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Are you dreaming of tying the knot in the open, flowers in your hair, chairs in the yard, a dance floor on the lawn? What better backdrop than a pristine lake, blooming trees, and flowers to kickstart this beautiful chapter of your life together? Forget about lavish ceremonies in banquet halls and tight spaces in expensive restaurants if you want to save money. Instead, fill your lungs with fresh air and get closer to nature for your wedding day with these fantastic ideas.
Sometimes less is better when it comes to wedding celebrations, and there's nothing simpler than an outdoor wedding party. Weather permitting, an outdoor wedding celebration is the better choice for many reasons. Whether it's a park, a botanical garden, or your own backyard, consider some of the best outdoor wedding venues for your special day.
Private Villa
Imagine saying yes in the enchanted gardens of a historic villa with the serene Lake Houston as your backdrop. Or dance the night away by the pool of a modern mansion somewhere in downtown Los Angeles. Both sound like the perfect outdoor spaces to celebrate your wedding day.
Barns
A rustic wedding in the countryside is a dream wedding destination for many couples. Barns offer unique space for a laid-back wedding reception, offering the charm of a backyard wedding with the convenience of covered space in case of rain.
Botanical Garden
Yes, you can have a bridal shower or a baby shower and also get married at your favorite botanical gardens! Botanical gardens are some of the most popular outdoor wedding venues, and rightly so. With blooming flowers and beautiful flowerbeds, lush landscapes, and fragrant air, they are the perfect backdrop for a memorable wedding.
Parks
Today, most large parks offer all the essentials for a celebration. Find a park with a gazebo, a lake, benches, and a barbeque area, and style your outdoor wedding to your liking.
Finding the perfect outdoor wedding venue can be a challenging task if you don't know what to look for. A whole lot more goes into planning an outdoor wedding if you take into consideration weather, electricity, catering and restrooms, among others. Here is what to look for when searching for the perfect outdoor wedding venue.
A Backup Rain Plan
Suppose your backyard wedding is not in your own garden; you'll need to have a backup plan if it starts raining. Consider renting tents or finding an outdoor wedding venue with additional covered space or an enclosed structure where you can swiftly move the party.
Explore the Surroundings
There are quite a lot of factors to consider when you want to take the party outside. Whether it's your own backyard or a private villa, make sure the neighbors are notified. Some outdoor parties require a permit, so you must check that with city officials. If the wedding is remote, make yourself familiar with the surroundings, accessibility, safety and parking, among others.
Amenities and Facilities
Although an outdoor wedding sounds amazing, you need to account for many details to make yours successful. For instance, you'll need electricity for the audio equipment, lighting, tables, chairs, and so on. Check if the location has access to portable bathrooms, generator capacity, and enough space to set up a tent.
Catering
A backyard wedding doesn't mean you have to run back and forth to the kitchen for food. To enjoy your special day the way you deserve, consider hiring chefs, caterers and servers.
The advantages of outdoor wedding venues are countless. A backyard wedding offers a more intimate atmosphere, while a park, the beach, or the countryside offers a lot more space and beautiful scenery. Whatever the outdoor wedding venue, it's easy to get inspired by nature and let your creativity flow.
Set the scene for your "I Dos" with the perfect wedding arch made of flowers, branches, wooden beams, drapes and greenery. Use wreaths, floral welcome signs, and lots of natural elements to decorate.
Outdoor venues are excellent choices for a wedding because of their natural lighting, which is essential for great quality photos. When the sun sets, create a magical atmosphere with twinkling lights, candles and lanterns.
Make and decorate a bar or a drink station where guests can pick between a variety of refreshing cocktails. Take your outdoor party up a notch with a sweet station or a dessert table. Think doughnuts, s'mores, cupcakes, caramel popcorn and more. The kids will love you for it!
More and more couples choose outdoor wedding venues over indoor ones, and we can't blame them. It's easy to immerse yourself in nature and appreciate the freedom and breathing space the great outdoors offers.
