So, you and your fiancé have choosen to hold your wedding outdoors. An outdoor wedding holds many advantages for many couples. This is especially so if you are not looking forward to feeling cramped by having a church wedding. But, with every advantage, there is a disadvantage. You want to make sure that you are filled in with all the good things about an outdoor wedding and all the bad things about having an outdoor wedding. Here are a few pros and cons of outdoor weddings that might help finalize any decision you make.

Advantages to an Outdoor Wedding

Church weddings tend to restrict you sometimes on what themes you can use. When having a wedding in a church you need to stick to more conservative themes that is respectful with the environment. Outdoor weddings offer a little more freedom. You can have pretty much any kind of theme you want with an outdoor wedding. To a beach theme or a western, your imagination is you limit.

A great plus to outdoor weddings is the cost. They are most definitely less costly than having a church service. If you are getting married in a warm garden or sunny beach, formal attire isn’t necessary. You can throw off the heavy gown and go with a simple sundress if you want. You don’t have to pay to use a beach or public garden to get married in. Your only costs will be providing for the minister.

Having your wedding outdoors will also make you and your guest relaxed and comfortable. The casual environment is more welcome than a stuffy church environment, and allows you to enjoy yourself immensely. Having lots of space, can also be welcome as no one has to worry about being shoved against another person.

You can also go ahead and use the same venue for your wedding ceremony and reception. Just find someone to decorate and cater the event.

Disadvantages to an Outdoor Wedding

Weather is the big one here. We can’t control mother nature and the weather man is not always right. It is hard to plan an outdoor wedding ahead of time, since who knows what the weather will actually be like. So, it is really good to have a back-up plan when planning an outdoor ceremony.

If you are Catholic, you might have a hard time having a wedding outside. Most priests do not allow you to marry outside of the church. So, if this is something you really want, it is time to get on the good graces of your priest.



Outdoor weddings work for some people and not for others. Talk with your fiancé and figure out what will be the best for the two of you.