Introduction
Whether you’re planning an intimate backyard ceremony or an extravagant seaside sunset wedding, you’re probably aware that weddings can be expensive. So, when the idea of having your special day outside comes up, it might seem like a risky proposition. But before you go ahead and book your reception hall at the nearest Marriott, consider all the benefits of having an outdoor wedding: not only is it less expensive to plan, but it also gives you lots of opportunities to make use of beautiful natural scenery something that can’t be replicated by any indoor venue.
As long as you take some time in advance to prepare yourself and get familiar with some best practices for outdoor weddings, this guide will help walk you through all the steps involved in planning one: from choosing a location that suits your vision down to making sure there are plenty of trees nearby for shade during hot summer months. Make your bridal dreams a reality at our luxury bridal shop in Louisville, KY.
Decide if an outdoor wedding is for you
Deciding whether an outdoor wedding is right for you and your new spouse is a lot like deciding if the outdoors are right for you. No one can tell you what’s best, but we can provide some helpful tips to help you decide.
If you want to get married in a beautiful setting, then an outdoor wedding may be for you. If it’s always been your dream to say “I do” under the canopy of trees at sunset or on the beach at sunrise, then consider an outdoor ceremony with friends and family present. You’ll save money by not having to rent out a venue space because there’s free stuff everywhere. Plus, if it rains on your big day which is understandable just move inside (or under shelter) until it stops.
If saving money on the ceremony itself isn’t enough incentive to go outside, perhaps knowing that having an outdoor reception would be beneficial will help sway things in favor of going up against Mother Nature. You’ll probably need some sort of shelter anyways if it rains during the reception; why not just use this one as well?
Wedding Entertainment
Wedding entertainment is a key element in the planning of an outdoor wedding. An outdoor wedding is more than just an excuse to get married outside, it is also an opportunity to create a memorable experience for your guests. There are many things that you can do to make sure that your wedding entertainment is both memorable and enjoyable for everyone involved.
One of the most important aspects of planning any type of wedding entertainment is ensuring that it fits with the theme or style of your event. For example, if you are having an outdoor wedding on a beach then you might want to consider hiring some dancers or performers who specialize in aquatic choreography or something similar. If you are having a formal outdoor wedding then maybe you should consider hiring some classical musicians like this wedding musician in Tamworth who will play music from Chopin or Beethoven while people are eating dinner. It’s important to think about what kind of music will best match the atmosphere at your wedding so that nothing ends up being too loud or too quiet or distracting from the overall mood.
Pick a location that suits your vision
Choosing a location for your wedding can be tricky, especially if you’re planning an outdoor wedding. You want to find a spot that is unique and different from every other wedding venue in town, but also beautiful and fun for guests to enjoy and of course, it should be somewhere you can host all attendees without having them drive hours away from home.
Here are some tips for picking the perfect place:
- Think about the theme of your event. Are you looking for something rustic? Or perhaps something more urban and modern? Once you’ve determined what kind of vibe you’d like, look through our list of venues and see if any stand out as ideal matches.
- Consider lighting conditions. If it’s dark by 5 p.m., consider choosing a sunset or dusk ceremony so that guests aren’t squinting during speeches. Conversely, if there will be plenty of daylight after sunset (or at least well into the evening), feel free to go with an earlier time slot.
Wedding Photographers
For most couples, photography is an important part of the wedding experience. Hiring a wedding photographer like these wedding photographers in Sydney can ensure that you have plenty of photos to remember your special day by and also help make sure that every detail is captured in a way that reflects who you are as a couple. Depending on your budget, there are several different options for hiring photographers. You may choose to hire one photographer or two separate ones one for the ceremony and reception, and another for family photos or portraits before the ceremony. The following list describes some of the most common ways photographers might be utilized at outdoor weddings:
- Pre-ceremony portrait sessions with families
- Ceremony coverage (including bridal party shots)
- Reception coverage (including formal dances)
Get a backup plan in case of inclement weather
As an outdoor wedding planner, you cannot control the weather. But you can plan for it.
Make sure to have a backup location in case you need one. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so make sure everyone knows what other options are available if it rains on your big day. Also have a backup transportation plan, as well as entertainment you don’t want guests or yourself getting car sick on their way home in a downpour.
Wedding Lighting
When it comes to planning your wedding, you want everything to be perfect. The best way is to find an outdoor wedding lighting rental to ensure that all of the elements of your special day are taken care of in a way that reflects who you and your partner are as individuals. You can use lighting to set the mood for each part of your wedding ceremony, reception or celebration afterward.
- Mood Lighting: The right lighting can help set the tone for any event or activity. It’s important not just at night time but also during daylight hours when there may be too much glare from bright sunlight on certain parts of an outdoor venue that could distract guests from seeing what’s happening in front of them (like during speeches).
