Jonathan Wood, 27, who served as best man in abeachside summer wedding a few yea

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If you're like Jonathan Wood, 27, who served as best man in abeachside summer wedding a few years ago, just take a cue from thecouple. "I was in a full tux, but everyone in the weddingparty -- including the bride and groom -- was barefoot, so I wentsans socks and shoes and wore the legs of my trousers rolled,"says Wood, a photo editor at a Greensboro, North Carolina, bookpublishing house.

Outdoor obstacles

In theory, an outdoor wedding on the lake sounds like a romanticmoment. In reality, the guests can be eaten alive by insects longbefore the cake is cut.

Luckily, there's a more subtle way to take care of the problem thanlugging along an economy-size citronella candle. Take preventativemeasures by covering exposed skin with a bug deterrent thatcontains eucalyptus oil or lemongrass oil, which are natural bugrepellents.

Also, make sure to wear sunscreen, as having red, burned skin atthe reception is sure to add to your discomfort.

Airborne allergens pose another potential pitfall. If yourallergies are severe, check with your doctor. To deal with runnynoses, take along a handkerchief or a pack of travel tissues.

Beating the heat

Tissues and handkerchiefs also can combat the inevitable perspiringthat comes with high temperatures. As best man, Pete Warrington,26, was fighting to stay on his two feet in the 95-degree heat of aMethodist church in Meredith, New Hampshire, that lacked airconditioning.

"It wasn't so bad when we were sitting in the back before theservice, but once we were standing up front, it was like a Swedishsauna -- without the jump in the snow afterwards," saysWarrington, a software engineer from Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts."We had no programs, no fans, and we couldn't remove ourjackets or ties."