Warm temperatures, bright sunshine and mild nights: perfect conditions for a summer wedding to remember. Whether in your own garden or at a rented venue in the countryside, outdoor weddings are becoming more and more popular. With just a few simple touches, you can create a beautiful setting. We share practical tips on planning, decoration and furniture to help you make your garden wedding an unforgettable occasion.
How to plan a memorable garden wedding:
1. The garden
2. Furniture
3. Decoration
4. Outdoor ceremony and drinks reception
5. In the evening
6. Plan B for bad weather
1. The garden
Whether it's an intimate family gathering or a big celebration, the garden needs to be large enough for an open-air wedding party. How much space you need depends on the number of guests and the schedule for the day.
It makes sense to divide the garden into separate areas. These might include a dining area, space for the ceremony, a drinks reception, a lounge area and room for music and a dance floor. As a rule of thumb, allow 2 m² of seating space and 1 m² of dance floor per guest.
"Before you start planning, walk the routes your guests will take. That way, nothing will escape you." – Viktoria, interior expert
Don't overlook the ground. It should be level, clean and dry. For the dance floor, you can mow the lawn very short or lay temporary flooring made of wood, MDF panels or vinyl. You will also need access to electricity for the music and lighting.
2. Furniture
For an outdoor wedding, use furniture that is suitable for outdoor use. This includes wooden tables and chairs made from hard-wearing teak, eucalyptus, acacia or bamboo. Furniture made from lightfast plastic or powder-coated metal is also a good choice. If you're planning a wedding meal, you'll need a dining area with tables and chairs. You can choose between square, rectangular and round tables.
Round tables look particularly festive and can be arranged however you like. Make sure the tables aren't too large, though. The larger the diameter, the greater the distance between guests – which makes conversation harder.
Leave at least 150 cm between tables and at least 30 cm between the tables and the dance floor.
Square and rectangular tables offer plenty of layout options and can even be combined into one long banquet table. They are especially recommended for large wedding parties, as they allow big groups to sit together.
Ideally, a square table should measure at least 80 x 80 cm. Whether you set them up as a block, in parliament style or in a U shape, there are almost no limits to how you arrange them.
When placing the chairs, leave enough space. Each guest should have at least 70 cm of room at their place. Chairs with armrests are more comfortable, but chairs without armrests take up considerably less space.
"With a large number of guests, it helps to assign seats in advance. Traditional place cards, names attached to the wedding favours or a seating plan written on old wine bottles – this is where you can get creative."
3. Decoration
With its colourful flowers, fresh grasses and the scent of summer in the air, a garden already offers a special atmosphere for a wedding. Add matching wedding decorations to create a setting your guests will remember.
Paper lanterns, string lights and small festive touches help turn an ordinary garden party into a real wedding. Have you chosen a theme for your wedding? Then match the decoration to it.
Classic, elegant or rustic – there is no right or wrong. It's your wedding, so choose decorations that suit you and your taste. In general, square tables need more table decoration than round ones. Tablecloths or place mats give the tables a festive look.
To make arranging your table decorations easier, try the triangle method. It works for every type of table. Place the tallest decorative element (1) in the centre – vases with flower arrangements are ideal here. Around it, place smaller decorative elements (2), such as smaller vases or candle holders.
Small tea lights (3), decorative figures, table scatter or handmade pieces complete the picture. In the evening especially, a light source (4) on the table creates a cosy atmosphere.
Use your dinnerware as part of the table decoration. For an outdoor wedding, shatterproof dinnerware made of high-quality plastic or melamine is a good choice. After the celebrations, you can keep using it for picnics, outdoor dining or barbecues.
4. Outdoor ceremony and drinks reception
An outdoor ceremony is a special highlight of any garden wedding. Celebrate the moment by highlighting and defining the ceremony area. Romantically planted flower tubs, glowing torches or elegant floor vases work well for this.
Simple rustic folding chairs, high tables or lavishly decorated rows of benches: a garden gives you many ways to seat your guests during the ceremony. A popular choice is to arrange the seating in diagonal rows facing the couple. Think about what your guests will be looking at, too – flower beds, rows of trees or a view across open fields all work well.
After the ceremony, a drinks reception is always welcome. It's a chance to celebrate the newlyweds and raise a glass to the day together. Depending on how much time there is before the wedding meal, you can serve small snacks and finger food.
5. In the evening
After plenty of dancing, every guest will appreciate a cosy lounge area. A mix of seating options breaks up the space, and outdoor rugs create an indoor feel. Lounge furniture in boho style or with a tropical touch is very much on trend and invites guests to relax and linger.
Impress your guests with a sea of lights. Once the sun has set and it gets dark, lights of all kinds create a magical atmosphere. Light up paths and flower beds, too, so that the plants can still be enjoyed after dark. String lights and pendant lights work especially well around the dance floor.
6. Plan B for bad weather
At an open-air wedding, the weather can quickly spoil the day. So think about possible weather problems well in advance.
When it's rainy or windy, umbrellas, gazebos and marquees will save the day. But too much sun and very hot temperatures can also be uncomfortable. In that case, provide parasols, fans, sun cream and cool drinks.
An outdoor wedding is something truly special. With the right furniture, fitting decorations and a plan B up your sleeve, it's sure to be an unforgettable occasion. We hope you enjoy every moment of your garden wedding!
