There are many weddings that are held outside of traditional religious facilities, including out-of-doors, in large houses, courtrooms, and location weddings. These areas can offer a great, unique occasion that shows off a bit of your personality and style as well as giving your guests a fun time to remember. Nothing is nicer than having an outdoor wedding, if the weather cooperates. This is never a guarantee, however, and people planning to have an outdoor wedding should have a backup facility in case of nasty weather. Very clear directions need to be given on the invitation to guide guests to the ceremony, and these directions should be tested prior to sending out the invitations by someone unfamiliar with the area or someone who is not told where the ceremony will actually be, and instead follows the directions without the destination in mind. There should also be information on where the ceremony will be held in the event that the ceremony needs to be moved indoors due to weather. An outdoor ceremony should take place in an area where there is abundant shade. The wedding party will be standing up for the entire emotional proceedings, and heat will take its toll. Too much heat will also be detrimental to any older guests attending the ceremony. Remember as well that you will have to arrange for a seating, a sound system, and decorations to be provided at the outdoor location, so a dry run will be important to determine needs as far as electrical cords and seat placement. Large houses can be an ideal place for a non-traditional wedding ceremony, so long as you are ensured of adequate space. Courtroom weddings are rarely affairs in which a large number of guests will take part, but you will want to ensure that there is available seating for those who do wish to attend. Location weddings are a great and memorable way to hold your special day, if they fit within your budget. Location weddings can also offer some opportunities in terms of convenience as they offer the opportunity to be held right at the location of your honeymoon. They can also be a very special part of the occasion, as most of the time you will not be able to spend time with the friends and family who attend your wedding. A location wedding allows for the entire party to be together over a period of several days, with lots of time to visit. Remember that you may have to make an additional trip to have final approval over the ceremony venue. You will also want to make sure there are very clear directions to the venue?s location on the invitations. For some originality, why not consider a les traditional venue for your wedding ceremony? These suggestions are all ideal for smaller weddings and might even save you some money in the long run!