Outdoor wedding receptions are often dreamt about by young girls, and may include having the last light of day brighten up a dress or a kiss. Guests gather around to eat and celebrate and watch the day go down. As evening arrives, white lights sparkle as couples begin to dance in each other’s arms.
Adding an element of the outdoors is a common desire for many brides. It seems natural to commemorate vows between husband and wife under the skies they were born under. Finding the right wedding reception venue will only help turn a bride’s dream into a reality.
With so many options to choose from, making a few decisions first will help narrow down choices. The first questions to ask are how many people are coming? What time of year do I want my wedding? Is there a specific area of the country that I want to be married in (mountains, beaches, cities)?
Once that’s narrowed down, the next decision is how many people will be coming. Will this be an intimate affair of fewer than 50 people, or will it be a lavish celebration with hundreds of guests? This will be a big factor in finding a wedding venue. Most places have a limit of guests they can accommodate. So before you get your heart set on one location, be sure they can entertain as many guests as you’re hoping to invite. Also find out what alternatives there are if bad weather rolls in. Will you be in a tent, or is there an indoor space that would work?
Another decision is how much of your wedding day do you want to celebrate outdoors? Do you only want the ceremony outside and reception inside? Would you prefer dinner be served outside and dancing take place inside? Once that is decided, then it’s time to figure out what time the outdoor events will be happening. If you are having an afternoon wedding and only the ceremony is going to be outside, then you don’t need to worry about lighting. If, however, you are having your ceremony or dinner in the evening or when it’s dark out then lighting is going to be a huge consideration.
As far as lighting goes, there are several options. The first is figuring out what lighting the venue already provides. Some venues have gas lamps outside and fireplaces for ambiance and heat. Candles always give a romantic feel to the setting. Some places will have spotlights that light up trees and shrubbery. For an outdoor wedding reception, you may want to consider tiny white lights that can be strung through trees and bushes. If you have a favorite color, or want to incorporate the lighting into your color scheme, then think about using colored lights, or Chinese lanterns.
Outdoor weddings can take place year-round in places like Arizona, California or Florida. Keep in mind the night will cool off, so it’s important to have ways for guests to keep warm. Finding venues that have outdoor fireplaces become a great place for guests to congregate and get to know each other.
Taking a tour – virtual or physical – of the venue for your outdoor wedding reception is going to help you visualize if your color scheme will work with the features of the venue. There may be herringbone brick floors, or a certain flower blooming at that time that you may want to use to accentuate your color scheme. No matter what you choose, having at least some part of your ceremony outside is a beautiful way to celebrate your union.
For an elegant outdoor wedding reception, visit VillaSiena.cc. For an indoor or outdoor wedding venue in Arizona, the beauty and style of Villa Siena creates memories that last a lifetime