Using the Beauty of an Outdoor
Reception to Your Advantage
Parks, gardens and even the beach can provide the perfect
setting for a wedding reception. Mother Nature has done much of the decorating
for you, and there's plenty of room to spread out. Outdoor venues often have
natural features or manmade additions that can become part of your wedding
theme or play a role in your decorating scheme. Take advantage of the natural
beauty of your outdoor venue to make your wedding reception unforgettable.
- What
You Need to Know
- Make
sure that you have both covered seating areas and those out in the
sunshine so your guests can have a choice.
- Elegant
signs that point towards water, refreshments, seating and restrooms will
also help your guest navigate your chosen outdoor space.
Step 1:
Visit the site several times, preferably at different times
of day. Learn the layout of the area where your reception will be held. Note
any distinguishing features, such as walkways, fountains, buildings, trees and
other plants. Note which way prevailing winds blow and from which direction the
sun's rays are strongest.
Step 2:
Decide on the time of day for your reception. If you're
holding a summer wedding in an area with little or no shade, opt for an early
morning or evening ceremony. Schedule your ceremony or reception to take
advantage of a striking sunset or an afternoon sea breeze.
Step 3:
Make the most of natural and manmade features. Arrange
tables around a fountain. Display the wedding cake in a gazebo. Transform a
pergola into a wedding arch. Make shrubs and trees part of your wedding decor,
stringing them with tiny lights or hanging lanterns from branches.
Step 4:
Enjoy the view. Orient tables, a buffet or a wedding tent to
take advantage of surrounding scenery. Let the scenery inspire your wedding
theme. A view of the ocean would be perfect for a beach-themed wedding. If your
venue offers a view of city lights, echo this in your reception, with lots of
tiny twinkling lights and centerpieces of miniature cityscapes.
