Here Come The Pests: How To Have A Pest-Free Wedding

Here Come The Pests: How To Have A Pest-Free Wedding

Summary: There is much to do in preparation for a wedding, but pest control usually isn’t on the to-do list. This blog makes it easy by giving the 4 frequent wedding pests and the reasons why they invade weddings. The infamous wedding pests are ants, flies, mosquitoes, and stinging insects. After learning about these annoying pests, the article gives 8 easy yet effective ways to keep a wedding pest-free. With their thorough inspections and targeted treatments, Green Pest Services is listed as a leading choice for both residential and commercial pest control services.

Between rom-coms and romance novels, we know all about the endless number of interesting problems a wedding can have. It is completely normal to have some minor hiccups on the big day. The most important thing is that the happy couple is officially married, and anything else that occurs that day is a celebratory bonus.

That being said, there are certain problems that are avoidable with a bit of preparation. One such issue that isn’t always discussed in the wedding planning is pest control! Pests don’t take the day off from annoying us, so a bunch of pests crashing a wedding isn’t too irrational. Let’s discuss four pests commonly seen at weddings before we give our best tips on protecting your outdoor wedding from these unwanted guests.

Ants

If there’s any pest that is known for inviting itself to the party, it’s the ant. Ants are eusocial insects, meaning they live in huge colonies produced by one queen and supported by thousands of workers. The food and drinks at a wedding are easy targets for hungry ants that need provisions for their colony.

Each species has its favorites, but ants generally go after food with high levels of protein, sugar, dairy, and grease. Once a worker ant locates a safe food source (crumbs, spills, the buffet, etc.), it leads the rest of its colony to it by leaving a trail of invisible scent chemicals called “pheromones.” If there’s any anthills hidden around the venue, there’s a chance that the ants will try to claim your food as their own.

Flies

Speaking of hungry pests, flies seem like they have a radar for our delicious meals. Many a backyard barbecue and outdoor birthday party have been invaded by these annoying insects. Flies do have a keen sense of smell that helps them find food sources miles away, like at an outdoor wedding. They prefer food that is rotten or overripe because it’s easier for them to consume.

Flies can’t chew or bite, so they spit digestive enzymes (ew!) onto their foods before slurping it up. They also lay up to 150 eggs in a food source, so you don’t want flies anywhere near your wedding dinner. By keeping the trash contained and the serving dishes covered, you easily cut down on the number of flies plaguing your special day.

Mosquitoes

Mosquito season unfortunately coincides with wedding season since these pests love the heat and humidity. They need just a bit of fresh water to reproduce, so mosquitoes are found just about anywhere that has extra moisture. Female mosquitoes seek our blood when they need protein for their eggs, hence why we are relentlessly bitten every summer.

Mosquitoes find their warm-blooded targets through a few different methods, such as body heat, carbon dioxide output, and sweat. When your guests are tearing it up on the dance floor, they become easy targets for bloodthirsty mosquitoes. They are most active at dusk, so consider offering your guests bug spray or fans (more on these later) if your wedding takes place then.

Stinging Insects

A stray bee or wasp may be a coincidence, but a whole group of stinging insects means that there’s a nest nearby. Most stinging insects prefer to keep their nests elevated for security reasons, so we usually find their nests on trees, under eaves, and on sheds. Yellow jackets keep theirs at ground-level, so it’s unfortunately easy to disturb these aggressive pests.

Speaking of which, yellow jackets (aka “meat bees”) are drawn to our food more than the others. They seek foods with a lot of protein and sugar that will give their colony more energy. You may see them hovering above trash cans and full plates for this reason. Stinging insects are all defensive of their homes, so make sure there aren’t any nests near your ceremony and reception areas.

Prevent Pests From Walking Down The Aisle

Whether you go with a whimsical garden party or a bohemian gathering for your wedding theme, we’re willing to bet that pests aren’t a part of your wedding decor. Unless they are, in which case, we applaud you for your creativity! Otherwise, you might be happy to learn that there are plenty of ways to keep the creepy-crawlies away from your outdoor ceremony and reception. These tasks aren’t always picture-perfect, but they are efficient ways to keep the majority of the pest population away from the nuptials.

