Having your wedding outdoors is undoubtedly the best way to ensure a magnificent backdrop to your photos. Whether you want a rustic barn, woodlands, mountains, the ocean or your own back garden, nature is a pretty fine artist. So you may be wondering how you can enhance that natural scenery.
Work with natural materials
Using a piece of natural wood to create a sign for your wedding day and adorning it with pretty flowers serves two purposes. One, it looks beautiful and fits with that rustic theme and two, it acts as a keepsake of the day. Just imagine hanging that sign in your home when the day is long over, what a lovely reminder.
What about creating sign posts for guests out of driftwood to show them where to go. Or using an old wood pallet to paint the order of the day on. Wooden signs can really add that personal detail while not detracting from the natural feel of the great outdoors.
According to Dominic from Moonacre Weddings “You can use old up-cycled wooden doors to create an interesting entrance for the happy couple. The doors could be a beautiful rustic backdrop for photos of the guests. Why not put garlands of your favourite flowers around them, or fairy lights to add a bit of sparkle.“
What about creating a photo gallery area where you can peg up photos of you and your partner from when you met until the big day. Or why not use polaroid cameras to take photos of your guests and hang them in the gallery. You will then have some great candid shots of your special day to keep.
Use vintage finds
We all like to have a guest book where people can leave a message on your special day. Why not source a vintage desk to put your book on or to leave your order of service sheets. You could also use this desk for the signing of the marriage register. Decorate it with some flowers that go with yourcolour scheme and voila, you have another beautiful photo opportunity.
Why not emanate the quirkiness of nature with some unusual centre pieces? You could source some vintage vases, unusual candle holders and maybe throw in the odd ornament too. When you have an outdoor wedding, everything doesn’t need to ‘match’. Embrace the charm of the ever changing scenery and utilise it in your decor.
Tables and chairs
Why not use rustic tables and mismatched wooden chairs to continue the theme of old world charm? You can of course have the traditional matching table cloths and chairs under a beautiful marquee if you would like to have a more elegant feel.
It all depends on the feel of your wedding. Is it going to be sophisticated and elegant, a magical woodland fairytale, a rustic charm or an oceanic dream. The beauty is, you can work with your chosen venue and just add your personal style.
Rugs and cushions
The use of brightly coloured rugs down the aisle can act as a great way to show your style, plus it shows where you are going to make your grand entrance.
Putting rugs and throw cushions down for your guests to chill out on in the evening after the wedding is also a lovely way of bringing that cosy feel to the event. You could even have some sofas and comfy armchairs in an area to create an intimate quiet space. A fire pit and some canopies will help to keep your guests warm and sheltered from the elements.
Weather proof your venue
In the UK there is one thing you can be sure of, that you can’t be sure of the weather. This may be a concern for those of you considering an outdoor wedding. But even this can be turned into a beautiful way to decorate your venue.
Aside from the obvious of having a marquee that is set up for your dining area, you can provide other things for your guests.
Why not have baskets with sunhat, fans and umbrellas for your guests to use at the entrance to your venue. You could have blankets and cushions for them to borrow when the sun goes down in the evening. That way they can make their own comfy areas.
The thing is with an outdoor venue, there are so many ways to add your own special touch. From festoon lights to moroccan lanterns, rose petals for the happy couple to walk on to name places written on leaves. All you need is the scenery as your backdrop, but we all like to make it a little bit more special and personal. So get creative and have fun.
