Outdoor Weddings...

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.