Everyone wants their outdoor wedding to be unique and totally awesome. But with outdoor weddings becoming increasingly popular, it may be hard to find a way to make yours unique. Coming up with ideas for your outdoor wedding that’ll WOW your guests is key to creating an unforgettable wedding experience. So, here’s 7 tips for a totally awesome outdoor wedding.
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7 Tips For A Perfect Outdoor Wedding
Modern-day weddings are less about the traditional stuff and all about creating unforgettable experiences. Every love story is unique to the couple’s journey in life, and your wedding should be as well. So today we’re dishing out some pretty incredible ideas for a perfect outdoor wedding. One that’ll have your guests swooning forever. If you’re ready to plan the most amazing outdoor wedding, check out these tips!
1. Illuminate The Night
One sure-fire way to create an unforgettable outdoor wedding is by illuminating the night. There’s just something magical that happens when you add lighting to outdoor venues. Here are gorgeous lighting ideas to decorate your outdoor wedding.
Chandeliers
This has to be one of our favorite ways to illuminate any outdoor wedding or special event—hang chandeliers from trees or your tent for an exquisite and romantic lighting experience.
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Limb Lighting
If your reception area has a canopy of trees, you can create a genuinely whimsical outdoor wedding setting by draping string lights on the branches or dangling long strands of lights from the limbs. It’ll be an absolutely dreamy setting.
Cafe Lights
There’s nothing more dreamy and romantic than some cafe lights decorating your outdoor wedding. Also referred to as string lights, bistro, party string, and globe string lights, they’re the perfect way to dress up any outdoor setting for a wedding.
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2. Prepare For Weather Changes
Sure, the outdoors provides a beautiful setting for your “I Do’s,” but they also come with some challenges. Nothing could be worse than having your guests uncomfortable at your wedding due to steamy temperatures, snow, bugs, and of course, the blazing sun. No matter how much planning goes into your outdoor wedding, you can’t control the weather. So, our tip for preparing for bad weather on your wedding day is to have a backup plan and roll with whatever Mother Nature throws your way. Here are some ideas on how to tackle the weather during an outdoor wedding.
Wedding Tent
Depending on your outdoor setting, a tent may be a great way to ward off any bad weather. And with today’s creative-minded vendors, you can really do a lot to dress them up. So, no need to worry that a wedding tent may look empty or plain. Simply add some attractive seating, stunning floral arrangements, and exciting lighting, and you’ll quickly turn your tent into an unforgettable setting.
Get Event Insurance
Many couples don’t realize that you can get event insurance for your wedding. This is something that can be a lifesaver if you experience catastrophic weather on your wedding day. No one likes to think that a hurricane, tornado, wildfire, or other significant weather scenarios could impact their special day, but unfortunately, it can happen.
Color-Coordinated, Themed Blankets
If the weather turns chilly or even snows, it’d be great to have small blankets on hand for your guests. Prepare in advance, get some throw blankets that match your theme or color palette, and use them as part of your outdoor wedding decor. Set up a cute basket with a sign, and your guests will think it’s super cute and thoughtful.
3. Get Creative With The Entrance
Sure, when you’re getting married outdoors, nature provides most of the decor. But outdoor weddings can pose a little challenge for your guests to understand where to go. So, one totally awesome tip for your outdoor wedding is to get creative with your signage and entrance. And don’t forget to include your cute wedding hashtag, so it’s the first thing your guests see when they enter your venue! This will help ensure they will use it later when posting all the photos from the big day.
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4. Display Your Food And Booze Outside
Another great idea for an awesome outdoor wedding is to set up your food and bar outside. Many times outdoor venues provide ample space for your event, making filling it up a challenge. However, you don’t want your wedding to look lost in a big space, so use your food and drink tables to fill up the wedding location. Multiple food stations, a couple of cocktail bars, and hey, you could even hire a wedding food truck. Doing this will make a wonderful culinary experience for your guests. One they surely won’t forget.
5. Have A Photo Display And Sitting Area
We love this idea! Set up a cozy sitting area with mix-matched chairs or Miami-style lounge seats and have a photo display. Your guests will love seeing photos of your journey together and even pictures of loved ones that may have passed on.
