When you are planning your perfect wedding, one of the first things to decide on is the date. Do you want to have a Christmas wedding? Are you thinking of spring flowers or fall colours? One huge deciding factor can be whether you want to have an outdoor wedding, celebrating your love with your friends and family in the beauty of the great outdoors.

If you are considering celebrating your marriage outdoors, here are a few key questions we will endeavour to answer to help get you started planning your big day.

What is the best month to have an outdoor wedding?

Where you live and are planning to hold your wedding will obviously impact the best month to settle on. For example, in the UK, June and July are wonderful months to choose from, warm and sunny and perfect for an outdoor affair.

By contrast, June and July are the coldest months of the year in Australia, so unless you want your guests turning into icicles they may not be the best options for you. While December and January are the hotter months in Australia, unless you particularly want a Christmas theme they can be a poor choice.

Many people are busy and already have plans at this time of year, and in addition, many venues may be booked up with parties and you may have to pay slightly higher costs as well if you want to get hitched in the New Year or in the run-up to Christmas.

Many couples think that March is an ideal time to book an outside wedding. It is the beginning of autumn, so not too hot or too cold. Your guests should find it an easier time to keep free, and the gorgeous scenery and colours at this time of year speak for themselves.

November is a wonderful month to get married outside. Peonies are flowering, spring is in the air, and the temperature is a balmy 24 degrees – perfect! Of course, you can’t plan for everything, and there could still be a thunderstorm, downpour or heat wave, but with enough planning, and especially if you use a professional service like Dining Abode, you can be ready for anything, and then nothing can spoil your day.

Where are the best outdoor wedding venues?

Sydney is home to some of the most beautiful and best outdoor wedding venues in the world, and there is sure to be a perfect venue out there waiting for you to discover it. With the help of an expert wedding planner, you can visit as many sites as you wish before you decide on the place you wish to celebrate your marriage.

One of the top venues has to be the Australian Botanical Gardens, complete with 416 hectares of lush, stunning gardens ready to make your wedding photos even more picture-perfect. You can arrange an outdoor marquee, a relaxed picnic or several wet weather options as you start your marriage surrounded by picturesque flower beds and woodland groves.

There are many other outstanding venues of surpassing natural beauty, including the Residences, Centennial Park, where you can look down from the hilltops at the stunning parklands, and Ooralba Estate. This 200-acre property includes a topiary maze, olive groves, and orchards, as well as gorgeous verdant green hills and crystalline lakes.

If you are looking for the perfect outdoor wedding venue, look no further than Sydney and all it has to offer.

What is the best food to serve at an outdoor wedding?

The right kind of food for your wedding will again depend on the theme that you have decided to go for. If you are hosting a formal and elaborate affair, a sit-down dinner is the only real way to go, but if you are having a more relaxed and fun outdoor celebration, there are a number of ways that you can go.

A picnic-style buffet can work wonderfully with an outdoor wedding, and you can go for anything from a hog roast to beef tenderloin, kebabs and sandwiches to pasta bars. You can go for a mix of hot and cold options, and different food stations, you can really have it however you wish, it’s your big day after all.

Another great option for weddings is canapes. These small yet delightful bites can entertain any crowd, and you can keep them circulating as often and long as you like. Most couples will pair these with something more substantial, like the food stations mentioned above, but again it is all up to you!

How do you protect your wedding cake outdoors?

Now we have discussed some of the delights of an outdoor wedding, it is time to mention one of the big downsides – bugs. If you are getting married in summer, you are likely to be sharing the space with flies, wasps and other unwelcome guests, so it is essential that you take precautions to protect the magnum opus of your wedding feast, the cake.

One simple solution is to place a cover, or lid, over the cake so that nothing can reach it. Ideally, you will use a transparent cover so that your guests can still marvel at the majestic dessert, and you can even use a canopy, like a mosquito net, to add a touch of elegance to the display.

You should keep your cake in the shade at all times, ideally in a closed-off pavilion or marquee to keep it somewhat protected. Another option is to keep it inside until the right time, though if you want your guests to enjoy the sight of the cake for longer, a canopy or cover is the best choice.

Final thoughts

When it comes to your special day, everything should be exactly as you want it to be – utterly perfect. An outdoor wedding can be a special and memorable way to celebrate your love in nature, and even if the weather changes, the fact that you are marrying the love of your life ensures that all will be perfect anyway.

If you are getting married and thinking of having an outdoor wedding, do all you can to beat the unexpected and consult a wedding planner today.