outdoor weddings

The beauty of the natural environment appeals to many couples. The choice to have an outdoor wedding offers a less formal environment than a traditional church wedding for many couples looking for peace and tranquillity.

Photo: That's Me Photography

Garden weddings

• Access and parking: Check that parking is adequate for a large number of guests. While off street parking and on street parking is legal, ensure you are not encroaching on neighbour’s privacy by blocking their driveways or parking on their land. Also ensure that the wedding party’s transport, whether it be bridal cars or a horse and carriage can manoeuvre safely inside the grounds. Also check for parking and meter time restrictions.

• Friendly for children and the disabled: Ensure the gardens are wheelchair, pram and disability friendly. Wedding guests often include the very young and the elderly so this is an important point. Consider whether guests will be able to disembark close to the ceremony site. It can also prove worthwhile to ask for a mud map of the area to send with your invitations.
• Noise: Passing traffic noise has spoilt many a wedding. Ensure the ceremony site is well away from the road and if possible not able to be seen from the road. Some motorists have been known to show their appreciation by tooting their horn or shouting their congratulations! While these are lovely thoughts, they may not be appropriate during your ceremony. Ask whether the public will be allowed on the grounds while your service is in progress; ensure any noise from waterfalls or fountains is not overpowering; enquire whether your celebrant or church leader has a public address system (especially useful in large gardens).
• Power: Is a power point available for stereo systems or any other electrical appliance required for your ceremony?
• Chairs and tables: These are required for both the signing of the registry as well as for your guests. It’s a good idea to ask how many are available and ensure you can use them on the day.
• Cigarette disposal: Cigarette butts on the lawn are a nightmare for both garden lovers and photographers. Strategically placed pots and planters filled with sand can help curb this problem. New council laws may restrict smoking altogether so remember to check them.
• Confetti: Ask whether confetti is allowed in the garden - often, rose petals or genuine pot pouri, colourless bubbles or other more appropriate biodegradable material can be substituted for traditional confetti. The use of traditional or cheap pot pouri confetti is widely discouraged because the dyes run. Similarly, metallic confetti is dangerous as it is sharp and reflective. Silk petals get into mowers and rice can hurt so check these as well.
• Dogs: For couples wanting their dog in their ceremony or simply attending, a garden wedding can be the only option. However, remember to ask whether your dog will be welcome, as some gardens may have strict prohibitions.

• Water hazards: If ponds, fountains, lakes or other water hazards are located within the grounds, it’s a good idea to advise parents before the wedding and ask them to take responsibility for their children’s supervision. Also, remember that garden owners will appreciate children not running through, stepping on or hiding in garden beds.
• Public Liability: Check the garden owner has public liability insurance.
• Cover: Enquire about alternate facilities with cover in the case of rain. Also, check for shade cover, especially if the ceremony will be held at a time when there is no natural shade.
• Photography: Is the garden a photographer’s paradise? Ask the garden owner about unique features and request that your photographer visit the site before the day.
• Lighting: Is floodlighting available for night use?
• Music: Remember that musicians must have a shaded or covered area that protects both them and their instruments from the elements. Also check accepted noise levels and council approvals that are needed. Restrictions such as a 75-decibel noise level, time restrictions such as a 10pm curfew and the number or type of musicians and use of amplifiers may also apply at your venue.
• Water: Enquire if garden owner will supply drinking water and glasses as an extra service. Otherwise purchase bottled water for guests. This is particularly important for summer weddings.
• Reception/catering: Some gardens provide a reception or catering service, others allow reception and catering on their grounds and others are merely service venues with no reception or catering facilities.
• Marquee: Ensure grounds are sufficiently large for a marquee, if it is required, to be erected and facilities available for caterers. Most importantly, ensure the garden and facilities can remain open for the length of time you require, so any midnight revellers can party on – even private gardens have to abide by government regulations.
• Garden walks: Inquire whether guests may explore the gardens. Many people enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of well cared for gardens, and your guests may appreciate the opportunity to explore at their leisure. This is a perfect activity while the photography session is in progress or to fill any spare time before leaving for the reception.

Beach weddings

• People wanting to get married on the beach must consult their local council for permission.
• Consider the tides! A particularly high or low tide may not be desirable for both practical and photographic reasons so consider where you’d like the water to be during the wedding and plan around it. If you haven’t already set the wedding date in concrete, you can probably choose your ceremony time and find a date where the tides will coincide. Your photographer and videographer can help you decide what tide will work best. Tide books are available at bookstores, sports and fishing outlets.
• A fantastic feature of the beach is the sand. Unfortunately for most marriages on the beach, the only good thing about sand is that it is usually white and not likely to do much material damage. But remember, sand will get into everything and if there’s a breeze, or a definite wind, it will whip around your ankles and sting your eyes. If it is raining, there can be puddles or even small rivers running down the beach. Always plan alternative arrangements and have a way of telling everyone at short notice.
• Sand is particularly hard to walk on while wearing heels. You’ve probably already accounted for this in your choice of bridal wear but it’s a good idea to also mention it to your guests.
• Sand can also be a problem for prams and wheelchairs so consider this when choosing the particular beach and where on the beach you will be married.
• Remember that for the duration of the ceremony you and your guests will be standing in the sun. You could suggest on the invitations that your guests bring umbrellas.
• Children should be well supervised around all water areas. Unlike the church, the beach provides children with plenty of reason to run away to something more interesting. If children are attending and if you don’t want your guests chasing their children down the beach during the ceremony, you should ensure all parents are aware of the dangers and distractions and will mind their children. If many children are attending, you may choose to organise a child minder. 

• Weather: Australia's glorious winter days provide the perfect setting for morning ceremonies and lunch or brunch style receptions. Spring is lovely for early afternoon ceremonies and a sunset reception cruise. Summer is getting hotter and perfect for a balmy sunset ceremony and a moonlit reception cruise. City lights make a beautiful backdrop to the river or bay.
• Logistics: Departure points – some are free to use and others are privately owned and have a separate charge for their usage. City Cat terminals cannot be used.
• Parking: Check parking availability and proximity to the jetty. If you are having a church ceremony, you may consider hiring a bus to transport guests to and from the boat if parking is a problem.
• Music: A very important part of any wedding. A DJ or live band is a must if you want to structure your wedding with a party atmosphere.
• Photography: Photography can be a challenge on a boat. Make sure your photographer has experience on boats and has viewed the particular boat you have chosen.
• Consider the help of a specialist: To make a river wedding come together perfectly, you may need someone behind the scenes. This person can be there to guide and greet your guests, set-up ceremony locations in riverside parks and generally do all the things you require. They need to know the river or bay well to plan out and structure your day so it all flows smoothly and nothing is rushed. After all, you only get one chance on the day. There are a few companies specialising in weddings on the water that will ensure your wedding cruise runs smoothly and is everything you dreamed of.

Waterfront weddings

Winery weddings

Country weddings