7 Stunning Tips for Decorating for an Outdoor Wedding

 An estimated 13% of adults (or somewhere around 33 million people) are tying the knot in 2024. With so many wedding bells ringing, how can you create a wedding that fits your style and your budget while standing out from the crowd?

A lot of logistics go into planning a wedding, and coming up with wedding decoration ideas can seem like the fun part. However, decorating for an outdoor wedding creates unique challenges. Plus, bringing any vision to life can take trial and error.

The good news is that we have seven great ideas (plus some outdoor wedding bonus tips) to help you get started. Read on for outdoor wedding decor inspiration.

1. Get to Know Your Outdoor Venue

It's always ideal to tour your venue in the early stages before you sign any contracts. That way, you can get a better sense of the size, scale, and overall vibe of the space. Not only do you need a venue that aligns with your vision, but you also need to ensure that it meets your practical needs.

For the sake of making a decor plan, be sure to take plenty of photos and videos of the outdoor space. Note any details, like existing pathways or gradients, that may impact your design. You should also ask about any on-site decor the venue can offer, like sign stands or lighting.

At the Mockingbird Room, we offer virtual tours that couples and their wedding vendors can revisit at any time. This can make it easier to determine what's possible and what styles would blend well with our venue.

2. Use the Season to Your Advantage

When you're wedding planning, you should never overlook the significance of the season. The weather will change the natural landscape and set the tone for what your guests expect. Playing into the season can cut down on the work you have to do to create a memorable event.

To use the season to your advantage, consider seasonal:

• Florals and plants
• Color schemes
• Fashion
• Flavors
• Activities

For example, warm tones and spiced beverages will bring an outdoor fall wedding to life. In the spring, pastel colors and a symphony of wildflowers will go perfectly with the warmth and liveliness of the season.

3. Unify Your Ideas with a Theme

It's common for brides to start looking at wedding decor inspiration on platforms like Pinterest and wedding websites. Before you start throwing all sorts of different design styles onto your vision board, consider a unifying theme. Otherwise, you may find that all of your favorite looks come together in a disjointed way.

For example, a rustic theme is going to have much different design details than a modern theme. Where the former might make use of organic textiles like cotton and burlap, the latter might make use of more structured materials like iron and gold.

One of the benefits of an outdoor wedding is that you aren't limited by architectural details. Whether you're gravitating toward garden wedding decorations or boho-chic vibes, your outdoor space offers a clean slate.

4. Create Flow with Signage

Depending on your outdoor space, you may be working with a blank canvas. That open space is great for accommodating a larger crowd, but it will take some creative flair to create a natural flow for guests to follow.

A great way to help guests navigate your outdoor wedding space is to use signage. Signs can direct people to their seats, show them how to interact with your guest book, and let them know where things like beverages and appetizers are.

You can also use your signs to amplify your decor. For example, chalkboard signs are perfect for rustic and boho-chic weddings. Painting signs onto vintage mirrors will elevate any garden or romantic theme.

5. Focus on Your Wedding Arch

In an outdoor venue, you don't have to worry about covering walls or support beams with florals and other details. While you want your guests to enjoy the beautiful view, you also want to draw their eye to you and your beloved while you share your vows and say, "I do."

This is where a wedding arch can really shine. You can purchase or construct arches in all sorts of shapes and designs, so don't feel limited to the classic curved arch. Geometric designs are making waves in 2024 weddings because of the visual interest they create.

Once you've got your arch in place, create scale with florals. For balance, pull varieties from your bouquet and centerpieces, adding extra greenery to fluff up your archway arrangements.

6. Sprinkle In the Extras

We always recommend tackling decor "musts" before you get to the extra details. That way, you know that your budget can cover the essential elements and you can see what those essential elements look like together before you keep going. Essential elements include:

• Signage
• Seating
• Basic florals (e.g., bouquets and centerpieces)
• Archway or other ceremony focal points
• Tables for gifts, refreshments, and your guestbook

Now, it's time to start thinking about the extras. Extras include things like decorative lighting (think fairy lights and lanterns), floral swags, and non-functional table decor (like bud vases or candles). Sprinkle these extras in to tie your design elements together, letting the natural landscape provide most of the charm.

7. Don't Overcommit to DIY

Brides looking for budget-friendly wedding decor often turn to DIY creations. A few DIY elements can add personality and charm and even create a bonding moment for the wedding party, but too much DIY can turn into a wedding nightmare.

Before you decide what to DIY and what to outsource to a pro, take a look at these wedding DIY do's and don'ts from wedding experts. You'll notice that when talking about decor, they urge couples to only take on tasks they're already familiar with.

In other words, if you've never put together a floral arrangement or dabbled in graphic design, your wedding may not be the best time to give those things a shot. If you have friends or family members who have, make sure they agree to help before you assume that they'll step in and save the day.

Bonus Tips for Your Outdoor Wedding

Outdoor weddings are a popular choice because no matter how simplified your decor is, you'll have a beautiful natural backdrop in every photo. However, decor isn't the only thing you need to think about when opting for the outdoors. Here are a few bonus tips to use when planning your outdoor wedding.

Book Your Venue Early

Most brides and grooms aren't professional event planners and may not realize how crucial booking the venue is. In fact, this should be your first step, as it will determine everything from your date to your remaining budget to your available vendors.

Just how early should you get started? Ideally, you want to have your venue one year before your wedding date, but this isn't a hard and fast rule. With an outdoor wedding, weather will play a major role in demand, with spring and fall weekends booking up quickly.

Pick Experienced Vendors

When you book the Mockingbird Room, access to our preferred vendors is only the beginning of the services and add-ons you'll receive. Our couples find our preferred vendor list to be an invaluable asset during the planning process.

The vendors we recommend not only provide quality services, but they have experience working with our venue. No matter who you choose, make sure they have outdoor wedding experience. Setting up tables and chairs, taking photos, and serving food outdoors all require special consideration and know-how.

Keep Guests Comfortable

In Kyle, we can experience some weather extremes, especially when it comes to summer heat. Even if you're only holding a quick ceremony outside, make sure you're thinking about guest comfort.

For example, consider sticking to a dress code that allows guests to dress for the weather. Offer guests items like sun-blocking parasols or paper fans to beat the heat. The last thing you want is for guests to count down the minutes until they can get back to indoor climate control.

Make a Rain Plan

Whether you're having an outdoor ceremony or a full outdoor wedding reception, you need to have a rain plan. This is all the more important if your wedding is in one of our rainiest months (which happen to overlap with wedding season).

At a venue like the Mockingbird Room, we can easily adjust for rain. Our beautiful banquet halls are perfect for ceremonies, and we're more than happy to help you and your wedding planner move things inside on a rainy day.

We Make Decorating for an Outdoor Wedding Simple

If you're one of the millions of couples getting married this year, you're probably putting on those finishing touches as we speak. Use this guide to make decorating for an outdoor wedding simple and bring your vision to life without any added stress.

At the Mockingbird Room, we love helping couples plan their perfect indoor-outdoor weddings. With a maximum capacity of 295 guests, ample parking, and easy rain planning options, we're a wedding favorite in Kyle and surrounding areas. Contact us today and let us know more about your upcoming wedding.