Decoration Ideas for Outdoor Weddings

Remember Phoebe's wedding in the famous sitcom Friends? I'm sure every sitcom lover would have watched that episode with dreamy eyes, as Phoebe and Mike walked down the aisle amidst heaps of snow. An unexpected snowfall might not have deterred Phoebe's will to marry Mike even though she was turning blue in her wedding dress, but then again, not everyone can be as spontaneous and adorably weird as Phoebe. In case you are planning an outdoor wedding, you need to remember that you'll need to put in extra efforts to ensure the decorations are in place throughout the ceremony. Using the appropriate decoration material taking many factors into account is of utmost importance for an outdoor wedding. In this article, we'll give you some good ideas that you can use for yours.

*Click on images for a better view

Beach Wedding Decoration
The best time to have a beach wedding is either in spring or summer. Spring will ensure that it's not too hot for the guests. Plus, your decoration becomes much easier because of the varieties of colorful flowers that will be at your disposal in spring. Pick a color scheme that's either mellow or loud. Don't try to mix and match too much. A beach has a calming effect due to the golden sand. So, picking something in a fire color like the orange given in the images here is a great idea. Simple decoration like the orange tassels on the chairs is more than enough for an elegant look at a beach wedding because the venue itself is so breathtaking!

Garden Wedding Decoration
If it's a garden wedding you're planning, then you're going to have to put in some more effort. Yes, we know that a garden is inherently beautiful, and does not need to be enhanced much, but you need to add a festive look to it to make it seem wedding(y), right? So, pick a color that will mesh well with the lush green of the garden. You can go for an all-white theme, and have white flower petals strewn around the place like shown in the image above, or you can work up the color in a tasteful manner, using a combination of dark and light color tones like the centerpiece shown above. A garden wedding simply must highlight the allure and charm of nature, so the use of flowers for it is simply a must. If not flowers, you can also try balloons in the chosen color scheme. Tie them up on branches of trees or on a string from one tree to another.

Things to Consider while Decorating an Outdoor Wedding

There are several things that you need to keep in mind while planning an outdoor wedding and thinking of decoration ideas. Decorations include all the elements of the wedding plan, starting from the wedding venue to the wedding flowers. Given below are some of the factors that need to be taken care of while planning an outdoor wedding.

Weather
In case you are planning an outdoor wedding you have to be extremely cautious about the weather at the wedding venue. You never know when it could rain or snow - weather can play spoilsport and ruin all your wedding decorations. An outdoor wedding needs to be planned in an appropriate season when the weather is pleasant. If that is not possible and you are still keen on having an outdoor wedding, you need to take all the precautions to protect the wedding venue from rough weather. For instance, if your wedding date is set during the monsoon and the day is cloudy, you can have the ceremony outdoors, and the reception indoors. Or, you can have both of them outdoors, but make sure that in case of emergency, the party can be moved indoors in a short time. The best option would be to have a waterproof covering over the ceremony and eating area. This way the decoration won't get affected much by the rain.

Wedding Venue
The decorations for outdoor weddings also depend on the number of guests and hence the size of the wedding venue. In case you are planning to have the wedding in a park, you need to make sure the venue is not too small or even too big for your guest list. While hunting options for an outdoor wedding venue, the sky is the limit. The wedding venue can be a park, a hill, or even the beach.

Seating Arrangement
Well, looking for comfortable yet elegant seating arrangements is dicey business in case of an outdoor wedding. You don't want tablecloths flying off or candles flickering due to wind. You don't want flower decorations to be ruined, nor do you want your guests to be drenched in rain or frozen in the snow. (quick pointer - getting married outdoors when you know it's going to snow is a really bad idea, unless again if you can pull off a Phoebe act.)

Lighting
In case you are having an outdoor wedding, then the lighting is also an important issue. You obviously don't want to get married in the glaring sun, nor do you want to walk the aisle in darkness where you can hardly see each other's faces. In case there is excessive lighting outdoor you need to balance it out by having temporary shelters, which are not only protective but also decorative. Block out excess light with tents and curtains at the venue. In case you are having a beach wedding then there is nothing that can beat the fancy big beach umbrellas.

Accessories and Add-ons
First rule of outdoor wedding decorations - keep things simple. Too many flowers, too much flowing fabric might ruin the effect. Pick up elegant and simple furniture that will blend in with the surroundings. For example wooden tables and garden chairs would be perfect for a garden wedding. Use flowers that will last longer. Use decorative items that will not dry out (delicate flowers) or blown away by the wind. Use furniture that is comfortable for the guests, but also easy to transport like cane or wicker.

Decoration ideas for outdoor weddings should be such that they can be easily executed without any major hassles. The moonlight, the bright stars, the soothing breeze or the green surroundings, the beauty of nature is splendid without any additional decorations. Always remember to keep things simple and allow the outdoor beauty to take over the wedding decorations rather than the other way round.