Outdoor Wedding Inspiration

Creating the Perfect Outdoor Wedding Atmosphere, Decor Ideas and Inspiration

An outdoor wedding can be a beautiful and romantic way to tie the knot. Whether it’s in a garden, a park, or on a beach, an outdoor wedding allows you to enjoy the beauty of nature while celebrating your love with family and friends.

However, planning an outdoor wedding can be a bit more challenging than an indoor one. Here are some ideas and inspiration for your wedding decor and things to consider when planning an outdoor wedding celebration.

Choose a Space

The first step in planning an outdoor wedding is choosing a venue. Look for a place that has beautiful natural surroundings, such as a garden or a beach. Make sure to check the weather patterns for the area and the time of year you want to get married. It’s important to have a backup plan in case of rain or inclement weather. As you aren’t hosting your wedding reception or nuptials in a typical venue, you may wish to consider hiring a wedding planner who’ll be able to oversee managing suppliers, coming up with a vision for your day and ensuring all the health and safety needs are met too.

Rent a tent

Even if the weather is perfect, it’s a good idea to rent a tent for your outdoor wedding. A tent will provide shade for your guests and protect them from the sun or rain. You can also decorate the tent to match your wedding theme, and use it for parts of your day, such as serving your meal, cutting the cake or as the dancefloor for the evening party.

Set up a dance floor

An outdoor wedding can be a little tricky when it comes to dancing. Grass can be uneven and muddy, and it’s not exactly ideal for dancing. Set up a dance floor on a level surface, such as a patio or a flat piece of land. A dance floor will also give your guests a designated area to dance and have fun and can be an area where your band, DJ or other musicians or entertainment can set up too. As a general rule of thumb, your dance floor should equal around 3sq ft for 30% of your guest list to be using it at any one time.
You can typically expect around 30% of your guests to be actively dancing at any given time, and each guest needs enough space to move around. You may want to set aside enough space for 40-50% of your guest list if you know you’re going to have a crowd full of dance enthusiasts on your hands.

Get a sign and fun decorations to alert guests that it’s a dance floor. Either make your dance floor sign or purchase a pre-made sign online or at a party store so that your guests know exactly what the area is going to be used for. You can also pick up stanchions to rope the area off or hang string lights overhead so that the area stands out as a dance floor.

This is important since your guests may not automatically know your dance floor isn’t set aside for something else. You don’t want to spend 30 minutes walking around to tell your guests it’s a dance floor. You just want them to get up, dance and start partying!

Compliment your wedding colours

When planning your outdoor wedding, consider the colours that will look best in the natural surroundings. For example, if you’re getting married on a beach, consider blues and greens to complement the ocean. If you’re getting married in a garden, consider pastels or bright colours to match the flowers.

Use natural elements

One of the great things about an outdoor wedding is that you can use natural elements as part of your decor. Consider incorporating elements such as flowers, branches, and leaves into your centrepieces and other decorations. You can also use natural elements such as rocks or shells as part of your table settings. Just because the wedding is set in the great outdoors, it doesn’t mean it has to be less elegant than a traditional wedding. You can increase the charm of an outdoor wedding by incorporating natural elements alongside rustic farmhouse tables, hay bales for additional seating, hanging lights and an outdoor drinks serving station or two.

Plan for lighting

Excellent lighting should not only be found on decorations such as your tables or centrepieces. Hanging lights for your wedding reception should also be intertwined into your decor as they will be part of the backdrop of all your photos.

Outdoor weddings can be especially beautiful at night, but it’s important to plan for lighting. Make sure your guests can see where they’re going and that the important areas of your wedding, such as the dance floor and the bar, are well-lit. You can use string lights, lanterns, or candles to create a romantic and intimate atmosphere. You can also purchase solar-powered lights. The great thing about these lights is that you can fully charge them the day before your wedding to make sure you can dance the night away without running out of juice.

Rent comfortable seating

Your guests will be spending a lot of time sitting during your wedding, so it’s important to rent comfortable seating. Look for chairs that are sturdy and have padded seats. You can also consider renting couches or benches for a more relaxed seating area.

Rent a sound system

An outdoor wedding can be noisy, with birds chirping and the sound of waves crashing and guests can typically be spread out further than an indoor venue. Rent a sound system to make sure your guests can hear your vows and your reception speeches. You can also use the sound system for your music and to play special songs during important moments, such as your first dance.

Consider the weather

No matter what time of year you’re getting married, it’s important to consider the weather. If it’s going to be hot, consider providing fans or umbrellas for your guests. If it’s going to be cold, consider renting heaters or providing blankets. Make sure to have a backup plan in case of rain or other inclement weather.

Planning an outdoor wedding requires a little extra effort, but the result is most definitely worth it. With careful planning and attention to detail, you can create a beautiful and romantic ensuring you have enough lighting and seating every detail counts when it comes to planning an outdoor wedding. With these ideas and inspiration, you’ll be well on your way to creating the outdoor wedding of your dreams.

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