- Spotlight On An Object Or A Person: If there’s something special that needs attention at an outdoor ceremony such as a unique piece of furniture used in a place where seats won’t fit; then using spotlights will make sure it stands out while still keeping things balanced so they don’t look tacky or overdone.
- Romantic Setting: Candles give off soft light which creates an inviting atmosphere for newlyweds wanting privacy after their vows have been said and before guests arrive, especially if they’re planning something private afterward like cutting their cake together privately so no one else gets involved except maybe someone helping them move around each other’s chairs as needed throughout dinner service later on during dessert hour.
Pay attention to the time of day
When you’re planning your outdoor wedding, you should pay attention to the time of day. You see, there are certain times when it’s better to have an outdoor wedding than others. For example, if you had a beautiful garden with lots of flowers and trees surrounding it, and let’s say this garden was in full bloom during springtime then having your wedding during sunset would be perfect. This is because, at sunset, the sun will be setting behind those trees and flowers (as opposed to shining directly on them), thereby creating a gorgeous backdrop for your photos.
However, If instead that same garden was covered in snow all winter long then maybe holding an outdoor ceremony at sunset might not work out so well after all. Instead, consider hosting an early evening reception with soft lighting inside or outside if possible (candles are always nice). That way guests won’t squint or have trouble seeing anything when taking pictures together later on down into darkness.
Check the weather
It’s important to know what you’re up against when planning an outdoor wedding. Make sure you check the forecast for the day of, and then a week or two ahead of time as well. You’ll want to find out if there are any storms or other bad weather in the area that could potentially ruin your big day. If you choose a location that gets a lot of rain, it might be best to do all of your outdoor photos beforehand so that on your wedding day, guests can enjoy themselves indoors instead.
Make sure you have plenty of shade
Shade is a must. You want your guests and wedding party to be comfortable, especially if you’re planning a summer or early fall wedding. If you don’t have enough shade for everyone, consider renting portable tents that can act as sun shelters. Make sure that these tents are easy to set up and are large enough to fit your entire guest list so they won’t feel cramped or out of the way.
If you’re getting married outdoors in the winter months, designated indoor spaces will need heating sources such as fireplaces, heat lamps, or space heaters placed around them to keep people warm throughout your ceremony and reception.
Make sure your venue can accommodate guests with mobility needs
You’re taking the time to plan an outdoor wedding, but you can’t forget about those with mobility needs.
Make sure your venue is accessible. Ask if the venue has wheelchair access, a ramp leading up to the entrance, a lift or elevator, and disabled parking. If you have family members who may need help getting in and out of their chairs at certain points during your ceremony or reception, make sure they know where they’ll be able to get up close if they need it.
Account for any logistic hurdles that may arise, like noise ordinances or parking areas.
If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, it’s important to account for any logistic hurdles that may arise. You should also be prepared for the weather—even if your ceremony is scheduled for a sunny day, there’s no guarantee that it will stay nice. If you’re not sure what might go wrong and how to fix it, here are some examples of things that could happen:
- The location has noisy neighbors who don’t want their peace disturbed by loud music or dancing. This can be solved by having your DJ play quieter music during specific times (like before dinner) or hiring a sound technician who specializes in outdoor weddings and events.
- Your venue has limited parking spaces available and they’re all taken up by people attending other events happening at the same time as yours. This problem can be solved easily enough by paying extra security guards or asking attendees to park elsewhere, such as at nearby businesses or public lots (if they’re free).
- The weather forecast predicts rain showers throughout the entire day…or worse yet…a hurricane warning with high winds. While there’s no way around this type of situation except postponing until next weekend (or moving indoors), there are plenty of ways you can still have fun on a rainy day: 1) Get creative about finding indoor locations nearby; 2) Bring games like cornhole boards; 3) Have buffet-style meals instead of sit-down dinners so people aren’t spending too much time sitting around tables talking; 4) Call off all dances except ones where everyone stands up anyway (such as line dances).
Play up your venue’s natural beauty as much as possible
If you have a stunning, pastoral location for your wedding, take advantage of the setting and decorate the tables with flowers from around the property. If there are lovely trees or sculptures nearby, consider incorporating them into your table arrangements. You can also use natural materials like wood or stone for elements such as centerpieces or table numbers just be sure to keep these items in line with the overall look and feel of your wedding day.
If the weather is an issue on your big day (for example, if it rains), make sure to think about how you can incorporate this into your celebration: maybe you’ll want to move indoors because guests will need shelter from light raindrops falling on their heads while they eat cake; maybe having some umbrellas around can help keep those who don’t mind getting wet protected from heavier downpours; and maybe having music playing inside will help take their minds off anything unpleasant that might be happening outside.
Conclusion
As you can see, there’s a lot to think about when planning an outdoor wedding. But if you take the time to make sure all your bases are covered, you’ll have a much better chance of enjoying the day and having it reflect your vision. From choosing a venue that makes sense for your needs and budget to planning for weather contingencies (including backup plans), every step in the process will help ensure that you end up with an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.