Love and Lobster Coastal New England Weddings

Most of you know what makes Maine such an ideal summer destination — cool ocean breezes, unbeatable natural views, freshly caught seafood. But there’s one pitfall of the Maine outdoors you may not have considered when planning your summer ceremony — mosquitoes.

The balmy summer season brings with it those biting, relentless bugs half-jokingly referred to as Maine’s state bird, along with their equally aggravating cousin, the black fly. Worst in damp, wooded areas, mosquitoes and black flies can turn a relaxed outdoor meal into a swatting, itchy bonanza.
Luckily, a few simple steps can limit your exposure:

• Avoid a dusk ceremony. The bugs will be at their worst as the sun goes down, so aim for an earlier hour to exchange vows.

• Breezes off the ocean or large lakes can deter bugs, but watch out for smaller ponds and pools of standing water where the insects breed. Moving your event a few hundred yards away could mean sidestepping swarmageddon.

• Since “bug dope” probably isn’t the perfume you had in mind for your wedding day, choose a formulation that’s designed to smell nice. One tried-and-true option: Avon’s Skin So Soft; your skin will love it, skeeters will hate it. Essential oils of lemongrass, lavender and catnip (seriously) also have proven bug-fighting powers.

• Make a few bottles of bug repellant available in bathroom baskets and outside. Offer both DEET and non-DEET varieties, so your guests can choose. DEET, the active ingredient in many sprays, has been linked to some health risks, but its bug-fighting powers are tough to beat.  Natural formulations are also readily available, as are bug repellant wipes (shoot for clearly labeled wipes like these, so guests don’t confuse them with wet naps).

• Citronella candles also deter mosquitoes, but give them a quick sniff before buying in bulk to make sure you don’t mind the scent. Rather than placing them on tables, where they might bother guests, put a few candles in lanterns or in tiki torches around the event area.

• Use the power of plants. Mosquitoes despise the smell of marigolds, both the French and African varieties. Use them in your bouquet or scatter them around your venue.

• If you do get bit, try the itch-erasing After Bite instead of calamine lotion. A stained dress and pink-splotched skin in your portraits? No thanks.

There are more drastic mosquito-battling measures, such as CO2 machines and insecticide bombs, but talk to your venue about whether they’re really necessary.  With a few simple steps, you can ensure the buzz about your big day has nothing to do with flying insects.