Dreaming of your perfect fairytale wedding? From lush foliage to delicate blooms and twinkling lights, an outdoor wedding could transport you and your guests to an unforgettable, magical world. Whether you’re planning a rustic-themed wedding in a flower-filled garden, a country wedding at a barn, or a vintage bash at a vineyard, the great outdoors is a wonderful place to say, “I do.” If you’re starting to plan your perfect outdoor wedding, we’ve collected 45 food, décor, attire, and stationery ideas to help you. These creative ideas will help you put together a wedding ceremony and reception that will look picture-perfect in your wedding photo book.
1. Rustic Floral Stationery Suite
If you’re going for a rustic theme at your outdoor wedding, set the tone by sending out rustic floral wedding invitations. Try to use colors that match your wedding’s color scheme, and consider decorating the invitations with the same florals you’re using in your bouquet or floral displays.
2. Vintage Wine Bottle Floral Arrangements
Vintage wine bottles will make beautiful centerpieces on your tables, and they’ll also look great as decorations on your snack bar or dessert table. Use a wide variety of colorful wildflowers to make these floral arrangements pop. For a rustic touch, tie burlap string around the necks of the bottles.
3. Photo Booth Selfie Frame
A fun and creative way to get your wedding guest entertained and make your wedding day an unforgettable one is to design your own personalized photo booth selfie frame. With our various selfie frame templates, you’re sure to find a design that will match the aesthetic of your wedding. Our selfie frames are fully customizable to include you and your spouse’s names, dates, and any messages or hashtags you want to add to the selfie frame.
4. Personalized Wedding Banner
Adding a personalized wedding banner is a great way to display photos of you and your spouse on your wedding day. Shutterfly’s bunting banners allow you to add a variety of photos or display a message across the swallowtail flags. With 16 swallowtail flags, the design options are endless to what you want to display for your special day. Our different designs will help assist you in creating the perfect personalized wedding banner.
5. Hay Bale Lounge Area
If you’re creating a lounge area for a country wedding, consider using hay bale seating. Top each hay bale with a classic patterned quilt for extra comfort. To add a fun touch to your wedding photos, incorporate a wedding selfie frame so guests will have a blast holding while they take pictures together. Shutterfly’s wedding selfie frame cutouts make perfect photo booth props and or a special keepsake from your big day.
6. Lavender Bouquets
Lavender is a lovely choice for a bride or bridesmaids’ bouquets. You can use lavender on its own, or you can mix the lavender with colorful wildflowers. This bouquet will both smell and look wonderful. A mixture of light and dark floral hues perfectly captures the many tones you will find in nature.
7. Wine Barrel Snack Bar
If you’re having your wedding at a vineyard, consider using wine barrels to create a unique snack bar. Use the wine barrels as the base of the snack bar, and top the barrels with a rustic piece of aged wood. To continue with the theme, decorate the wine bar with bunches of grapes and personalized wine glasses.
8. Wood Slice Table Numbers
Let your guests know what tables they’re sitting at with rustic wood slice table numbers. You can draw the numbers on with markers, or you can have the numbers carved into the wood slices. It works well for anyone planning a woodland-themed event, and pairing it with fun accents like metallic flatware, ceramic candles, and blush plates brings a fun and youthful aspect to the design.
9. Rustic Floral Photo Backdrop
Consider a wedding photo backdrop with a “just picked from the garden” look. Your guests will love taking photos against a rustic floral photo backdrop. Use dark wood surrounded by flower garlands for this backdrop or, if you’d like a brighter backdrop, try using sheer white fabric and flowers.
10. Off-The-Shoulder Wedding Dress
If you’re looking for a chic boho dress for your garden wedding, consider an off-the-shoulder dress. Pair this beautiful bohemian dress with a wildflower bouquet and a gold headband. You can even show off your favorite wedding photos in that stunning dress with personalized wedding thank you cards. Whether you’re thanking your guests for their attendance or for a thoughtful wedding gift, a custom thank you card is the best way to show your loved ones how much they mean to you.
11. Baby’s Breath Flower Crown
A bright white baby’s breath flower crown is a lovely choice for a garden wedding. You can simply use baby’s breath, or you can pair it with a few different wildflowers, such as daisies or roses. Baby’s breath has long been a favorite choice among couples who want a more simple, rustic, and natural feel. A flower crown that mixes in blue and purple accents is a lovely example of a look that will never go out of style.
12. Rustic Place Card Display
A rustic framed wire place card display is a good choice for a barn or backyard wedding. To make these pieces pop, decorate the frame with bright green vines or flowers, and use colorful place cards. There are lots of ways to glam up a backyard for your fairytale wedding.
13. Mason Jar Chandelier
Light up your reception with a DIY mason jar chandelier that features a wagon wheel as a base. This chandelier is easy to make, and it will fit in perfectly in a barn wedding. Personalized mason jars will bring a fairy feel, which will make your guests feel like they are in a secret forest.
14. Hanging Garden
A hanging flora display is a big trend that has taken the wedding industry by storm. An incredible hanging garden that sparkles above the reception tables and is the epitome of romance with the abundance of candlelight hanging down and on the tables. Paired with hanging lanterns works well for fairytale wedding themes.
15. Nearly Naked Wedding Cake
Naked wedding cakes have a rustic look that works perfectly for an outdoor wedding. To add a bit more color to the cake, decorate them with flowers that match your floral displays. You could also wrap a garland around the cake for more color. This cake is a total showstopper that brings an ethereal and whimsical vibe. Serve the wedding cake to your guests on some custom dinner plates, too!
16. Rustic Backyard Wedding
Before you send out your save the dates, emphasize the outdoor nature of your wedding by turning your backyard into a secret garden oasis. Mix natural textures like wood with bright florals to add some contrast to your decor. This theme invites you to play with colors and rely on natural beauty for your big day.
