Choosing Your Perfect Outdoor Venue

Thinking of having your dream outdoor wedding? With so many options available, choosing the right wedding venue can be overwhelming. You want to make sure you choose a location that is perfect for you and your guests' needs and also be aware of any drawbacks that come along with some of these choices. Luckily, we have created this article to help you find the perfect outdoor setting to celebrate your big day! Here are the top three outdoor venues with pros and cons to consider when planning:

Backyard Wedding

Having a backyard wedding combines the inside and outside of your residence and has the potential for a great ceremony. Hosting your wedding at your home, or perhaps a friend's or relative's can be a less expensive, more intimate experience.

The benefit of doing it yourself means you can ensure everything matches up with whatever theme or style you want aligned with your wedding - whether its classy chic or modern rustic absolutely anything goes when the sky’s the limit!

With a backyard wedding, you'll need to coordinate with different vendors who can provide items that you may not already have on hand like chairs, tables, or other decorating needs. This is where you might want to consider having a wedding planner. You will also want to make your yard to look it's best with some extra landscaping care, so plan to start on this well in advance.

The other fact to consider is that most backyard weddings have no alternate plan for the weather, and they typically happen in an area with limited space so if it rains your guests will likely be running for cover inside your house.

Depending on the size of your home and yard, it could restrict the amount of guests you can comfortably seat and could also present parking problems if your location isn't suited to the number of guests you want to invite.

Last but not least, don't be surprised when things go wrong. A toilet might overflow or there won't be any clean glassware left to drink from! Anything can happen at a backyard wedding, but it's sure to be memorable!

Gardens or Parks

The open air, nature, and all that comes with it is what makes parks an attractive option to consider for your outdoor wedding. Usually there is a nominal fees so make sure you double check with your city or town before reserving space. The worst thing could happen is having your guests arrive only to find out there's a company picnic or child's birthday party happening at the same time!

Also most parks do not have power outlets available so it may not be possible to use a microphone, play music, or set up lighting. They also pose the same problem as backyard wedding in that inclement weather might ruin your plans and have your guests running to their vehicles to stay dry.

Make sure if you're choosing to hold your wedding at a park, that it has sufficient and clean restroom facilities, as well as gazebos or other structures to provide a place to find shade from the sun. You will also need plenty of time for setup as everything from chairs to decorations will need to be brought in.

Beaches

Beach weddings are a popular choice for couples who want their wedding to feel like an escape. With the beautiful ocean and sand on all sides, it can be difficult not to forget your worries as you celebrate with friends and family on this special day!

It's no secret that beaches are an excellent location choice if you're in love with nature - but there are definitely potential drawbacks to consider. One of these factors is traffic around popular beach vacation spots which may delay your guests from arriving.

Also be prepared for gawkers or even the possibility of a "Jersey Shore" crew walking through your wedding video in bathing suits since most beaches are public places.

If you're looking for something more intimate then you can book a private beach; or if you want something grander, you can find a location atop a shoreline cliff overlooking the ocean with the sound of waves crashing below.

Beach weddings come complete with many challenges-from logistics such as transportation services and location planning, down to what type suit is best for the groom, but if you can overcome the hurdles, it's sure to be an event that guests will talk about for years!



Now that you know what to expect from the variety of beautiful outdoor wedding venues to choose from, get out there and find the perfect one for your big day!