Outdoor Wedding Invitations

Have you always dreamed of having your wedding outside under the sky? Do you want to exchange vows surrounded by the beauty of nature instead of in a stuffy church? In either case, you may be interested in choosing outdoor wedding invitations for your special day.

Basics of Outdoor Wedding Invitations

Outdoor wedding invitations are appropriate in certain situations, but not in others. For example, you probably wouldn't want to use these invitations for a formal wedding or a wedding that is taking place in doors. Remember that your invitation should reflect both the tone and the theme of your wedding and/or reception.

These invitations would be a better choice for informal or casual weddings when either the ceremony or the reception is being held outdoors. We'll talk about some ideas for outdoor venues a little later.

Outdoor Wedding Invitation Ideas

Because you don't have to stick to the traditional elements of wedding invitations – creamy white paper, black ink, fancy scripts, etc. - you have more creative freedom and can develop something more unique.

Perhaps the easiest way to create outdoor wedding invitations is with your choice of paper. You could simply choose paper colors that bring to mind the color of trees, bark, sky, etc. Or you could opt for paper decorated with outdoor images, such as fields of flowers, woods, animals, lakes or rivers, mountain vistas, waterfalls, etc.

Another choice is to take a photograph (or find a photo) of a beautiful outdoor location, perhaps even the site you have chosen for your special day. Then use that photo on the cover of the invitation. Guests will not only know what to expect in terms of tone at your wedding but they'll get a glimpse of how lovely it's going to be.

You could also have your invitations shaped like outdoor elements. For instance, your invitation might be shaped like a blooming flower, a weeping willow tree, or a rabbit. To do this, you'll probably need to work with a graphic designer.

Outdoor Wedding and/or Reception Location Ideas

Many couples love the idea of getting married outdoors, but they don't know where to hold the ceremony. Below are a few suggestions:

At the beach or around a swimming pool
At a public park
At the zoo
At a botanical garden
At a cave
At a river or lake
In a backyard
Near an outdoor landmark or monument
At a fair or carnival
On a playground
On a golf course

With many of the above options, you would need to contact your city or county government for permission to perform the ceremony at the location. You'll also need to ask about city ordinances about trash, noise, and other issues so you don't end up being fined for violating rules you didn't know about.

If the location is not public property, then you can contact the owner or manager of the property in order to rent it for the day. Botanical gardens, for example, usually are prepared to handle weddings because they are a popular choice.

Outdoor Wedding Considerations

While an outdoor wedding can be a beautiful event that neither you nor your guests will soon forget, if you want it to go off without a hitch then you need to do more than simply select lovely invitations. For starters, you must have a Plan B. No matter how great the weather normally is on the day you have selected for your wedding, it's simply not possible to know for sure that the weather won't turn bad suddenly. Without a backup plan, your whole wedding could end up as a disaster if it starts raining or gets too windy.

Another consideration is your guests comfort. Outdoor weddings during the hot summer months can be a nightmare for guests, for example. They can quickly become overheated, dehydrated, and irritable as they are waiting for the bride to come down the aisle. To help everyone enjoy the event, choose comfortable chairs, provide non-alcoholic beverages to guests while they wait, hold the wedding at the coolest part of the day, position the guests in a shaded area, and allow guests to wear comfortable clothes.

Finally, it wouldn't be the outdoors without insects but having flies or mosquitoes flying everywhere can be annoying to your guests and to you. To minimize insect intrusions, purchase citronella candles and position them around the perimeter of the location. Also, make sure to avoid wearing perfume or scented lotions because these often attract insects.

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