You Wanna Take This Outside?
"But I love to be outdoors. I prefer being outdoors to, you know, being inside" - Unknown.
Having been born and raised in California, I have a great appreciation for the great outdoors. I'm talking by the sea, out in the mountains, on the back of a horse in a paddock...whatever, I love being outside.
While wedding receptions are usually indoors, those who are live in areas of good weather are slowly moving out and being one with nature.
Is it easy to have an outdoor reception?
Sure, in some cases you might even save yourself a lot of money, as it generally means it's more of a social gathering with finger foods and cocktails, rather than the more traditional sit down dinner complete with caterers and the like.
Let's talk about the options we have here.
The easiest option to have a reception outdoors, is to have it in your own backyard! Not only is it completely intimate, but can also double up as your house warming party. Of course, if your garden is not big enough to allow this, you may have to borrow a friend's backyard (or barn yard! Totally rustic!) or hire out a public space, such as a park.
Here's the thing. Parks in theory are great, but..weather pending, you may need to prepare tents in the event of rain. Other things to definitely consider include seeking the appropriate permits for events, especially if alcohol is involved. Failure to do so could see your wedding getting shut down in a memorable, but embarrassing way.
Likewise, many couples are flocking to the beaches to hold their ceremony. What you can definitely expect here are stricter laws, getting sand in your newly pedicured feet and the rogue seagull crashing your party (bringing along his army of friends, all begging for food). On the other hand, a beach wedding has proven to be one of the most popular outdoor theme over the past few years. Global warming. I guess it's good for something after all.
Finally, one of more interesting outdoor weddings I've been to was in the woods by a lake. As the sun set, casting red and orange hues over the guests, we danced to a live band and feasted on 'picnic-y' sort of foods.
I love all outdoor weddings, and while it's not for everyone, it's definitely a good excuse to get that necessary dose of Vitamin D.
For more outdoor wedding ideas, check out out Pinterest board dedication to wedding venues: http://pinterest.com/simplybridal/venues/
Posted by Jacqueline H.
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