better about the weather change! We are always happy to help brainstorm with you about whatever you might need for event. Give us a call or stop by one of our showrooms today to meet with one of our event consultants to get all set for your event!