More and more brides are now leaning away from the traditional, indoor wedding and opting for a total change of scenery – outdoors!!

Being so close to Mother Nature on your wedding day certainly has a romantic air to it, and the photographs would certainly be very special, but how do you make sure that your special day isn’t a wash out?

Location
Do you have a location in mind? What sort of backdrop are you looking for? At Garthmyl Hall we are set within five acres of stunning grounds with numerous herbaceous borders and two listed Cedar of Lebanon trees that look beautiful lit up at night. Within these grounds we have the most beautiful licensed outdoor ceremony locations, including our stunning Walled Garden, all providing amazing views and endless photo opportunities.

Logistics
If your wedding is spread over a large area then maybe consider creating rest areas with relaxing seating, like the photo below.

If the outdoor element of your wedding will go into the evening, you will need to consider what you will do for heating and lighting. Whether you choose individual lamps, up lighters, string lights or even tiki torches, you will need to factor them into your planning.

Another option that we offer at Garthmyl Hall is our two fire pits in the Walled Garden; they look amazing lit and your guests can even toast marshmallows over them!

Will the food also be served outdoors? Make sure you have suitable coverings to protect from weather and insects. Liaise with your caterers and discuss the best way to do this.

Power sources. This is something that can be overlooked, but you will need to make sure that if lighting, heating, music etc. is outdoors, that they have access to a power source. You may need to have a generator depending on the location.

Presentation and style
Having already bucked tradition, why not push the boat out and be really creative with your presentation? Bringing indoor furniture outside is a very quirky way to make an impression. Bear in mind you should always have a plan B in the event of less favourable weather!

The key things to remember when planning an outdoor wedding are to have a plan B in case the weather is so bad that you simply cannot go ahead outdoors, and not to stress if you have to put the plan B into action. As long as you have contingencies in place and are prepared for the worst-case scenario, then your wedding will be just as magical as you had always hoped. An outdoor ceremony may be more work, but it is definitely worth it!!!