From the 1^st of July last year outdoor civil weddings became legal. This gave people more freedom celebrating their special day, no longer did it need to include a “fixed shelter”. Although there are a few things to consider if you’re planning an outdoor wedding. Read on to find out more.

Invites

Make sure you mention to your guests it will be an outdoor wedding. With advance warning they can make sure they have the right clothes and shoes for whatever you have planned! High heels and grassy fields don’t work well together, so guests will be glad you gave them a heads up.

Weather

It is best to have a weather contingency plan for your outdoor wedding. The weather in the UK is unpredictable at best. So, you might want to reserve marquees ahead of time and have plenty of umbrellas just in case. However, if it ends up being a particularly hot day you might need to have some parasols and paper fans at the ready.

Also make sure your caterer can be flexible if the weather changes, light salads might need to be swapped for something more sustainable if the weather cools or vice versa. Guests will appreciate your attention to detail. Why not have a basket of blankets if a cool spell is expected to keep guests comfortable and warm.

But do remember rain can be romantic so don’t let it dampen your spirits. Your day will be special regardless! The photos will look quite sweet if the bride and groom are wearing wedding wellingtons (yes, they are a thing!) or holding an umbrella together.

Wedding Transport

If it’s a long walk in a field, why not have a tractor arrive and provide a trailer ride closer to the celebration. Things like that will make your day so memorable for everyone.

Decorations

Firstly, make the most of what you have surrounding you in terms of natural beauty. You have obviously picked this outdoor venue because you already appreciate what it has to offer. Then work on the other details, I have given a few suggestions below.

Lights

Outdoor fairy lights that fit your colour scheme can be a great way to add delicate lighting. Plus, they will help create a romantic atmosphere as the day turns to night and your guests start dancing.

Seating

For seating you could have charming haybales or simple benches. If you’re planning something quite informal some brides have used blankets and cushions before. You can even use the seating to shape how long you want your aisle to be.

Aisle

Then you need to have some way to draw attention to the aisle. This article about aisle décor ideas was very inspiring. Flowers can work well for the fragrance and colours, or you can scatter petals. Other ideas I loved included making up boards with your favourite quotes about love or focusing the space with a line of candles. Citronella candles in particular might be a good idea if your outdoor wedding is plagued with bugs!

Some brides in the past have used rugs or ribbons to mark out their outdoor wedding aisle. You really can be as creative as you like. These lights look spectacular.

Wedding Favours

Keeping with the theme of the outdoors, you could pick out suitable wedding favours like packets of seeds or wedding sparklers. The sparklers will look gorgeous then in photos!

Wedding Entertainment

Being outdoors you have a bit more flexibility and space. You could set up some lawn games that your guests are already familiar with. I love the giant versions of Jenga and connect four you can buy or hire for the occasion. Rodeo bulls and bouncy castles are other ideas that appeal to all ages! Plus, you can still do lots of the things you would find in an indoor wedding.

Guest Book

The Havoly Tree Drop Box Guest Book mentioned in my article about ideas to make your wedding stand out would be perfect for an outdoor wedding the guests write messages on the leaves.

I am quite tempted to renew my wedding vows and with everything considered in this article I would definitely plan for it to be outdoors!