The beauty of outdoor weddings is letting Mother Nature take on the hard work of decorating and planning your wedding venue. Forget aisle runners, laser projectors, or grand floral installations — holding a wedding outside the four walls of your typical chapel or hotel reception halls means lots of wild greenery, breathtaking landscapes, and an illuminated night sky to dance under.
Can’t imagine getting married under anything other than the sun? We’ve compiled the prettiest tips to help elevate the natural beauty of your outdoor venue into a wedding that’s equal parts elegant and down-to-earth.
Individually potted mini cacti and succulents make for adorable wedding favors.
Why shell out hundreds for a flower installation when ivy and fern walls do the trick for free? Check out your local park, university, or monuments for an organic photo backdrop.
Live in the city? Hold your wedding in a greenhouse or a park for a cute, contained natural wedding.
Ditch the prim bridal flowers in favor of a wild green bouquet of ferns, baby’s breath, lilies, peonies, and hydrangeas.
Make an outdoor wedding feel like a destination wedding by holding it in a nearby natural landmark, be it mountains, rivers, or forests. You’ll come away with stunning photos, too.
Outdoor weddings are the perfect opportunity to include four-legged members of the family. Have your pet walk down the aisle with your parents, or make an especially well-trained dog the ceremony ring bearer!
Mix up your centerpieces with rugged, natural elements such as twigs, cotton, dried wildflowers, and thick reeds.
Outdoor weddings present the unique challenge of creating an altar, but constructing a simple arch from thick tree branches or wrapping a premade one in greenery are great options.
We especially love this creative and nature-friendly approach for an effortlessly beautiful altar!
Using wicker picnic baskets for flower girls and purses for bridesmaids add a delightful, vintage touch to your outdoor celebration.
Outdoor weddings are most often associated with spring or summer, but that doesn’t always have to be the case — winter and fall also offer breathtaking natural scenery for a wedding.
Strings of fairy lights add some romantic flair to an ordinary park pavilion.
Two words: flower crowns.
Incorporate wood accent into wedding flourishes like signs and tables for a perfectly rustic feel.
Nature boasts a full palette of colors depending on the season; create a vibrant contrast in wedding photos by choosing bridesmaid dress colors complimentary to the foliage.
Parasols are charming and useful for a sunny wedding. Alternatively, set up some large patio umbrellas for guests to mingle under during drinks or reception.
Natural wedding cakes are perfectly suited for a natural outdoor wedding! These casual cakes allow lots of room for creativity: switch cake out for cookie pies or crepes, mix up cake flavors, or garnish with fragrant herbs and flowers.
By now you should have an idea of what you’d like at your outdoor wedding — but if you’re looking for a little more guidance, we’ve already compiled a guide for attending summer weddings. Brides booking a wedding on the beach can check out our ultimate beach wedding planning how-to.
What’s your experience with being a bridesmaid? Did you have any unexpected costs that weren’t covered here? Let us know — we would love to hear from you! Plus, don’t forget to check out our Facebook and Pinterest pages for more wedding inspo!
