As easy as they may look, outdoor weddings take a lot of planning and there are so many factors to consider. Just like any other type of wedding, they come with their own pitfalls, but when they’re well-thought-out, they turn out to be quite romantic and magical. Check out these six tips on how to plan the perfect outdoor wedding and make sure it goes as smooth as possible.
1. Choose an appropriate dress/suit for your outdoor wedding
One of the most important elements of the wedding is, of course, the wedding attire. The wedding dress needs to be appropriate for an outdoor ceremony, and its style, length, and the material will largely depend on the season when the wedding is taking place.
If the wedding is in summer, it’d be best to stick with a lightweight dress the bride will feel comfortable in, while the groom can go for a breathable shirt and a lightweight jacket.
On the other hand, if the temperatures drop, be sure to bring a shrug or a cover-up to keep warm, while the groom could opt for a suit made from thicker materials.
2. Select the right hairstyle that is also weather-proof
When selecting a hairstyle for your outdoor wedding look, the weather conditions will largely determine the range of options that are available. The first choice the bride needs to make is whether she wants to wear her hair up or down, or maybe she prefers a half-and-half look.
Since it tends to get windy outdoors, it would be best to get advice from a hairstylist as they’ll be able to determine whether the hairstyle will manage to hold up well.
A half-up fishtail braid will look elegant with any dress and it doesn’t require any touch-ups while a bohemian braided up-do will go perfectly with the rustic feel of the venue while adding a romantic touch to your wedding look.
As for the groom, with the little help of quality hair styling products and perhaps a trim here and there, he can get a classy look that will blend perfectly with his suit.
3. Make sure your venue is perfectly illuminated
While a couple of string lights and candles on each table may work for smaller weddings, bigger venues require many different lighting layers to ensure that all the pathways, parking lots, and bathrooms are visible after the sun goes down.
Since no one wants any malfunctions on their wedding day, you might need to hire a professional to tackle the lighting so you can rest assured that everything is safely installed and properly taken care of.
Not only is it dangerous to tackle the electrical work by yourself, but it’s heavily regulated in countries such as Australia. That is why many homeowners there decide to rely on an experienced electrician to install the lighting in a safe and efficient way.
This comes in handy when you’re planning a big outdoor wedding and need multiple power sources since the professionals can bring generators to get more power, thus ensuring the entire wedding venue is perfectly illuminated.
4. Enhance the natural beauty of your surroundings with decor
Depending on the spot you’ve chosen for your outdoor wedding, there’s always something you can add to make it cosy and welcoming. Before you start to set up your decor and furniture, make sure that the grass is trimmed and that the ground is raked so that everything looks spick and span.
Also, it’d be a good idea to have your venue bug-proofed a couple of days before the wedding and don’t forget to bring bug repellents such as citronella candles and torches to keep the uninvited guests at bay.
When it comes to your wedding decor, the setting itself should be let to set the tone, while subtle decor pieces should work together to enhance the visual appeal of the venue and bring out the natural beauty of the surroundings.
A great way to achieve this is to use seasonal flowers for your floral arrangements and decorate with a certain colour scheme in mind. You could also include a floral arch to instantly upgrade your wedding ceremony and create the perfect backdrop.
5. Coordinate the menu with the venue
One of the advantages of organizing an outdoor wedding is that it gives you a chance to play around with the menu and make some creative choices.
Outdoor weddings mean you can choose to serve anything – from barbecue and pizza or something fancy such as sushi and oysters. Think about whether you want your guests to be seated and served their meals or would you rather go with interactive food stations?
Talk to your caterer and build a menu that blends perfectly with the overall atmosphere you’re striving to create. Whichever way you choose to go, consider your venue as you’re planning the menu and draw inspiration from your surroundings as well as the season of the year.
6. Consider the weather (and always have a plan B!)
One of the most important factors when it comes to planning an outdoor wedding is, of course, the weather. Due to its unpredictability, many couples opt for wedding locations that have an indoor space just in case something unexpected happens.
Tents are a great option when it comes to outdoor weddings since they can be pitched practically everywhere. Whether you’re planning a wedding in the park or in a backyard, tents can be modified to fit both casual and formal weddings.
Just make sure you introduce portable air conditioning units and fans to weather-proof the tent. However, if the weather happens to be inconsistent in your area, it’d be best to reserve a nearby restaurant as your plan B.
Although it takes a lot to plan an alfresco celebration successfully, the end result always proves it was worth it. Use the tips above as a guide for planning your dream wedding and pull off the perfect outdoor affair.