10 Top Tips When Having an Outdoor Wedding

For many reasons, having an outdoor wedding is a popular choice amongst couples, from the beautiful surroundings to the flexibility and the opportunity to create something from scratch that truly epitomises you both. You might choose to host your whole wedding outdoors, from the first kiss to the last dance. Or maybe you’d like to incorporate the outdoors into certain elements of your day, such as an outdoor ceremony or cocktail hour? There are many stunning outdoor options to consider, whether your wedding venue has a beautiful garden for you to have an outdoor ceremony or even pitch a tipi or marquee to dance the night away in. Either way, there still are a few things to consider if you want to throw the perfect outdoor wedding. Keep reading for our top 10 tips.

1. Include it on your invitations

Having an outdoor wedding could have an impact on your guests, so let them know what to expect by including it on your wedding website and on your wedding invitations too. Invite them to ask questions and let them know if they need to come prepared with a warm layer, sensible shoes, etc. Ultimately, you want your guests to feel comfortable throughout the day, so if you've given them pre-warning about what to wear or what not to wear, everyone should be happy and able to settle into the celebrations easily.

2. Consider the weather conditions

Whilst we wouldn’t necessarily recommend having an outdoor wedding in the winter, it is possible! Hosting a summer wedding is naturally the optimum time, but if you're planning an outdoor wedding and your chosen date is in spring or [autumn]https://sayi.do/articles/10-reasons-you-should-have-a-fall-autumn-wedding), just make sure you research the average temperature and number of daylight hours and keep a close eye on the weather forecast as the big day approaches! On the flip side, if you are hosting in the summer, make sure you have shelter from the sun and plenty of ice-cold bottles of water to keep everyone cool and hydrated.

3. Have a back-up plan

No matter what month it is or where in the world you are, you always need a backup plan. You may have dreamt of an outdoor wedding with breathtaking scenery and a magical sunset on your special day, but what if it rains? Or there’s a storm? Be sure to have a plan B in place just in case the rain or other elemental havoc decides to make a guest appearance at your wedding. Consider a tent or indoor space where guests can easily relocate if the heavens fall down. With a foolproof plan in place and perhaps even detail-oriented event staff that's prepared for anything, you can rest easy and, dare we say, embrace the rain! Even if it costs you a bit more money in the long run, you will be grateful for the forward planning.

4. Ensure your guests are comfortable

One of the most common pieces of wedding planning advice we see is, ‘It’s your day, do it your way’. And whilst we absolutely stand by this, it doesn’t mean you can be totally selfish and forget your guests' comfort. You're essentially the host for your guests, so you need to consider their needs just as much as yours. If the weather is cool, why not ask the wedding party to be on hand to distribute warm drinks, outdoor heaters, and blankets? And if the weather is hot, you could buy a load of parasols or provide sunscreen, ice creams, citronella candles, and flip-flops for hot, tired feet! Hot tip; if your wedding is midsummer, you could always print your wedding program on a fan so guests know what's happening whilst staying cool.

5. Consider what food you’ll serve

Outdoor weddings could mean it's possible to ditch the traditional 3-course meal and opt for something much more casual and laid back for your food, such as a street food truck or a BBQ. Wedding caterers are usually self-sufficient, so whoever you choose, just be forthcoming about your site access, power, etc, and even suggest a site visit if you think it’s appropriate. Don't forget that you may have dietary requirements to manage, though, so speak to your food vendors early so they can accommodate them accordingly.

6. The necessary bits

Boring, but oh, so necessary. First up, toilets. From composting loos to cheap festival-style portaloos to those fancy luxury cabins, there’s a lot to choose from. Considering they’re such an essential item, make sure you get this bit organised ASAP—secondly, power. If you’re planning a magical woodland wedding in the middle of nowhere, you will need sufficient power. To make sure your outdoor wedding keeps going all night long without a power outage, you will need an industry-style and- sized generator unit. And a lot of extension cords!

7. Create a focal point

Have you ever been to a house party where everyone is just gathered in the kitchen? It’s because they like a focal point. Mimic this for your wedding by creating a main area that your guests can use as their focal point. This way, they won’t be completely spread out and feel lost. You could even create mini areas around this – an intimate lounge setting, a games area, and a dedicated cocktail bar. Don't underestimate the need for seats either; weddings are long, so guests will be grateful to have somewhere comfortable to recharge and rest those dancing feet!

8. Lighting

Lighting is key for any wedding reception that carries on into the evening, but even more so if you're having an outdoor reception. Do not forget that the right lighting can also set the mood for the celebrations. Lighting inside your reception space (if you have one) is a given, but also remember to light paths, carparks, and toilet areas too. Festoon or fairy lights look brilliant strung up, leading the way to a destination.

9. Check for restrictions

Before you go full steam ahead, just check if there are any local restrictions when planning an outdoor celebration. Especially any restrictions on how long you can play music for. Because if you’re having a live band, it’s surprising how far the noise can travel! With that in mind, consider neighbours and whether you need to let them know you're hosting a wedding so they will know about the noise and the increase in traffic. Your city parks department or other local government will be able to advise on whether you need a permit for an outdoor wedding. You may also need to consider what the accessibility of the site is like and how you will manage waste removal and any alcohol policies.

10. It’s not always a budget option

You might assume that if your wedding is outdoors and you’re doing it DIY, it will be a budget option, but this might not necessarily be the case. Plan carefully from the beginning. Set your wedding budget, research suppliers, and keep track of your spending, and you'll be well on your way to throwing the ultimate outdoor wedding. But keep in mind that when you're in the early days of wedding planning, you’re literally building a wedding from scratch, which includes a lot more planning, logistics, and money than you might have first considered.