Call us on: 17177089399 We accept ApplePay, Amazon Pay, PayPal, Credit/Debit Card and Klarna
30 Day ReturnsWorldwide DeliveryMany Items In StockFree US Delivery*
View Wishlist

Bag

Your bag is empty! Add some products to checkout.

Recently Viewed

Our Complete Outdoor Wedding Planning Checklist (Month-by-Month Guide)

25th July 2025 - View more blog articles

Outdoor weddings offer couples a breathtaking way to say “I do” in nature’s embrace. Whether you choose to tie the knot in a magical woodland, a rustic barn setting, or your own garden, alfresco celebrations are more popular than ever, and for good reason. They offer flexibility, a natural ambience, and endless creative opportunities. But with the beauty of an outdoor wedding comes the need for thoughtful preparation.

To help you with your wedding planning, we've created a comprehensive checklist and timeline with tips to help you stay on track from 12 months out to the big day. Whether you're dreaming of a boho-inspired wedding or a more formal occasion wedding under a marquee, our checklist ensures nothing slips through the cracks.

12 Months to Go

12 Months to Go

Host Your Engagement Party

Kick off the celebrations by gathering your family and friends at your engagement party. If you already know you’re planning an outdoor wedding, this is a great opportunity to test the space by hosting your first event there.

Make a Wedding Budget

Outdoor weddings can seem more affordable at first, but hidden costs can add up. Determine your total budget early and allocate specific amounts to each category. Don’t forget to include contingency funds for last-minute rentals or weather backups.

Research Local Regulations

Every area has its own rules when it comes to outdoor events. Be sure to research noise ordinances, curfews, parking and permit regulations in the area where you plan on tying the knot.

For instance, legal civil weddings and civil partnerships in England and Wales can take place on the outdoor grounds of approved premises. A full list of approved premises can be found on the gov.uk website.

Hire a Wedding Planner

If you're planning a large alfresco wedding or navigating complex logistics, a wedding planner with experience in outdoor events is invaluable. They’ll help you through aspects you might overlook, like power, lighting and backup plans.

Choose a Wedding Theme

Your theme will guide every esthetic decision you make, from the wedding invitations to the reception table centerpieces. Outdoor weddings often lend themselves to nature-inspired themes, such as woodland, bohemian, or whimsical.

 

Choose a Date

Pick your wedding date carefully. Research the seasonal weather patterns in your area and avoid extreme conditions. Spring and Fall are often ideal for outdoor weddings, but if you're planning a summer celebration, consider a later ceremony time to avoid the midday heat. Also, think about local events that could cause traffic or accommodation shortages for guests.

Find Your Venue

Your venue will shape the look and feel of your day. Some popular wedding venues include barns, gardens, woodlands, beaches, vineyards, parks and your own garden. Consider the type of outdoor venue that fits your style as a couple.

Visit venues in person with your wedding planner or maid of honor and ask what’s included. Some venues require you to arrange liability insurance, seating, and electricity. Guest comfort is also key when choosing a venue. Consider accessibility for older guests, adequate shade or cover, and restroom facilities.

Make a Guest List

Creating your guest list early will guide many decisions, including venue size, catering, and rentals. Discuss must-invite family members with your fiancé and consider if you want an intimate gathering or a larger celebration.

Top Tip:

If you’re unsure about which wedding theme to choose, let your venue’s natural elements inspire you. For instance, a forest venue could naturally align with a woodland theme, while a mountaintop view suits a modern style.

8 to 10 Months to Go

8 to 10 Months to Go

Start Shopping for Your Wedding Dress & Accessories

Wedding dress shopping is a memorable part of the journey, and it’s never too early to begin! Some wedding gowns can take between 6 and 8 months to arrive, so you’ll also need enough time for shopping and alterations. Choose something comfortable and breathable if you’re having a destination wedding or getting married in the summer months.

Don’t forget about your veil, shoes, jewelry and hair accessories too for a coordinated look. Flat wedding shoes are often a popular choice for walking on uneven ground.

Create Your Wedding Registry

If you’re creating a wedding registry, now is the time to start it. Add home essentials at a variety of price points to suit all budgets. Don’t forget outdoor-friendly options like picnic sets, fire pits, or camping gear if you're an outdoorsy couple. Many couples today prefer cash rather than physical gifts and create a honeymoon fund.

Hire a Registrar or Celebrant

Hiring a registrar or celebrant is a vital step, especially for outdoor weddings, as they take place outside of traditional churches and local registry offices. Decide whether you and your fiancé want a legal registrar or a celebrant for a more personalized ceremony. Meet with a few candidates to ensure they align with your values and style.

Choose Your Caterer

Food is a highlight of any wedding, and outdoor weddings open up lots of creative catering options, like BBQ stations, grazing tables, food trucks, or elegant plated meals. Look for a caterer who has experience with outdoor weddings. Confirm what they’ll need in terms of access to power, water, or preparation space. For a backyard wedding, you may need to rent a mobile kitchen or provide extra equipment.

