6 Game Changing Tips for An Outdoor Wedding

By Shalee Super•Published On: July 5, 2023•

There is so much to love about an outdoor wedding in the summer — the sunshine, the fresh air, the golden hour glow at sunset, and dancing under the stars. But from heat to mosquitos, there are some challenges you’ll need to prepare for if you’re planning an outdoor celebration. Here are a few game changing tips to help you have the best day ever:

Tips for An Outdoor Wedding

Provide pretty fans during the ceremony

A white paper fan with a silk ribbon sits on an upholstered chair set for an outdoor wedding ceremony

Photo Courtesy of Kurt Boomer Photography

Fans at outdoor weddings are a total game-changer. When the temperatures rise, your guests can stay cool while you say your “I do’s,” plus fans are a stylish addition to your wedding decor. You can customize them with your wedding colors or even add your monogram for a personalized touch. And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good photo op with a fan in hand?

Use natural shade to your advantage

An outdoor wedding ceremony set up with Persian rugs forming the aisle, lined with floral arrangements, and wood backed chairs for the guests.

Photo Courtesy of Lilly Red

When you’re scouting your outdoor wedding venue, choose a ceremony location that provides natural shade. This will help keep you and your guests cool, and your photographer will love it because you won’t have harsh lighting or squinted eyes ruining all of your photos.

Wear thicker heels

A pair of white block heel wedding shoes with floral shaped pearl embellishments and grosgrain ribbon ankle tie

Photo Courtesy of Anthropologie

Whether you’re the bride, an attendant, or a guest, do yourself a favor and skip the stilettos! Thicker block heels, wedges, and flats are a much smarter — and bonus, more comfortable — option for an outdoor wedding because they won’t sink into the ground. However, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. We love these adorable pearl embellished block heels by Forever Soles.

Stock the restroom with blotting papers and translucent powder

A white basket filled with toiletries sits on a counter next to two succulents and a wood tray with script calligraphy in white that reads "freshen up"

Photo Courtesy of Chelsea Barton

We all love a dewy glow, but if it’s hot our skin goes from luminous to dripping faster than we’d like to admit. Not a cute look for your wedding day! Be sure to stock the restrooms with blotting papers, translucent powder, facial mists, and other helpful products so you and your guests can freshen up throughout your outdoor wedding celebration. And speaking of bathrooms: Do yourself — and your guests — a favor and spring for the fancy air-conditioned trailer if you’re renting portable restrooms.

Keep the cake in the fridge

A three-tier wedding cake with white frosting and decorated with ferns and other greenery sits on a gold cake stand at an outdoor wedding

Photo Courtesy of Jackie Fox

Rather than displaying your wedding cake as part of the overall décor at your outdoor wedding, store it in the fridge until just before it’s time to cut it. If a wedding cake sits outside in the heat too long, it will sweat, melt, start to lean, and generally lose all of its visual appeal. Keeping it cool until the last minute will ensure your cake cutting moment is picture perfect.

Use citronella candles in your centerpieces

Long white tables under a tent at an outdoor wedding are set with white dishes, gold flatware, gold chiavari chairs, and centerpieces of greenery, votive candles, and gold candelabras

Photo Courtesy of Corbin Gurkin

If you and your guests will be dining al fresco as part of your outdoor wedding celebration, add citronella candles to your centerpieces to help keep the bugs at bay. It’s a practical yet oh-so-romantic solution to a pesky problem.

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