10 Top Tips When Having an Outdoor Wedding

There are many reasons why 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 the drinks reception? Either way there are a few things to consider when having an 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 or sensible shoes etc.

2. Consider the weather conditions

Whilst we wouldn’t necessarily recommend having an outdoor wedding in winter, it’s possible! Summer is naturally the best time to have an outdoor wedding but if your wedding is taking place in spring or autumn just make sure you research the average temperature, number of daylight hours and keep a close eye on the weather forecast as the big day approaches!

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 breath-taking scenery and a magical sunset on your special day but what if it rains? Or there’s a storm? We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for you but for peace of mind always make sure you have a Plan B. Even if it costs you a bit more money in the long-run, you might be very grateful for the forward planning later on.

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. If the weather is cool why not provide warm drinks, outdoor heaters, and blankets. And if the weather is hot you could buy a load of parasols, or provide sunscreen, ice cream, insect repellent and flip flops for hot, tired feet!

5. Consider what food you’ll serve

Having an outdoor wedding means you could very easily 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.

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 totally magical woodland wedding in the middle of nowhere you are going to 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 size generator unit. And a lot of extension cords!

7. Create a focal point

Have you ever been to a house party and 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 feeling lost. You could even create mini areas around this – an intimate lounge setting, games area and a dedicated cocktail bar.

8. Lighting

Lighting is key for any wedding reception that carries on into the evening. Not forgetting that the right lighting can set the mood for the celebrations too. Lighting inside your reception space (if you’re having 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 make sure you check if there are any restrictions locally when planning an outdoor wedding. 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! Also consider accessibility to the site, 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 that it will be the budget option but this might not necessarily be the case. Plan carefully from the beginning. Set your budget, research suppliers and keep a track of the spending. You’re literally building a wedding from scratch which includes a lot more planning, logistics and money than you might have first considered.