Celebrating an Outdoor Wedding: A Relaxed Outdoor Wedding!

An outdoor wedding ceremony—the ultimate wedding experience that will enchant you as the bride and groom and your guests alike. Admittedly, the planning can be a bit more challenging, and the weather might keep you on your toes, but the result is worth every moment!

In this blog post on outdoor weddings, discover everything you need to know for your unforgettable open-air ceremony—whether you want to get married in an idyllic garden, a picturesque park, or right on the beach. We’ll provide you with inspiring ideas and valuable advice for your big day.

Custom Outdoor Wedding

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Does the idea of an outdoor wedding raise some questions at first? As is often the case, the answers lie largely in the wedding concept you choose and the venue. After all, ideally, there should be a unifying theme running through your wedding, and the choice of outdoor venue plays a major role in that. That’s why—especially for weddings that take place mainly outdoors—it’s essential to know whether there’s a wedding concept behind it and, if so, what it is. So think about whether, for example, you’d like to get married in a grand, fairy-tale style. In that case, a wedding in a castle park will appeal to you more than a barefoot boho wedding at the edge of the forest. On the other hand, if you want to dance under the stars at an outdoor wedding and are looking for a lively celebration, you’re best off having a festival-style wedding with teepees and the like.

Once you’ve decided on a wedding concept or an overarching theme, you can start planning the details of your outdoor wedding. And by the way: Choosing not to have a theme for your wedding is also a decision. The important thing is that you have the right venue and a general idea of what you want your outdoor wedding to look like. To make the concrete planning of your outdoor wedding easier, here are a few helpful tips on decorations and other details:

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Supplies for an Outdoor Wedding

First things first: Tents or pavilions are simply indispensable for keeping you feeling secure on your wedding day. After all, at an outdoor wedding, a sturdy yet attractive pavilion protects you from sudden rain or even intense sunlight.

Tents, umbrellas, and patio heaters

Are you planning a meadow wedding or one at the edge of the forest? Then it looks great—and is also practical—to set up seating and food service in one or more tents. The side walls of the tents can be removed as needed, preserving that open-air feel. And when it starts to get cooler in the evening? Patio heaters and tent heaters come to the rescue! These are often included directly in the package from the tent rental company or caterer. You can also ask a tent specialist about umbrellas in neutral colors, because—especially for celebrations—it makes sense to get high-quality umbrellas instead of relying on (many differently styled) umbrellas from private use. This simply looks more inviting, creates a more cohesive look, and is also safer if the worst happens.

When getting advice on size, heating, and other details, be sure to also discuss technical equipment with the tent rental company—many rentals offer additional tents for the band, DJ, and stage. When requesting quotes, don’t forget to ask about the prices for setting up and taking down the tent, as well as the costs for additional helpers.

Lighting for the nighttime celebration

Since outdoor celebrations often last well into the night, proper lighting is important. String lights, paper lanterns, lanterns, or torches not only create a magical atmosphere but also ensure safety along pathways and around seating areas.
In addition to the paths leading to the restrooms and the dance floor, the stage—or the area where the entertainment and wedding games take place—should always be well lit. Otherwise, however, the lighting can simply consist of tastefully arranged lanterns and string lights, as there’s hardly a more atmospheric light than that.

High-Quality Furniture for an Outdoor Wedding

Especially for outdoor weddings, you shouldn’t skimp on furniture or a stable surface. Sturdy chairs and tables that remain stable even on uneven ground are essential. Heavy tablecloths or weighted decorative elements also prevent items from blowing away in the wind. If you’re thinking, “Where on earth are we supposed to get all that?” we’ve got the ultimate link for you—the wedding vendors listed on Austria Wedding for wedding decor and furniture have everything you need for your outdoor wedding.

Power Supply for Outdoor Weddings

It’s not the most exciting topic, but it’s still very important: You’ll need a steady power supply at all times for the music, the microphones, speeches by wedding guests, the DJ, or a light show. It’s best to check with the venue to see what’s possible in terms of outdoor power. At the same time, ask the band and DJ about any specific technical requirements. If you need more than just an extension cord, you might need to bring in a generator. In addition to the speakers, food and drinks must, of course, have a reliable power supply at all times.

Outdoor Restrooms for an Outdoor Wedding

Once again, not a favorite topic when it comes to planning an outdoor wedding, but still essential: the restroom facilities for your outdoor wedding. If you’re using portable restrooms, they should be placed far enough away from your reception, but not miles away. Make sure to clearly mark the route. And yes, cleaning the restrooms is also an important consideration that shouldn’t be underestimated. While indoor restrooms often stay fresh longer, it’s especially important to hire a restroom attendant for outdoor restrooms.

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Food Trucks & Catering for Outdoor Weddings

Whether it’s a pizza truck, finger food, or individual market stalls serving cuisine from around the globe—you can really let your imagination run wild when choosing catering for your outdoor wedding! Fortunately, there are now plenty of catering providers who offer the right food for every taste and can also be flexible in accommodating your space constraints. The best caterers for your wedding? In our opinion, these are the best of the best! Still need some inspiration for Ape vans and food trucks? Here you go:

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• Traditional food trucks: They often offer local specialties (Käsespätzle, Krautfleckerl, and more!) or international cuisine. Among food trucks, burgers, Asian dishes, and Israeli cuisine are particularly on the rise. These mobile chefs are flexible in their menu planning and therefore often include vegan options as well.  
  
  
• Mobile coffee bars: Perfect for a reception or as a pick-me-up after a meal. A well-stocked mobile coffee bar offers not only classic cappuccino and espresso but also affogato, and sometimes even serves Aperol and cantuccini to enhance the Italian vibe!
  
