OMG! OMG! OMG! Spring has finally come back, the clocks have been pushed forward and the sunshine is here to sweep us off our feet all summer long -- and we love it all because nothing is more magical than getting hitched in the great outdoors with Mother Nature as your backdrop.
It doesn’t matter if you’re dancing the day away in a garden pavilion, walking down the aisle of an old farm barn, having an alfresco ceremony in a walled garden or you’ve found the perfect forest glade to shout, “I DO!” there’s a thousand ways to make your outdoor wedding the most gorgeous forget-me-not day of your life. This is your chance to let the setting be your muse. It’s your chance to let the outdoors inspire every single moment, from the blooms to your gown, the decor to the cake, the favours, themes and the little details in between.
And to help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the most incredible ideas to give your outdoor wedding the wow-factor. Now go and pin each of these ideas to your mood board and enjoy.
1. Al Fresco Wedding Arch
The best thing about tying the knot beneath a big blue sky is choosing where the focal point of your ceremony should go, and then marking that vow-swapping spot with an outdoor-inspired wedding arch - a mix of wood, flowers and white cotton.
2. Tree Trunk Bridesmaid Blocks
When you’re having an outdoor wedding, heels can become a bit of an issue (#sinking), which is why you should a) let everyone know your big day involves walking on grass and b) give each of your bridesmaids a tree trunk platform to stand on so your girl squad can stand tall while you marry the man of your dreams.
3. Rustic Wedding Cake (And Display)
Semi-naked wedding cakes have a way of stealing the show no matter where you get married, but they have a next-level effect when they’re placed in the great outdoors, on a weathered wood table, decorated with pretty blooms and figs. And because of the backdrop, you’ll find that simple white cakes look the most stunning.
4. Be Perfect With Parasols
The dream for any bride tying the knot outside is sunshine, sunshine and lots more sunshine. But instead of having a table full of Factor 30 sun cream in pretty dispensers at the entrance to your ceremony, why not fill a wicker basket with parasols that your guests can help themselves to?
5. Lovely Wedding Lounge
Brides and grooms that want their guests to have the best time ever always turn a corner of their venue into a comfy space known as the wedding lounge - and an outdoor wedding should be no different. Whether you’ve noticed a shaded spot under some big trees or you create a shaded area with cotton sheets and a wooden frame, nothing would look more fitting than some white deck chairs nestled into the surrounding nature.
6. Sunglasses Make Great Favours
To make sure you swap squints for smiles, add a pair of sunglasses to each table setting with your name, date and venue engraved on the arm. Not only will you get an album of amazing snapshots, you will have all your guests saying, “you’ve literally thought of everything,” and that’s what every couple wants to hear.
7. Super-Cute Chalkboard Signs
Ever since Pinterest became a thing, chalkboard signs have been the most desirable detail of every wedding, so make sure you scatter some about your venue. They could be directions to this or that, the little moments that make up your love story or, if you want to drench your day in romance, pop your favourite love song lyrics onto chalkboard.
8. Ice Cold Hydration
Remember when you were a kid and your mum would always tell you to stay hydrated on hot days, well, she was right. Water is a must-have. That’s why you need to plonk ice-cold water everywhere you can - in buckets at the back of your pavilion venue, at the end of each aisle, on every seat, everywhere. You could even personalise it by having “Mr & Mrs Gorgeous” labels printed off and stuck on.
9. Blankets On Bales
If you’re having your ceremony outside, a great way to save on chair hire is to create rows of seating out of hay bales and then throw brightly coloured blankets and quilts over the top of them. Not only will your guests say wow at first sight, they’ll make for the most gorgeous photos.
10. Blankets For The Breeze
As much as you’re hoping the weather holds up for your spring wedding, there are no guarantees. But a little planning is all it takes to make sure your outdoor wedding is still perfect. Have a few umbrellas dotted about in case of any spring showers and place a blanket on each chair (or bale) in case it gets a bit breezy.
11. I Scream, You Scream...
… we all scream for ice cream. That’s why you should keep your guests sweet with your very own ice cream van. You could even have a personalised menu made up full of romantic flavours and make this delicious little detail extra special.
12. Creative Drink Coolers
When you’re embracing the wonderful world of rustic wedding ideas, you can get creative with almost everything, including the “help yourself” drinks coolers. Wooden flower boxes, painted bathtubs, old sailing boats, hollowed out tree trunks - anything that will spark a smile among you and your guests.
13. Gorgeous Tree Displays
From wrapping the trees in string lights, family photographs and magical memories from your love story, to dangling a frame from a branch with white ribbon to create a simply sensational photo booth, there are so many ways you can create moments of magic using the world around you.
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