10/02/2025
Did you know that a Humanist Wedding Ceremony can take place in any location that is special to you.
An outdoor wedding can be a beautiful occasion providing the weather is on our side?
So, here are my top tips on how to be prepared and enjoy your outdoor wedding, whatever the weather.
1. Avoid double-booking
Most years, major summer sporting events are the nemesis of every couple planning a wedding. Do your research to avoid diary clashes. Make sure you cover football, rugby, tennis and golf, and then avoid those dates where possible as it’s likely that your outdoor wedding could be affected by them.
2. Check for shade
Let’s be optimistic and assume you will have the sun beating down all day long for your wedding outside. While we all love sun, it can be a good idea to think about shade – particularly for any very old or very young guests. If you can supply parasols, do. Otherwise, look to your surroundings: trees, a gazebo, or even a high wall can provide shelter.
Make sure that you and your guests won’t be squinting into the sun when you make your vows during the outdoor wedding ceremony. Consider the time of the day and the position of the sun. Visiting your location on a sunny day and a rainy day is a good idea.
3. Weather-proof your outdoor wedding ceremony
Acknowledge that fierce wind, a downpour, or even a heatwave might happen. No matter how reliable the summer months usually are, you could get caught out. Accepting this is the first step in being prepared. Make sure you have a wet — or windy —weather alternative for your wedding outside!
4. Simplify
From outdoor decor to your hairstyle, ask yourself if your bunting/arch/chignon would withstand a downpour or strong breeze? Then ask someone else for an honest answer and make changes or contingency plans. Simplicity can be a beautiful thing at an outdoor wedding, so take the chance to make all the organising a little easier.
5. Use insect repellent
They’re the unwanted guest at every outdoor wedding: you can’t ask insects not to come, but you can make sure they don’t bother you. Taking a non-drowsy antihistamine in the morning will ease hay fever symptoms and itching from existing bites that could bug you on the day. If your ceremony or photo opportunities feature a lake or long grass, then you’ll need protection from midges, so douse yourself in repellent — there are plenty of natural and gently-scented versions on the market.
6. Day-tripping
Plan as though you and your guests are going on a day trip. Would you set off sightseeing, for a picnic, or a day at the beach without a bottle of water, sun lotion, insect repellent, a brolly, and a jacket (just in case)? The same applies for a summer wedding outdoors, so remind guests to be prepared. You can send this info in advance along with the directions, timings and dates.
7. Food and drink
If guests will be dining alfresco, you’ll need to find a caterer with experience of catering weddings outside. These days, festival-style outdoor weddings are very popular and have the catering to go with it – mobile pizza ovens, fish and chip vans, ice cream vans — anything goes!
Doing things a little differently by getting married outside means you have a lot of flexibility in how you plan the day and that includes the food.
8. A word about wedding shoes
No one is suggesting that you should forgo a strap, a heel, or an open toe. But, remember that feet swell in heat, stilettos sink into the grass, and flip flops squelch in rain, so think about putting function before form (as far as your style threshold will allow). Every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day, but part of looking your best is feeling comfortable, especially if you have to walk a woodland path to your secluded location.
Here in the UK the weather can be relied on to be unpredictable, so no matter what month your outdoor wedding it’s good to have a wet weather plan.
…Wellington boots can be purchased in white, for this very reason!
9. Cool evenings
At some point in the day, the sun will go down and the temperature may drop several degrees. Even at an outdoor wedding being cold is not a good look! Luckily, with so many options for brides and grooms — from pashminas to tweeds — there is no need for goosebumps. As with almost everything else on this list, it’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
An outdoor wedding needs a little more planning. Thinking through details like how to keep warm and stay stylish will mean you’re well prepared on the big day.
You might also like to think about providing blankets and wraps for your guests to borrow as the night draws in if your wedding reception is also held outside.
10. Illumination
As the light begins to fade, what’s more enchanting than fairy lights hanging from trees and candles in lanterns marking the paths? Beautiful and practical too! When you’re wedding outside there are lots of opportunities to make the setting really enchanting with lights, bringing your surroundings to life in a totally different way.