  
• Ice cream trucks: A sweet treat that’s especially popular at weddings during the warmer months. From classic ice cream flavors to exotic varieties and vegan options—an ice cream truck is sure to put smiles on the faces of young and old alike.

• Pizza Truck: Pizza is always a hit, and a mobile pizza truck brings that Italian flair right to your wedding. With a pizza truck, you’ll give your guests a sense of casual fun—because where there’s pizza, there’s definitely no stuffy party. Quite the opposite: Guests gather in front of the truck and relax with a drink while watching their pizza being freshly prepared. They then enjoy their meal casually from handy boxes at bar tables. Casual and delicious—perfect for a summer garden wedding!

• Cocktail and smoothie bars on wheels: A mobile cocktail bar is simply perfect for a summer refreshment or as a stylish addition to evening entertainment. The bar doesn’t necessarily have to serve only alcohol. Depending on the time of day, non-alcoholic cocktails, healthy smoothies, and coffee are also popular choices.

• Rustic beer and wine trucks: Wine stands add a Mediterranean and elegant touch to your outdoor wedding. Are you and your partner wine lovers yourselves? Then you know that for wine enthusiasts, there’s nothing better than chatting about vintages and fruit notes in the garden on a beautiful day, surrounded by good company.

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For outdoor weddings, we recommend booking not just one, but rather two or three food trucks, because variety is the key! When your guests can sample a variety of dishes—from sweets and drinks to hearty burgers—at the food trucks, it creates a real festival atmosphere—and that will make your outdoor wedding an experience people will talk about for a long time to come.

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Contingency Plan for Bad Weather at the Wedding

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If you’re unlucky, the weather will go haywire on the very day of the wedding. First sunshine, then endless downpours, and wind to top it off—and yes, that can happen even in the middle of summer. We don’t want to paint a grim picture, but sometimes it’s just better to be “prepared” and come to terms with the idea of a rainy wedding, especially if the weather forecast actually predicts bad weather. So: Don’t rely solely on Lady Luck; instead, consider a Plan B and go over various “weather scenarios” with your wedding planner or the venue team. In addition to the classics—like booking an alternative venue—there are a few other hacks that can help you with planning an outdoor wedding:

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• Choose flexible venues: Does the restaurant you’ve chosen have a sun terrace and a small banquet hall that you can use if the weather takes a turn for the worse? Perfect! Often , farms or rustic barn venues in particular offer the option of celebrating outdoors during the day or when the weather is nice, and then moving indoors to the banquet hall later in the evening.
  
• Have versatile items on hand: Whether it’s radiant heaters, blankets, and cute scarves in the colors of your wedding theme, or even wooden planks to pave a dry path to the restroom—it’s often the small, thoughtful details that make all the difference. After all, especially at summer weddings, there aren’t usually major temperature fluctuations. Usually, there’s only a difference of a few degrees between the afternoon and evening—and when it gets a little cooler in the evening, it’s the little touches like wool blankets and the like that make your celebration cozy and enjoyable despite minor temperature fluctuations.
  
• Adapting food and drinks to the weather: Yes , this really takes wedding planning to the next level, but if you have a flexible caterer on your side, you can work with them to serve really good mulled wine instead of cocktails in case of bad weather—and hot cocoa with marshmallows for the kids. Your guests will thank you for these little touches. And later on, they’ll remember your sweet ideas more than the downpours!
  
• Think Ahead About Sun Protection: Bad weather doesn’t necessarily mean constant rain—even extreme summer heat can become quite unpleasant if you don’t plan ahead. So make sure you have plenty of drinks, (natural) shade, fans, and places to sit. ‍
• Hosting a Smaller Wedding: If you’re planning a wedding with about 60 guests, you can easily hold your reception and the celebration that follows outdoors. That’s because, in case of bad weather, the venue has less work to do if six large tables need to be set up inside than if an entire banquet hall for over a hundred people needs to be prepared. That’s why micro-weddings—and even medium-sized weddings—are particularly well-suited for outdoor celebrations.

Outdoor Wedding: Information for Guests

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The uniqueness and charm of an outdoor wedding are sure to delight your guests. However, it’s important that you provide them with comprehensive information early enough—ideally when you send out the invitations. This includes details such as the fact that it may get cooler in the evening, that the ground isn’t suitable for high heels, or that people with pollen allergies shouldn’t forget to bring their medication.

Other things you can mention in advance:

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• Exact address and directions: If you’re celebrating somewhere in the middle of nowhere, at an idyllic fork in the woods, be sure to include a detailed description of the location on your invitation, including GPS coordinates or a link to a map to make navigation easier. There may also be a shuttle service or special parking options on site.
  
• Dress Code Information: Let your guests know about the recommended dress code, or that layering is always a good idea for an outdoor wedding. You can also briefly mention footwear choices (flat shoes for soft ground or grass).
  
• Weather-related tips: Of course, you can also mention these tips verbally (e.g., remind guests to bring sunscreen or umbrellas). However, we think it’s nicer and more thoughtful if you take these very items into account during the wedding planning process and place them accordingly (e.g., putting deodorant and sunscreen in the restroom, making umbrellas available in the auditorium). After all, your guests should just show up and have a good time. Ideally, they shouldn’t have to worry about a thing.
• ‍Contact Information for Questions: Include your wedding planner’s or the best man and maid of honor’s contact information on the wedding invitation. Especially for outdoor weddings, some guests may want to ask for clarification regarding attire or directions.

An outdoor wedding can be so beautiful!

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Now you know what information you need to share with your wedding guests, what details and prices you should get from a tent rental company, and how you can create a light, airy festival vibe for your wedding with food trucks and more. Are you still looking for plenty of inspiration for an outdoor wedding? In a separate section, we’ll show you just how diverse and beautiful outdoor weddings can be. See for yourself: Ideas for an Outdoor Wedding »

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