A survey by online wedding planning site Hitched found that a third of people were planning on having an outdoor ceremony. It also revealed that 16 percent of couples had booked or were considering booking a tipi, and 13 percent a marquee.
The survey questioned over 1,000 couples who were planning to get married in 2022. But how do you plan the perfect garden wedding to remember?
Before booking anything, check with your local council about what you need to do in order to obtain permission for an outdoor wedding ceremony – this is likely to include notifying neighbors and speaking with the local authority before you obtain a marriage license.
Consider whether you would be happy to have your ceremony inside if it rains on the day of your wedding, and whether there is enough space inside your venue for all of your guests – it’s best to make sure everyone can be accommodated inside if needs be.
Garden weddings are the biggest trend for 2022 and we’re sharing the most important things to consider when planning your big day!
1. Choose the Right Venue For Your Big Day
While it’s easy to plan an event in your own garden (especially if you don’t want to spend too much money), you do need to think about where your wedding will take place.
For example, will it be in a public space or will it be held in someone’s backyard? A public garden venue is often free to use (depending on where you live) but it can be difficult to find one that meets your requirements.
If you decide to host your wedding at someone’s home, make sure that they have enough room for everyone who will attend. You don’t want guests standing around outside with anywhere to sit!
2. Wedding Planner or DIY?
After you decide to have an outdoor wedding, the next decision is whether or not to hire a professional planner. Although there are pros and cons for both sides, hiring a planner has become a popular choice and can really save your sanity.
However, if you’re looking for strictly a day of coordination and don’t want someone to take over that role, there are plenty of other options. The important thing to remember is that no matter what route you go with an outdoor wedding planner, make sure it’s someone who specializes in outdoor weddings.
The last thing you want is for your big day to be rained out because your planner doesn’t know how to handle weather obstacles!
3. Budget
The cost of a garden wedding can vary greatly depending on your choice of venue and the size of your reception.
While you might be tempted to think that holding your reception at home would save money, it could actually cost you much more than hiring a dedicated wedding venue.
particularly if you don’t live near your local church or registry office and therefore need to cover the cost of transport for you and all your guests before the reception even starts.
4. Size (Number of Guests)
If you plan on having a small wedding with only close friends and family, then the size of the venue will not matter so much.
If you are planning on inviting more people then it may be worth looking at locations that can accommodate more guests as opposed to ones with smaller capacity.
Take into account the number of people attending, as well as whether you want space for a dancefloor or photo backdrop.
5. Consider the Weather
You should also consider the weather and how it might affect your wedding day. With careful planning and the right activities and food on offer, your guests should still have a lovely day in all weather!
If you are having a marquee or tent erected for the wedding then this gives great protection from rain but you will still need a contingency plan for wet weather as you don’t want guests standing around getting wet for several hours waiting for your arrival.
If it’s very hot then providing plenty of water will help keep everyone cool and comfortable and having some shade is essential so that people can escape from the sun at any point.
6. Food and drink
Does the venue offer catering? If so, will they be able to provide the exact food and drink that you want on your big day? If not, how will they offer suitable alternatives? Also, check if they have an alcohol license, some venues do not host events where alcohol is served so again this could be an issue if you require this on your special day.
7. Location and Accessibility
If your guest list is going to be large and includes people who would like to bring their own children, it will be worth checking out where the venue is situated and how accessible the location will be for everyone who will be attending your special day. You do not want to force your guests into long journeys or deal with any issues over parking space.
8. The power supply
If you want to use outdoor lighting, make sure there is electricity available on site. If not, you may need to hire a generator or rely on candles or solar lights to illuminate the festivities.
Don’t forget about music (you will need electricity for that) and other things like sound equipment for speeches or a microphone for your officiant.
You will also need power outlets for charging phones, laptops, cameras, etc. so plan where these will go and how you will get power to them.
Conclusion:-
I hope you now have a better understanding of the steps to plan a garden wedding. Gardens can make for wonderful backdrops for photos and bring a sense of romance to your event. Planning a wedding in a garden is one fun, enjoyable way to celebrate!