 

Book Your Entertainment

Whether you're envisioning a live band or DJ under the stars, now’s the time to secure your entertainment. Research for bands, acoustic soloists and DJs in your area to find the best prices. Make sure they have their sound equipment suitable for outdoor use. Add ambience with string quartets or jazz duos during cocktail hour for a dreamy alfresco wedding vibe.

Hire Your Photographer

Your photographer captures the story of your day, so choose someone whose style you love and who’s experienced with outdoor weddings. Browse wedding galleries of different photographers and ask how they handle varying weather and lighting conditions.

Find a Florist

Florals help define your wedding style and elevate your venue, even if nature already provides a stunning backdrop. Choose a florist who understands outdoor logistics and flower longevity in different temperatures. Discuss your wedding bouquet, bridesmaids’ bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, reception centerpieces, flower arches and other floral arrangements. For more inspiration, read our handy floral arrangement checklist ahead of your consultation.

 

Book Your Wedding Car

Even with outdoor venues, having a dedicated wedding car adds a touch of elegance and ensures smooth transportation on the day. Choose a style that matches your theme, whether that is a vintage Rolls-Royce car or a whimsical Volkswagen camper van.

Send Your Save the Dates

Give your guests plenty of time to prepare, especially if your outdoor wedding is in a remote location or during peak travel season. Digital save-the-dates are eco-friendly and fast, but traditional printed versions still add a lovely personal touch.

Make Your Wedding Website

Now’s the perfect time to build a wedding website. It’s a great way to centralize all your information and help guests prepare, especially for outdoor weddings where the location may require specific instructions. Highlight key information about your wedding, such as venue details, registry links, accommodation recommendations and other specific details.

Order Your Wedding Invitations

Your wedding invitations set the tone for your day and provide key details for your guests. Order early so you have time to address and send them. Include the venue address, directions, parking details, RSVP information, wedding website link, dress code and footwear advice on your invitations.

6 Months to Go

6 Months to Go

Secure Rentals

Even if your venue provides basic tables and chairs, outdoor weddings often require additional rentals. Work with one rental company when possible to streamline deliveries and reduce fees. Create a master list of all the items you’ll want to rent out, including:

  • Ceremony stage
  • Tables for the reception
  • Chairs for the ceremony and reception
  • Linens
  • Plates
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Wedding decor
  • Lighting
  • Sound equipment
  • Dance floor
  • Tents
  • Lawn games
  • Heaters
  • Portable restrooms

Plan Out The Logistics

Outdoor weddings need a little extra planning to ensure things run smoothly, especially when it comes to setup, guest flow, and vendor access. Draw a layout of your ceremony and reception space, including seating, the bar, food stations, and entertainment. Also, build in buffer time for tent setup, delivery or floral arrangements, and vendor arrivals. Consider plan B and communicate it with everyone if the weather conditions change on your wedding day.

Shop for Bridesmaid Attire

It’s time to select bridesmaid dresses for your bridal party and give them plenty of time to order and alter their gowns. Keep the season and location in mind. For summer garden weddings, lighter fabrics like chiffon or tulle are ideal.

Order Your Wedding Cake

A wedding cake is a must for any wedding. Look for wedding cake designers that cover the area where you’re getting married. Semi-naked or naked cakes are a great choice for outdoor weddings as they can resist the heat. Schedule a cake tasting to finalize flavors and design. Most cake designers also offer delivery, so make sure to give clear directions and coordinate delivery times with your setup schedule.

Top Tip:

Keep your wedding cake in a shaded display area to prevent melting, sagging and other issues.

3 to 4 Months to Go

3 to 4 Months to Go

Attend Your First Dress Fitting

By now, your gown should have arrived, and it’s time for your first fitting. Bring the shoes and undergarments you plan to wear on the day so your tailor or dressmaker can make accurate adjustments.

Finalize Your Menu

Meet with your caterer to confirm the final menu. Consider seasonal ingredients and options that suit an open-air setting. If you’re hosting a backyard wedding and using food trucks or buffet service, make sure your menu items are easy to serve and won’t spoil quickly in the sun. Confirm dietary restrictions for your guests and finalize any signature cocktail ideas.

Send Your Wedding Invitations

Now is the time to officially invite your guests. Your invitations should be sent out 3 to 4 months before your wedding to allow guests plenty of time to RSVP and make travel arrangements. Some couples choose to deliver the invitation in person to speed up delivery and save on postage costs.

Order Signage and Decor

Signage is especially important for outdoor weddings, where venues may not have clear entrances, pathways, or restrooms. Order custom signs for directions, seating charts, bar menus, welcome messages, and ceremony details. These items can completely transform your space and help guide your guests on the day.

