Outdoor wedding: how to organize the perfect celebration in the fresh air

Table of Contents
- Planning an outdoor wedding
- Advantages of an off-site ceremony
- Potential challenges and their solutions
- Ideas and inspiration for a nature wedding
- How to choose a venue for an off-site ceremony
- Outdoor catering: key features
- Dress code and outfits for an outdoor wedding
- The second day of the celebration outdoors
- Summary and recommendations
An outdoor wedding is a bright and memorable celebration. The Violet Weddings agency invites you to host your wedding festivities in the heart of nature. We will select the most comfortable and beautiful location for you. Here, you can arrange a romantic ceremony and a stunning photo session against a backdrop of breathtaking landscapes. Tables with exquisite treats can be set up under the open sky or in a marquee, with plenty of space for games, dancing, and contests.
Planning an outdoor wedding
A celebration in the heart of nature provides maximum opportunities to bring any desire to life. There are several factors to consider to ensure an outdoor wedding is perfect. Weather can sometimes be unpredictable, so it is important to anticipate its whims and prepare a “Plan B” in case of rain.
Choose a location that features gazebos or a terrace. If there are no shelters from the elements, you should install marquees or tents to protect against precipitation and the scorching sun. Also, consider the timing of the ceremony and celebration; it is best not to plan the event during the particularly sweltering midday hours.
The event venue must be accessible. Otherwise, a transfer will be necessary to ensure guests can comfortably reach the site and return. The best option is to hold the wedding on private territory with fencing or security, without access for outsiders. For the evening hours, you must provide additional lighting.
Think through the catering arrangements—whether it’s a buffet, banquet, picnic, or BBQ format. For musical accompaniment, you can choose live performers or invite a DJ or cover band. It is important that the equipment is powerful enough and the music is clearly audible to all guests. Often, performers bring and set up their own sound systems.
To keep guests entertained, the host can organize not only standard wedding contests but also active games. It is worth setting up a separate play area for these activities, where you can install giant checkers or chess, a table tennis setup, a badminton court, or dartboards.
Advantages of an off-site ceremony
Organizing a wedding in nature comes with many advantages. There is no need to worry about guest capacity, and you can make noise without fear of disturbing anyone. You can choose any wedding scenario, from fun sports competitions to dance workshops. A beautiful finale to the event could be the launching of sky lanterns, balloons, or a fireworks display. Let your imagination run wild and bring your desires to life.
Pros of hosting a wedding event in nature:
- A vast number of locations to choose from;
- Bright and colorful wedding photos with picturesque views;
- A beautiful and romantic marriage ceremony;
- An outdoor wedding celebration held in a unique festive atmosphere;
- No time restrictions;
- Plenty of open space for relaxation and activities;
- A summer wedding in nature provides savings on banquet hall rentals and certain other services.
Want to discuss your event? Write to us!
Potential challenges and their solutions
Of course, this type of celebration also has its downsides. A wedding in nature can only be organized during the warm season. An alternative script is required in case of bad weather. It is also necessary to ensure the maximum safety of your guests; you should not choose a venue near steep cliffs, ditches, or deep bodies of water. A first-aid kit must always be kept on hand.
To prevent annoying insects or ticks from ruining your holiday, the venue should be treated with insecticides and acaricides. Occasionally, force majeure situations can arise with food delivery to locations far from the city. Choose a reliable catering company, and clarify their route and the time required for set-up. Any difficulties can be overcome if you start planning the event well in advance, carefully consider all organizational stages, and account for every small detail.
Ideas and inspiration for a nature wedding
In an unrestricted space, free from the constraints of indoor venues, you can organize a truly unique celebration. There are countless original ideas to suit every taste for a wedding in nature. Be sure to notify your guests if there is a specific dress code. Indicate the theme of the event in the invitations so that guests arrive with the right mood.
Here are some ideas for stylized and themed weddings:
For a “Tales of the Thousand and One Nights” style event, a marquee is a must. Inside, a magical Oriental atmosphere is created with candles, colorful cushions, and hookahs. Small tables are set with treats like traditional Eastern sweets, such as halva and fruit leather.
A Provence-style wedding combines French charm with rustic chic. The decor features wicker furniture, porcelain dishes and figurines, fruit baskets, and wine bottles. For “Rustic” or “Country” themes, raw natural materials are used. The venue can be decorated with moss, straw bales, haystacks, woodpiles, and bundles of brushwood, or even a vintage wagon. Burlap or linen fabrics can replace traditional tablecloths.
If you prefer luxury, we suggest organizing a “Noble Estate” style wedding in the format of a grand ball. Ladies arrive in voluminous ball gowns, and gentlemen in formal suits. Elegant classical compositions (perhaps in modern arrangements) are chosen for dancing. Instead of a car, the newlyweds arrive at the ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage.
The complete opposite of aristocratic luxury is the bohemian “Boho” style. It is perfect for couples who dislike pretension and glamour. The newlyweds and guests can even attend the ceremony barefoot. Instead of formal tables for the banquet, blankets and rugs are spread directly on the grass. Preference is given to bright colors and handmade decor.
