Outdoor weddings are amazing. They take in the beauty of nature, let you spread out far further than what’s available in most properties, and look absolutely stunning. Not only can you host a larger event outdoors than you can indoors (unless you go to a large hall, but those usually sacrifice style for space), but it’s also how you can bring everyone together quickly and comfortably. If you have the budget, everyone can stay on the property. Compared to the cost of some of those manors or other prime wedding locations based out of hotels, the overall price can be competitive.
Outdoor weddings are nothing but potential. However, that means that it’s entirely on you (and your wedding planner) to make a stunning event come to life. If you aren’t sure where to begin or are just looking for some extra inspiration to take your outdoor wedding to the next level, look no further than these top tips:
Add Glamping
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to getting everyone on your guest list to show up is the issue of getting home after the event. Unless there are nice, budget-friendly options, the need for a night’s stay can then rack up prices for your guests and mean that many of your favorite people can no longer attend.
Enter, glamping. Wedding glamping can look absolutely magical, and it can give your guests a place to stay. This is particularly important if your guests have already booked out the hotels nearby and you still have guests coming. Luxury glamping is extremely comfortable. It is a dream vacation for everyone and will go wonderfully with your tent gazebo and other temporary roof designs.
Plan for Night
If you’re planning for your wedding to go well into the night, then you need to consider how logistics will work once the sun sets. This means designing the ambiance with lights and also adding things like heaters and having blankets on standby so that you can continue to keep your guests out and about.
Fairy, string, and candles are the perfect combination for an utterly romantic lighting setup at dusk and beyond. You’ll also want to see if you can add supervised fire pits for people to gather around, keep people warm, and embrace twilight’s beauty. Since everyone’s energy will naturally wane during this time, creating comfortable, cozy places for guests and yourself to mingle before going home is the perfect way to round out the night.
Embrace the Environment
Embracing the environment is the best way to really get the most out of your outdoor wedding. Open up your gazebo and tents so that they have a full view of the stunning landscape. Use local flora to carry the beauty of the natural area around you throughout your wedding (and for less). You can even take inspiration from the environment when it comes to décor or furniture rental.
Set up Activity Corners
Activity corners are one of the best benefits of an outdoor wedding. You can have an area for lawn games to help break the ice, a photo corner, a lounge area, and so much more. You have more space to comfortably spread out your wedding, giving guests and yourselves the ability to adjust the activity or setting based on your energy levels at the time.
If you want to make sure that guests are fully aware of the many activities and fun things there are to do around the estate. You may want to consider creating an activity card. This card can include a checklist for guests. You can also have a fun treat at each station, like a special drink and dessert combo, to entice people to fully embrace every activity and feature you’ve invested in for your big day.
Have Buffet Stations
Even if you have a sit-down dinner, you will want to have buffet stations for snacking. These stations should be under a tent, yes, and they also need to be easy to find. By having buffet stations (like a cheese station or even an ice cream station), you can accommodate more people by ensuring everyone continues to be well-fed and having fun. The last thing you want is for people to get hungry or drink too much on an empty stomach. Like the activities, you’ll want to spread these buffet stations throughout the venue so that guests are never too far from a bite to eat.
