image by Glass Jar Photography
As the rules on where you can and can’t say your ‘I dos’ have become more relaxed we’ve seen venue options for brides and grooms soar.
In particular there has been a notable rise in the amount of places couples can now wed outdoors, with many venues and land owners seizing the opportunity to get permanent structures, such as pretty barns, gazebos and band stands licensed for civil ceremonies.
Meanwhile those wanting to stick to tradition with a church ceremony need not to miss out on the great outdoors action as open air receptions hosted in pretty gardens, enchanting woodland and rolling fields, appear to be equally popular.
So for those that are wanting to take all, or just a part, of their big day celebrations outdoors, we’re exploring what’s needed to make it an al fresco delight rather than an out-in-the-wilderness fright.
image by Jonathan Stockton Photography
hidden extras
A big plus point to outdoor weddings is couples’ freedom to have their wedding in an unusual location and to be able to do everything their own way, from the styling to the food. However, even if you’re fortunate enough to have parents with an adequate garden in which to pitch a marquee, be prepared to encounter costs you wouldn’t face when partying indoors.
Beyond the cost of the actual marquee or tepee, if you plan to hire one, you’ll need to think about electricity sources for lighting, catering and entertainment. Also is the flooring, stage, dance floor and a bar included in the cost or will these be extra? Oh, and is there running water and toilets on the site or will Portaloos be required?
And once that’s all taken care of you will need to think about hiring chairs, tables, cutlery, glassware, linen and possibly waiter staff. So though an outdoor wedding brings great flexibility, it can also come with its fair share of ‘hidden’ costs.
image by Award Weddings
get creative
But it’s not all bad news, there are many pros to taking weddings outdoors – one of the biggest being the opportunity to get as creative as you like with the décor.
Most outdoor weddings take place in a blank canvass area – be it a barn, marquee or woodland – making the styling possibilities pretty much endless. Firstly couples can arrange their ceremony area, deciding how guests will be arranged, what style of seating they will rest upon, how to create a makeshift aisle, with the help of flowers and lighting, and whether to have backdrop at the alter, such as a floral archway.
Plans can then commence for the reception. Is there a marquee that needs to be styled and how can you incorporate the surroundings that are already there? For example stringing festoon lighting or bunting through the trees, using feeding troughs or wheel barrows as drinks coolers and hanging pompoms and pictures from branches. There is also the opportunity for a little fun by juxtapositioning furniture outside, such as old dressing tables and chests of draws, and using them for floral displays and cake stands.
And why stop at just one reception area? With no four walls as a boundary, outdoor couples can have a spot for eating and dancing, another for outdoor games and a quiet area for chilling.
image by Alexandra Holt Photography
be prepared for the elements
In Britain an open air wedding is not without risks, the most obvious danger being the weather. As we are blessed with conditions that are as unpredictable as what comes out of Katie Hopkin’s mouth, it’s best for those planning outdoor celebrations to have contingency plans in place. For example is there an area of shelter in case it rains and is hard flooring being laid in case the ground is soggy?
When deciding on decorations also consider the wind, the last thing you want is all your hard work being blown away.
Keep a close eye on the weather and prepare for last minute buys to cover all eventualities, such as parasols/umbrellas in case it turns out to be really sunny or rainy, blankets/throws for guests and jackets/boleros for the bride and her maids if the temperatures are set to drop.
Perhaps also put a little reminder in your invites about appropriate footwear depending on the terrain guests will be faced with so ladies don’t sink into sodden ground.
image by Elle & R Photography
far out food
Another great area of flexibility to an outdoor wedding is the catering choices. Many indoor venues provide their own catering or offer a trusted supplier, which may restrict couples’ options, but this is generally not the case for open air venues.
To complement the freedom of being outdoors, many open air brides and grooms opt for relaxed and informal styles of wedding breakfasts, such as quaint afternoon teas, modern sharing platters and good old British barbecues. For those wanting to do away with formalities altogether there is also the option of picnics and street food vans. The latter option is quickly growing in popularity with couples loving the idea of wheeling in their favourite food (and drink) to serve up to their guests throughout the proceedings; whether it be an old fashioned ice cream cart, cool crepe van, rustic style pizzas or prosecco and Pimms on tap!
Practice your wedding planning ABC with the rest of our wedding alphabet series, here.