This is just a small list of ideas for organizing an outdoor wedding. There is a vast variety of interesting styles to choose from—there are no limits to your imagination!
Want to discuss your event? Write to us!
How to choose a venue for an off-site ceremony
If you are planning a wedding picnic or a buffet, any section of a garden, a park, a forest clearing, a beach, or a convenient level spot on a riverbank or lakeshore will work perfectly. An original and affordable open-air wedding can be held at almost any location. Just make sure the chosen spot is clean and that the territory is not restricted or under private guard.
Many couples prefer to celebrate one of the most important days of their lives with maximum comfort. In this case, it is worth organizing the wedding on the open terrace of a hotel or restaurant, or at a vineyard. The venue’s administration will provide the furniture, marquees, and service staff for the event. You can also arrange catering for your guests right there in your preferred format.
Outdoor catering: key features
Catering services have eliminated the need for preparing and transporting food yourself. If your chosen location is not near a restaurant or café, you will need to book catering in advance. Choose a company that can fulfill your order in its entirety. These services include more than just preparing a specific number of dishes and drinks and delivering them to a remote location at the exact time specified in the contract. If necessary, the company’s staff will also set the tables and provide service for your guests.
When finalizing the menu, ensure that the food and drinks align with the theme of the event. You can choose a specific design for table linens, tableware, and cutlery, as well as the style of decoration and food presentation. Don’t forget about guests with specific dietary preferences: vegetarians, those observing a fast, or those requiring dietary meals. If children will be attending your wedding, you will need a special children’s menu. Make sure there are enough soft drinks available. On a very hot day, a variety of ice cream flavors can serve as an excellent alternative to a traditional wedding cake.
Dress code and outfits for an outdoor wedding
The warm season—from late spring to mid-autumn—is the best time to organize an outdoor event. Outfits should be light, comfortable, and in line with the theme of the celebration.
Outfits for the bride and groom
The beautiful and memorable looks of the newlyweds should not cause discomfort. Choose attire that allows you to move around the location easily, dance, and participate in contests. For the groom, either a suit or a stylish shirt or polo paired with trousers is appropriate. In cooler weather, a vest can serve as a great alternative to a jacket. The best footwear choice is lightweight loafers or moccasins.
For a romantic bridal look, it is best to avoid dresses with long trains or overly voluminous skirts. A midi dress with a fitted or loose silhouette is a wonderful choice. If the location does not have hard flooring, footwear should have a low, wide heel or no heel at all (such as elegant flats, dressy sandals, or strappy shoes). It is also advisable to style hair in an updo to prevent leaves or passing insects from getting caught in it.
Clothing tips for guests
Guests should wear comfortable, beautiful, and festive clothing. Even if a specific themed dress code is not provided, one should avoid coming to the wedding in jeans or sportswear. A man’s outfit usually consists of trousers and a shirt, with a vest or jacket for a cooler day. Ladies should opt for cocktail midi-dresses, stylish trouser suits, or jumpsuits.
Decorating a natural location
Decorative elements and floral arrangements are selected according to the wedding’s style. The location can be decorated with compositions of balloons, ribbons, and fresh flowers. Bouquets in vases and live potted plants can also be placed throughout the site. For the evening hours, consider additional decorative lighting such as unique lamps, candles, glowing letters, and string lights. These will make the festive atmosphere more solemn and cozy. Be sure to set up a photo zone designed for several people that reflects the overall style of the event.
The second day of the celebration outdoors
You may choose a restaurant or a hotel for the wedding ceremony itself. While guests will get to know each other and find common ground on the first day, you should plan a more relaxed program for the second day. Close friends and relatives will enjoy unwinding and having fun at a festive picnic.
Add variety to the day with contests, games, and lighthearted competitions. Excellent ideas include culinary workshops for grilling over an open fire, floral masterclasses for arranging wildflowers, “Funny Starts” relay races, or even a fishing trip followed by a traditional fish soup cooked over a campfire.
Summary and recommendations
Organizing an outdoor wedding is quite a challenge. It requires anticipating many different nuances and ensuring nothing is overlooked. Even a small mishap can dampen the newlyweds’ mood.
Violet Weddings Agency is a team of professionals with extensive experience. Call or message us, and we will organize the perfect outdoor wedding for you. Simply tell us what you desire, and our specialists will do everything to bring your vision to life at the highest level.
We have prepared a table showing the average cost of standard wedding packages offered by other agencies. You can compare them with our company’s offers and make your choice.
| Price Comparison: Wedding Service Packages | Average Cost in Georgia | Our Agency’s Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Official registration with Apostille | $480 | from $450 |
| Official marriage with consular legalization | $550 | from $600 |
| Outdoor wedding | $1,900 | from $1,400 |
| Ceremony in the mountains | $3,500 | from $3,150 |
| All-Inclusive Package | $2,990 | from $2,500 |
Just give us a hint of how you envision your wedding, and we will create a truly romantic experience for you, where you—the couple in love—take center stage.