To keep your wedding largely pest-free, we recommend:

  • Asking your venue contact about pest prevention. While you’re touring the venue and learning its background, you might want to ask about their pest prevention methods. Most of the typical outdoor wedding venues have a good handle on their pest treatments and repellants. You can also ask if there’s a history of pest problems here and what their protocol is for handling unexpected invasions.
  • Considering your venue’s features. Is there a pond or lake on the property? What about a cluster of dense bushes or leafy trees? These natural features make for a beautiful scene, but keep in mind that they can also house pests. A body of water or a group of foliage also impacts where your food should be served since you don’t want it anywhere near a nest of hungry bugs.
  • Making sure the landscaping is well-kept. If your venue is maintained by an outside company, make sure the basic yard work is done before your big day. Critters love hiding in overgrown greenery, so mowing the lawn and trimming the plants are important ways to keep pests out. If you’re responsible for the landscaping at your venue — like your parents’ backyard —make sure the yard is trimmed and tidy before the wedding.
  • Including fans for your guests. This is more appropriate for summer weddings, but it works year-round if you live in a warmer climate. You can give personalized handheld fans (from Etsy) to your guests as a wedding favor. Small flying pests (flies, mosquitoes, gnats, etc.) can’t fly in a breeze, so creating your own is an easy way to keep the pests at bay. A strong breeze on your wedding day might be good luck after all!
  • Utilizing bug repellants of different kinds. This one is a little trickier because a lot of bug sprays and insect repellants don’t smell the best. So it’s up to your discretion if you want your wedding to smell of citronella candles and bug spray but be largely pest-free, or if you’d rather wait and see if there’s even a pest problem. If you do use the repellants, make sure to keep the spray away from any formal wear since they usually stain. A few citronella candles at each table during the reception should be enough to ward off those pesky mosquitoes.
  • Protecting the food from bugs. Hungry pests don’t discriminate against food, so any opened food is appealing to pests in the area. That being said, it seems that buffets attract bugs more easily because the food sits out for a long time. Conversely, plated meals are eaten and removed quickly, so bugs aren’t always an issue. No matter your food-serving method, make sure the dirty dishes are removed in a timely manner and the large containers of food are covered when not in use.
  • Using bug-repelling flowers. You might already have your flower arrangements decided, but we have a suggestion for what to include (if we may). Some flowers and herbs naturally repel bugs due to the strong chemicals the plants produce for protection. You can include these in all forms of decor, from the centerpieces to the bride’s bouquet. Popular types that are easily incorporated into wedding decor include marigolds, lavender, mint, and petunias.
  • Offering drink covers to your guests. While your guests enjoy some specialty drinks and treats during the celebratory reception, consider offering them drink covers. These can be personalized (Etsy) or not (Amazon), as the most important factor is that they keep everyone’s drinks safe from annoying pests. Trust us: there’s nothing like going to take a sip of your beverage and finding a yellow jacket floating inside!

Protect Your Special Day With Green!

We don’t have to tell you that there’s a huge list of tasks to complete before a wedding, but there’s a good chance that pest control is low (or absent) on that list. When you want to make sure that your outdoor wedding is free of pests — besides your eccentric cousin that your parents made you invite — Green Pest Services is here to help! Our team is licensed and experienced in solving the toughest of pest issues. From wasp nest removal to ant colony elimination, we are prepared to tackle all of your pest problems. Contact us today for a free quote on the most reliable pest control services around!

Citations

Copeland, B. (2023, April 28). How to get rid of mosquitos and bugs at your outdoor wedding. Brides. Available at https://www.brides.com/story/battling-bugs-at-outdoor-wedding (Accessed on June 3, 2024).

How to manage pests at your wedding reception. (2020, June 18). Save On Crafts. Retrieved June 3, 2024, from https://www.save-on-crafts.com/blogs/blog/how-to-manage-pests-at-your-wedding-reception

How to prevent bugs from crashing your outdoor wedding. (2022, August 11). Maggie’s Farm. Retrieved June 3, 2024, from https://maggiesfarmproducts.com/blogs/bug-help/bugs-outdoor-wedding

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