Start DIY Projects

If you’re planning to create handmade décor or wedding favors, now is the time to start. Whether it’s painting custom signs, assembling guest welcome bags, or crafting centerpieces, spacing out your DIY tasks over several weeks will make the process less stressful.

Top Tip:

Ask family members or your wedding party to help out with DIY projects to quicken the process and make it more enjoyable.

1 Month to Go

1 Month to Go

Check the Weather

Start monitoring the weather forecast, even if it’s still subject to change. Look for long-range predictions, average temperatures, and possible rainfall. If there’s any chance of bad weather, talk with your wedding planner or vendors about your rain plan.

Keep Pesky Insects at Bay

One thing many couples forget to prepare for at outdoor weddings is bugs, especially in summer or near water or wooded areas. Stock up on citronella candles, bug repellents, and consider offering guests travel-size sprays or wipes in baskets.

Plan B: Your Outdoor Wedding Weather Backup Plan

Even in peak season, weather can be unpredictable, so it’s smart to have a solid backup plan in place from the beginning. Consider hiring a marquee or tent with side panels for shelter, or confirm whether your venue offers an indoor option you can switch to if needed.

If you’re organizing your own setup, have umbrellas, blankets, or parasols ready, depending on the forecast. For heatwaves, rent fans or shaded lounges. For chilly evenings, think outdoor heaters or a fire pit with blankets. No matter the weather, a thoughtful plan will keep your guests comfortable and your day running smoothly.

2 Weeks to Go

2 Weeks to Go

Attend Your Final Dress Fitting

You’ve likely had at least one dress fitting already, but now it’s time for the final try-on. Make sure your wedding dress fits perfectly and that you can comfortably walk, sit, and dance in it, especially on uneven ground.

Stock Up the Bar

If you’re providing your alcohol, this is the time to stock up. Work with your caterer or bartender to estimate how much wine, beer, and liquor you’ll need, keeping in mind the duration of your celebration and guest count.

Purchase Small Essentials

From guestbooks and cake toppers, now is the time to check off any last-minute items. For outdoor weddings, extras like sunscreen, hand fans, sunglasses, flip-flops, or blankets (for chilly nights) are thoughtful touches your guests will appreciate.

1 Week to Go

Set Up and Decorate Your Venue

If your venue allows early setup, begin bringing in your décor and rental items. Even small touches like string lights, floral arrangements, table settings, and signs take longer than expected to set up, so start as early as your timeline permits. Enlist family or friends to help, or better yet, hire a wedding coordinator to manage the installation while you focus on other areas.

Check-In With Vendors

Call or email each vendor to confirm timing, arrival, and responsibilities. Review final details such as headcount, addresses, parking instructions, and any last-minute changes.

Walk Your Ceremony Route in Advance

If you're walking across grass, gravel, or sand, practice walking your ceremony route in your wedding shoes a few days before the wedding (or earlier, if possible). This helps avoid surprises and lets you adjust your footwear if needed.

 

The Night Before Your Wedding

Attend Your Rehearsal

Gather your wedding party and officiant for a ceremony walkthrough. Practice your processional, recessional, and key moments like ring exchanges or readings. Use this time to troubleshoot issues like uneven ground or timing with music. Afterwards, head to your rehearsal dinner and take time to connect with loved ones before the big day.

Top Tip:

Prepare a wedding emergency kit with bobby pins, safety pins, pain relievers, deodorant, tissues, breath mints, sunscreen, and bug spray.

The Day of Your Wedding

You've made it to your wedding day! Start it off with a relaxing morning. Eat a good breakfast, stay hydrated, and stick to the schedule you created with your planner or coordinator. Outdoor weddings can come with surprises, like sudden wind or rainfall, so roll with the day and trust your wedding party to handle any hiccups.

After Your Wedding

Clean Up the Venue

Many outdoor wedding venues require same-night or early next-day clean-ups. Be sure you’ve arranged who’s responsible for taking down decor, collecting personal items, packing up gifts and cards, and disposing of trash.

Return Any Rentals

Within a day or two of the wedding, you’ll need to return any rented items. This includes everything from tables and chairs to lighting, heaters, dance floors, and dinnerware. Some companies offer pick-up services, while others require you to drop items off by a specific time.

Send Out Thank You Cards

Once you're back from your honeymoon or have had a chance to catch your breath, it’s time to express your gratitude. Sending out thank you cards is an essential part of post-wedding etiquette and a meaningful way to recognize the people who celebrated with you.

Outdoor Wedding Sign Off

Checklist Written by Amy

We hope this checklist has helped you feel calm, confident, and inspired as you plan your perfect day under the open sky. Whether it’s sunshine, wildflowers, or twinkling lights you’re dreaming of, we’re cheering you on every step of the way. Here’s to a wedding day that’s as beautiful and unforgettable as the setting you’ve chosen — and if you ever need a hand with the finishing touches, we’re here to help. Love, Amy x

Now Accepting