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6. Entertain Your Guests With Lawn Games
If you want to create an unforgettable wedding experience, add some lawn games. There’s no doubt that modern-day couples are changing how we do weddings, and interactive games are definitely gaining popularity. So, if you want to entertain your guests, dancing is no longer the only way to do it.
Here Are Some Outdoor Lawn Games For Your Outdoor Wedding:
- Oversized Jenga
- Corn Hole
- Ring Toss
- Bocce Ball
- Croquet
- Badminton
- Oversized Connect Four
- Giant Checkers
- High Striker
7. Embrace Plants And Trees For Natural Decor
We all know that weddings can be expensive, so one of the most significant benefits of hosting an outdoor wedding is to use nature as part of your decor. After all, the setting, the trees, flowers, and the beauty that Mother Nature provided are probably why you fell in love with the location.
Embrace all of nature and wonder and incorporate it into your wedding decor. Here are a few ideas for you.
Majestic Trees
If you’ve chosen a woodsy setting, the majestic trees can be the backdrop for your wedding ceremony. There’s something really magical about tall trees, forests, and of course, whimsical historic oak trees that are draped in Spanish Moss. So, if you’re lucky enough to have chosen a setting with these types of trees, embrace it!
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Plants
If your outdoor setting doesn’t have any big majestic trees, you can always add some potted plants around the venue for an added natural aesthetic. Place them at the end of the ceremony, seating aisles, on tables, and the altar. It really makes a beautiful setting for your “I Do’s.”
Top 5 Outdoor Venues In 2021
1. Backyard Wedding Venues
Planning a backyard wedding is becoming more popular in 2021 as many events have been downsized. These cozy backyard spaces are proving to be a beautiful setting for couples tying the knot. Why are backyards so popular right now? Well, the arrival of COVID meant that many wedding venues could no longer host events. So, couples who didn’t want to wait looked for other settings for their “I Do’s.”
Backyards can be easy to transform, convenient, affordable, and often already landscaped, making them a gorgeous place for a wedding ceremony and reception.
2. Beach Settings
Getting married on the beach will forever be a popular venue. And with so many beaches to choose from, there are endless opportunities for the beauty of the ocean, the sound of the waves, soft sands, and crystal blue skies to be your outdoor wedding scene.
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And in many cases, if it’s a public beach, there may not be any fees associated with getting married on the beach. However, a little decor is needed for the altar, rent some chairs, and you can have one truly magical event.
3. Adventure Elopements
With the downsizing of the guest lists, many couples choose to elope instead of planning the big shindig. And since not everyone wants to jet off to Paris to tie the knot, adventure elopements are on the rise. Think of a rustic setting, deep in the woods, at a volcano, a dreamy mountain, National Park, or desert. They all make an unbelievable setting for your wedding, photographs, and guest experiences.
4. Winery & Vineyard
Oh, yes! We can’t list the 5 best outdoor settings without including vineyards and wineries on the list. They have such a natural, peaceful feel about them that makes them perfect for weddings. So if you want an outdoor wedding filled with nature, provide unbelievable backgrounds for photos, and a unique experience for your guests, a Winery may be perfect for you.
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5. Farm Or Ranch
The love affair we all have with barn weddings and the chic-country vibe you get at a farm or ranch is undeniable. So, if a country-chic vibe fits your personality, search for a rustic farm or ranch in your area. They’ll have beautiful spaces that you can host your ceremony and reception. A fun time for all will be had!
Tie The Knot Outdoors
Outdoor weddings have been around for a very long time, and now they’re becoming even more popular than ever. Mother Nature has done some pretty incredible artistry with everything green, blue, brown, and of course, all the pops and explosions of floral colors. Not to mention the sounds of nature and the feeling of the warm sun and gentle breezes, you can’t go wrong when tying the knot outdoors.
Chermaine’s journey into the world of gemstones and crystals began as a child, collecting shimmering stones on family vacations. Today, she’s a certified gemologist and spiritual healer, intertwining the physical beauty of jewels with their metaphysical properties.
Chermaine has traveled to mines in Africa, marketplaces in India, and spiritual retreats in Bali, always seeking to deepen her understanding.