Jill Hoyle Photography

Outdoor weddings are an excellent choice for couples who love the great outdoors and the charm of a wedding under the stars. Of course, having an outdoor wedding reception is a little different from a typical indoor venue.

When choosing to have an outdoor wedding, you need to add some extra things to your wedding day checklist to make sure everything goes smoothly. Today, we’re going to talk about everything you need to make your outdoor wedding reception one to remember!

Everything You Need For A Perfect Outdoor Wedding Reception

From where it’s going to be held to how it’s going to end, let’s get into the nitty gritty of what you need to remember to plan the perfect outdoor wedding.

Considering Your Location When Choosing Your Outdoor Reception

First, you’ll want to consider what kind of location you’d like to celebrate your wedding. You should derive your ideas for outdoor weddings from the kinds of things you and your spouse-to-be like to do together. Many couples choose Hardy Farm because they love Maine, the woods, and hiking.

Maine fall wedding coupleCait Bourgault Photography

Plan For Weather

The biggest thing to remember about an outdoor wedding: you need to plan for the weather. Maine weather can throw all kinds of things at you so you want to be ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store. We highly recommend a venue with a large tent so you get the best of both worlds. We have lots of tips on planning the perfect tent wedding.

bride and groom walking in dark by wedding tentNicole Copeland Photography

Light The Night

For outdoor wedding receptions, it’s very likely that the party will go into the night. You’ll need to consider lighting so that you can party on.

Some lighting elements to consider having at your wedding include:

Twinkly lights
Lanterns
Stage lights
Generators
Heaters

Keep The Temperature In Mind

In addition to lighting, you’ll want to consider your guests’ comfort. Will it be chilly at night? You will want to have blankets or heat lamps set up to keep your guests from leaving the party early.

If the weather looks to be warm, providing cold water and hand fans will go a long way. In extreme heat, make sure there’s a cooling space for people to cool down during the festivities. 

Get Creative With The Food Display

Food is a great way to add to the ambiance of a wedding. With an outdoor wedding reception, you can be creative with the food and drinks. Consider having a bar cart, wedding dessert table, or food truck to make your reception stand out!

You can even invite an ice cream truck to dole out desserts on a hot day. Not only will it offer cool relief, but it’ll give your guests a chance to mingle and meet others.

Just remember, food left out could attract flying bugs and are at the will of the weather just like everything else. Always consider how being outside impacts the features of your wedding.

Shanes of Maine ice cream wedding truck
Chris Bennett Photography

Get Excited About Your Outdoor Wedding

You have tons of options for an outdoor wedding. While there are some special considerations for outdoor weddings, none of them are insurmountable. If you really want to create a memorable wedding reception, having an outdoor Maine wedding is the way to do it.

Bride and groom walking by tent in the fallEmily Delamater Photography

This post was written by our friends at Wedding Hashers. Besides creating wedding hashtags perfect for each couple, they have a really useful blog with lots of posts to help you plan your wedding.