However, a lot goes into planning the perfect outdoor wedding. And, unless you hire a professional wedding planner, you are stuck with making all the decisions. Refer to this checklist every time you get sidetracked.
Make a Guest List
An important step to making the perfect wedding is to know the number of guests. Send RSVP invitations, so you know how many guests to expect. The number of guests will help you pick the right wedding venue and plan everything around the ceremony, including seating options, food, and party favors, among others.
Have a Backup Plan
One of the few setbacks of outdoor weddings, and something you cannot control, is the unpredictable weather. Unless you use your own backyard for the wedding venue, it won't hurt if you rent tents and ensure you can easily move the party nearby if it starts pouring.
Music is the Life and Soul of the Party
Whether you are set on a DJ, a live band, or making your own wedding playlist, you want to make sure the sound equipment is of high quality. Also, when it comes to parties in the open, you have to respect local bylaws or the venue rules. Familiarize yourself with the local laws and rules on sound volume and time restrictions before you start planning the wedding.
Keep Mosquitos at Bay
Outdoor weddings are romantic until they turn into a mosquito party. But worry not! There are ways to prevent bugs from ruining your outdoor wedding. Mow the lawn and cut tall grass in your backyard, use citronella candles as repellents, offer insect repellent upon entry, or install specialized mosquito traps.
Most outdoor wedding venues require little effort to prep for the celebration. But if you are lacking ideas, here are some that will surely inspire your own unique wedding celebration.
Modern Tropical Getaway
Bring the Caribbean vibe to your backyard with simple tropical decor, colorful, refreshing drinks, a tiki bar, palm trees, and other island-inspired motifs. Create a photo backdrop with large palm and banana leaves and centerpieces with other tropical flowers, such as birds of paradise, ferns, and hibiscus.
Rustic Charm
Rustic style is a common theme for back garden weddings because it is simple and romantic and creates a warm and homey atmosphere. With nature as your backdrop, it's easy to incorporate rustic charm by adding fairy lights, wood accents, and all sorts of flowers.
Classic Wedding
Your outdoor wedding can also be classic and elegant, even if it's in your backyard. You can transform any garden into an extravagant courtyard with simple tricks and ideas. Use classic centerpieces like lush greenery and plenty of white flowers, white tablecloths, elegant cutlery, and gold accents all around. Set up a classic tent, have an all-white wedding cake and create timeless wedding photos with a gazebo as your backdrop.
Dining under the stars is a unique experience, especially if it's shared with the people you love. If you want to impress your guests, create a mouthwatering menu with these brilliant ideas.
Backyard Barbeque
Barbeque is always a great idea for a casual summer wedding, especially when it's in your backyard. Create a classic BBQ menu with burgers, ribs, chicken or kebabs and delicious sides like a potato salad, pasta, coleslaw or grilled veggies. Hire a caterer, and don't even think of getting near the grill unless it's to pick up food.
Italian Food
Traditional or modern Italian food is one of the best choices for an outdoor wedding. Think antipasti, pasta, pizza, ravioli, portobello mushrooms, or risotto. Set up a station for sides like mozzarella sticks, a variety of cheese, prosciutto and other dry-cured meat. Have a coffee station for cappuccino, espresso, or latte. An outdoor wedding calls for a gelato stand, which will be a great addition to your Italian-themed outdoor wedding.
A Picnic Menu
An easy and affordable food to prepare for your backyard wedding is a simple picnic menu that you can make on your own if you want to save even more money. Include salads, sandwiches, light snacks, finger food, fruit, and cheese. Use wicker baskets, picnic tables, checkerboard tablecloths, and benches for authenticity.
Whether you are dreaming of the scenic countryside in San Francisco, a beachfront villa in San Diego, or a gorgeous backyard in San Antonio, it's easy to find the perfect venue for your outdoor wedding with Giggster. Remember that popular outdoor wedding venues sell like hot cakes, so make sure to secure your booking today.