Flowers need water. Caterers need water. Guests need drinking water. Hands need washing. And depending on the setup, toilets may need water too.
It isn’t the glamorous part of choosing a wedding site, but before you fall completely in love with a beautiful piece of land, ask about the water.
Is the property supplied by city water or a well? Is the water potable—meaning safe to drink? Where are the spigots, and how far are they from the places where water will actually be needed? Is there enough pressure and capacity to support a wedding?
Also ask whether there is a drinking-water-safe hose available. These hoses are often white or blue, but color alone isn’t enough—look for one specifically labeled for potable or drinking water. You do not want to fill beverage dispensers, cooking containers or flower buckets using an ordinary garden hose.
If the proposed site has no running water, that does not necessarily make a wedding impossible. Water can be brought in and stored in food-safe containers or tanks. But water is heavy—about eight pounds per gallon—and a wedding can require a surprising amount of it. Someone has to transport it, store it, distribute it and make sure it remains clean and available throughout the event.
It can be done. It is simply more complicated than most couples want their wedding weekend to become.
So while you’re assessing a possible site, ask about the water. The answer may not be romantic, but it will tell you a great deal about how practical the site really is.