Outdoor Wedding Planning Checklist

Outdoor weddings are an affordable alternative to expensive indoor wedding venues. Couples select outdoor wedding venues because nature provides the most spectacular backgrounds and alters where their vows can be exchanged. However, while an outdoor wedding venue can save you money and provide you with a beautiful place to get married, there are extra planning steps involved with this type of wedding. Below you will find an outdoor wedding planning checklist to help you organize your planning.

Wedding Venue

1. First you need to select your first and second choices for an outdoor wedding venue. When evaluating possible wedding venues look at what each venue has to offer in terms of electricity, accessibility, parking, weather, capacity and other amenities.

2. Check the availability of your first and second choices to see when they are available, or to see if they are available on the date that you selected for your wedding.

3. Determine what permits, permission or other regulations you need to follow in order to use the outdoor wedding venue of your choice.

4. Reserve your wedding venue.

5. Pay the rental fee, apply for permits and complete all of the paperwork required for using the outdoor wedding venue.

6. Create a backup plan just in case the weather doesn’t cooperate with you on your wedding day. For example, reserve an indoor or covered space in case of rain, or have a tent set up in case of rain.

Wedding Decorations

1. Select a theme for your outdoor wedding.

2. Order alter, flowers and other decorations to be delivered to your wedding venue or to your house.

Wedding Utilities

1. Determine if you will need to bring in your own power generator or if the site has electricity.

2. Make arrangements for a portable power source if your venue does not have electricity.

3. Rent port-a-potties if your wedding venue does not have public restrooms.

Transportation to the Wedding Venue

1. Determine what type of transportation is necessary to get your wedding party and guests to your venue.

2. Make transportation arrangements and pay deposit to reserve your transportation.

3. Confirm transportation one week prior to your wedding.

Catering

1. Select a caterer who is willing to work with your wedding venue.

2. Select your wedding menu.

3. Confirm the number of people that will be attending your wedding and let the caterer know how many people you need to feed.

4. Pay your caterer.

Other Wedding Plans

1. Create guest list.

2. Create wedding invitations and mail them out to your guest list at least four weeks prior to your wedding, earlier if you are planning a destination wedding.

3. Find a wedding dress that will work with your outdoor venue. Have the dress fitted to your body.

4. Select bridesmaid outfits.

5. Select groom’s party outfits and the groom’s outfit.

6. Plan a rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

7. Select gifts for your wedding party.

8. Confirm all reservations one week prior to your wedding.