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Keeping guests warm at outdoor winter functions, safely

4 min read

Keep guests warm with shelter from wind, warm seating areas, blankets, shawls and hot drinks, and use heaters, angeethis or bonfires only where they are designed to be used, with clear supervision. Never burn charcoal or wood, or use outdoor combustion heaters, inside enclosed rooms or enclosed marquees, because they can produce carbon monoxide, which can kill without warning.

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Start with shelter, not fire

Warmth that does not involve a flame avoids fire and fume risks altogether. A covered space that blocks the wind, carpets or rugs over cold ground, cushioned seating and blankets can do a lot of work. Place seating for elderly guests and young children in the most sheltered spot, away from open doors and paths where cold air moves.

Plan the evening so guests are not standing still outdoors for long periods. Shorter outdoor segments, with a warm indoor area people can move to, are kinder than a long programme in the open.

Simple comfort ideas

  • A basket of shawls or blankets near the entrance for guests who underdressed.
  • Hot chai, kehwa or soup served early and often, not only with dinner.
  • Rugs and floor cushions for the dholki or mehndi seating area.
  • Windbreak panels or side walls that can be opened for ventilation.
  • Hand warmers for the bride, groom and anyone on stage for long periods.
  • A clearly signed indoor room for anyone who feels too cold.

Carbon monoxide: the rule that cannot bend

Carbon monoxide is a gas you cannot see or smell. It is produced when charcoal, wood, gas, kerosene or similar fuels burn, and it can build up quickly in spaces without enough fresh air. It causes headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion and sleepiness, and can kill.

Never burn charcoal or wood, and never use outdoor combustion heaters such as gas patio heaters, in enclosed rooms, enclosed marquees, tents with the sides down, garages or vehicles. An angeethi carried indoors to keep a room warm is a well-known danger. If anyone feels unwell near a heater or fire, move everyone to fresh air at once and seek urgent medical help.

Heater, angeethi and bonfire safety

Only use any heater or open fire exactly as its manufacturer or the venue instructs, and follow local fire regulations. Ask the venue what heating is permitted, where it may go and who is responsible for it. We do not give specific safety distances; take them from the equipment instructions and the venue or local fire authority.

  • Use outdoor heaters and fires only in genuinely open-air spaces, never under a closed canopy.
  • Assign a sober, responsible adult to watch each fire or heater for the whole time it is lit.
  • Keep dupattas, shawls, lehngas, decorations and fairy lights well away from flames and hot surfaces.
  • Keep children and pets away from fires and heaters at all times.
  • Have a suitable fire extinguisher or fire blanket available and someone who knows how to use it.
  • Put fires out fully at the end of the night; never bring embers or a smouldering angeethi inside.

Electric options and ventilation

Where a venue offers electric heaters in an indoor or enclosed area, ask about the electrical load, extension leads and who checks them. Electric heaters do not produce carbon monoxide, but they still need space around them, should not be covered with clothes or blankets, and must be switched off when no one is watching. Fitting carbon monoxide alarms in rooms where any fuel-burning appliance is used is a sensible precaution.

Related planning

Ask about heating, ventilation and shelter when you book the venue, and tell guests in the invitation that the function is partly outdoors so they can dress warmly.

Wedding hall booking checklist

Wedding invitation timeline

Winter wedding season hub

Frequently asked questions

Can we put an angeethi inside the marquee to keep it warm?

No. Burning charcoal or wood in an enclosed marquee or room can cause carbon monoxide to build up, which can be fatal. Use fires only in open air, and use shelter, blankets and warm drinks inside.

How far should guests sit from a bonfire or heater?

Follow the equipment instructions, venue rules and local fire authority guidance. We do not give a single distance because it depends on the equipment, the space and the conditions.

What are the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Headache, dizziness, nausea, tiredness, confusion and breathlessness are common. If anyone has these near a fire or heater, move everyone into fresh air and seek urgent medical help.

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General information only, not legal, financial or religious advice.

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