Creative and fun outdoor wedding ideas
Summer is the perfect time to get married outdoors with an outdoor wedding.
As the weather heats up and the summer days stretch on, an outdoor wedding gives you the creative opportunity to express your unique style whether that’s formal or laid back.
You can let nature do the decorating on your wedding day and keep things simple and natural or take a flight of fancy and create your unique vibe. From a High Society High Tea to a Boho Vibe with hay bales via Mediterranean outdoor dining for your wedding reception.
Planning your outdoor wedding ceremony
Keep things traditional with formal seating with an aisle down it, or make it informal with scattered groups of chairs, or go super relaxed with seating set out on the floor and garden seating.
As the happy couple and the focal point of the ceremony it’s nice to have something to frame you. A pergoda or summerhouse can make a beautiful backdrop for outdoor ceremonies, a floral arch can be made or hired, and if you want to let mother nature do her thing, getting married under the boughs of a beautiful tree can be just as breathtaking as the fanciest room.
As your wedding celebrant, I can conduct your celebrant wedding service anywhere, so there’s no need to look for a licenced wedding venue. This can open up all kinds of options from private homes and beautiful gardens to farmers fields and other outdoor spaces.
The Pergola at Exmouth Country Lodge wedding venue
Choosing your outdoor wedding venue
Devon is a county or stunning natural landscapes that can create the perfect backdrop for your outdoor wedding celebration.
There are many country house wedding venues that have outdoor ceremony spaces for a summer wedding. They often have many outdoor spaces from manicured gardens and walled gardens to ancient woodland and offer amazing views for those all important wedding photographs. They can be the perfect space for outdoor events and many include accommodation or are exclusive use wedding venues, which is perfect for weekend wedding parties.
If you are a bit more DIY Wedding, you can follow the trend for backyard weddings. Perhaps you or a friend has the perfect outdoor space and green fingers you can keep things budget friendly and have an intimate gathering and outdoor wedding ceremony in your own or their garden.
Or hire a stunning self-catering location from Fresh Escapes for an exclusive retreat wedding.
Have a look at our Devon Wedding Venue guide for more ideas for to find the perfect venue for your outdoor ceremony.
Floral theme suits and dresses
Summer is a time for flowers and you can embrace the floral theme in your outdoor wedding outfits.
Floral suits, like these from Twisted Tailor are full of flair and character.
Choose wedding dresses embroidered with flowers and with ethereal flowing fabrics and wear the summer in your wedding outfits
From left to right floral wedding dresses are from
Flower crowns
Flower crowns and sprigs of seasonal flowers in buttonholes. If you or you’re friends are crafty you can make your own wedding flower crowns and boutonnieres, or order from a local florist or maker on Etsy.
If you use fresh flowers they can be dried as a beautiful souvenir of an unforgettable day.
Flower petal and leaf confetti
Local flower petals and leaf confetti is the eco friendly way to choose confetti for your outdoor wedding.
If you have time to collect and dry flower petals yourself it’s can also be a super cost effective too. Eucalyptus and other ever green trees and shrubs will give you a hint of green, though remember to stay away from anything with prickles.
If you have children that need entertaining or willing volunteers, you can give them the job of stamping shapes from the leaves.
Here’s a great tutorial for flower petal confetti and for leaf confetti
Or you can buy your flower petal confetti from a supplier if time and craftiness isn’t on your side.
You can hand your guests cones of confetti, or just have bowls alongside the ceremony seating for folk to grab a handful from.
Create shade with parasols and sunsails
Shade, shade and more shade.
Parasols bring elegance and charm to your outdoor wedding. I love these from the East London Parasol Company
Create a shady spot out of the sun with a sun sail shade.
Rustic shades made from coconut fibers or modern sail shades, there are lots of ways to give your guests a place to escape the sunshine.
Sun-hat station
Keep your wedding guests cool with a sun-hat stations.
For an eclectic style collect hats from charity shops and vintage stores, or head to Etsy for personalised sun hats, and if it’s a uniform look you want, Amazon is great for affordable options.
Umbrella station – just in case
Even beautiful Devon falls prey to the changeable British weather. Keep your guests dry when bad weather hits with an umbrella station from The Brolly Bucket.
Create a selfie frame for guests to record unforgettable moments
Put your guests in the frame and create a picture frame selfie station with a picture frame hung in front of a stunning view.
This beautiful rustic selfie frame is from The Crafty Plank on Not On The High Street
Personalised rose gold seflie frame from Ginger Ray
Outside dining
Take inspiration from Mediterranean life and eat alfresco for your wedding breakfast.
From formal settings to picnics, eating outside adds a sense of wonder to the celebration.
Set up long tables and decorate with beautiful linens and seasonal flowers.
Drape the trees with solar lights and add candles to the table for instant atmosphere when the sun goes down
Picnic
For informal dining, a picnic is the answer. Ask your wedding guests to bring a basket if you’re on a budget or create a picnic tea full of cute sandwiches and finger foods.
High Tea
Think royal garden party with cake stands full of mouthwatering petit fours and delicate savoury treats.
BBQ
Get your grill on or hire a BBQ for the ultimate alfresco party food.
Floral cake
Edible pressed flowers in the icing of your cake, or a cascade of flowers down the tiers, keep the floral theme in your cake
Fresh fruit lollies
Use fresh fruit to make refreshing lollies, add a melted chocolate and cream and sprinkle dipping station for added flavour and fun.
This is another way to get friends and family and even the kids involved in preparing for your outdoor wedding.
HEre are two great recipes, fresh fruit sticks with lime and chili syrup, and heart fruit skewers
Ice-cream van or bicycle
What summer day is complete without an ice-cream cone?
Treat your guests to authentic Devon ice-cream with an ice-cream van or bike.
Mocktail and cocktail station
Keep refreshed and with a mocktail station or vamp it up with something stronger at your drinks reception.
You can even create your signature wedding mocktail and cocktail.
Hire from a company like The Tipsy Toad, or make your own with jugs and vintage style drinks dispensers. M&S, Dunhelm and Ikea all have versions.
Boozicles and mockzicles
I don’t know if Boozicles and Mockzicles are real words, I’m talking boozy and non-boozy lollipops as sweet refreshing mouthfuls for your guests. Get some inspiration from these recipes at Tescos and Red Online
Garden games
If you’ve got plenty of space at your wedding venue and you’re competitive couple for whom every casual game of tennis turns into a major sporting event, you could set up a game of cricket or rounders with the friends and family of each person making a side each.
Croquet is a more genteel way to compete.
A giant jenga set is a challenge for all ages, though beware of your toes when the blocks tumble.
Or you could set up a sports day race with egg and spoon, sack race and space hoppers!
Make a leaderboard and dish out medals to the winners.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these outdoor wedding ideas and they’ve sparked some inspiration. I’m sure there are many more wonderful ways to create a unique and personal outdoor wedding.
If you’re planning an outdoor wedding for this summer, 2023 or next I’d love to talk to you about how I can create a wedding ceremony that will be at the centre of your day. Email me at [email protected] and let’s make a plan!