17. Fairy Lights
It’s simple to create a welcoming display with very little effort or cost. Fairy lights are a wonderful lighting choice for an outdoor wedding. These lights would look beautiful hung up on a fence at a backyard wedding, and they would look just as good draped over the greenery at a garden wedding.
18. Floral Signature Cocktails
If you’re having a garden wedding, try using floral flavors in your signature cocktails. You could go for a sweet lavender-flavored drink, or you could use rose syrup. Be sure to decorate these floral drinks with a few petals! Check out our custom glassware that makes for great wedding gifts, wedding accessories for table settings, and personalized gifts. From etched stemless wine glasses, mason jars, beer glasses, and more, you can make drinkware that’s one-of-a-kind.
19. Sweetheart Necklines Bridesmaid Dresses
Sweetheart necklines bridesmaid dresses are the perfect choice for a whimsical garden wedding. Feminine and soft, a sweetheart neckline pairs well with a jeweled corset and tulle skirt. If you’re looking for a beautiful headpiece to go along with these dresses, consider a wildflower crown.
20. Tree Trunk Photo Display
If there are large trees in your backyard or garden wedding, use these trees to display photos of you and your significant other. Attach high-quality photo prints to a piece of twine using a clothespin and then wrap the twine all around the tree. These natural details create the perfect romantic forest feel.
21. Nature Tablescapes
Whether it feels like an intimate dinner or an energetic block party, decorate your dinner tables with plate ware and centerpieces that match your wedding theme. Tables are blank canvases that allow you to add flowers, fabrics, and decor of your choice. Go rustic, traditional, or glam by setting a table that is both inviting and well-designed.
22. Fairy Light Mason Jars
Set the mood of your wedding by using creative lighting ideas. Outdoor lights transform any space into a cozy setting. Fill personalized mason jars with fairy lights, and place these mason jars on your tables. As the sun goes down, these lights will glow beautifully. Use battery-powered string lights inside oversized jars for some extra table lighting outdoors or indoors.
23. Vintage Wooden Decor
Vintage wooden decor offers a nice rustic touch for your wedding. If you’re looking for a unique way to display the snacks during your cocktail hour, try arranging them on a vintage wooden wagon. For an added bit of color, decorate this snack bar with flowers or a garland. Create some custom wood cutting boards to elevate your cheese and charcuterie displays.
24. Adirondack Chair Lounge Area
When guests need a break from all the action at your wedding, they’ll love having Adirondack chairs to relax on. For an added bit of decoration, tie garlands around the arms of the chairs. Whether the temperature is hot to cool, keep your guests are comfortable during the outdoor ceremony. Provide refreshments before they take a seat to cool them off or offer cozy blankets to keep them warm.
25. Tweed Vests
It’s no secret that we love a groom and groomsmen in tweed! Tweed is a textured woolen fabric that is trending in menswear and is an ideal fabric for rustic weddings. Tweed vests are a great choice for a wedding with a country theme. This warm material is perfect for a fall wedding—your groom and groomsmen will look incredibly stylish in these vests.
26. Entertain With Lawn Games
Keep guests entertained during cocktail hour while you take your wedding photos with fun lawn games like croquet, bocce ball, or even custom photo puzzles of you two. Unique, fun, and entertaining, you can choose your favorite memory and make it larger than life by creating a personalized gift that doubles as an activity.
27. Vintage Hanging Photo Frames
Hang vintage photo frames from trees for a piece of décor that your guests are sure to love. You can leave the photo frames empty, or you can fill them with vintage photographs. This could also be a good idea for your wedding guest book—place stationery inside the frames, and have guests write messages on it.
28. Wildflower Bouquet
Accentuate the outdoor feel of your wedding by bringing wildflower arrangements. A wildflower bouquet is a great choice for a garden wedding or a backyard wedding. Fill the bouquet with wildflowers in a wide variety of colors. For an added bit of texture, incorporate some other wild plants, such as thistle or Queen Anne’s lace.
29. S’mores Bar
S’mores are a great dessert option at an outdoor wedding. Create a s’mores bar with different types of chocolate and graham crackers for your guests to choose from. Include a roasting station on the bar so your guests can roast their marshmallows. Don’t forget to check out our custom wedding gifts made just for you are the perfect way to immortalize the love and bliss of your wedding day.
30. Give Guests A Local Taste
Backyard weddings are all about giving guests a taste of your life so why not feast on one of your favorite meals? Food trucks always make a delicious addition to any wedding menu and can be customized to guest’s preferences. Food trucks are an excellent dinner option for backyard weddings. They can pull into the driveway and serve your guests throughout the evening.
31. DIY Trail Mix Favors
Your guests will love getting to take home their own delicious trail mix favors. Place burlap party favor bags next to the different trail mix elements, and let your guests create their own delicious DIY favor. Using chandeliers and creative tabletop displays, you can wow your guests with desserts of all kinds.
32. Burgundy Bridesmaid Dresses
Burgundy is a stunning bridesmaid dress color that fits in with a wide variety of outdoor wedding themes, from garden weddings to backyard weddings. The berry-hued, wine-inspired jewel tone stands out amongst the rest and is a show-stopper of a color. For contrast, consider using bridesmaid bouquets filled with bright pink or white flowers.
33. Sunflower Flower Crown
A sunflower flower crown is a wonderful choice for a summer wedding—this bright crown will look perfect in the summer sun. If you’d like to add another floral element to the crown, try using a few sprigs of baby’s breath or small burgundy roses. Whether you’re inspired by minimalism or want a more luxurious feel for your reception, The Wedding Shop by Shutterfly has everything you need to give your big day a custom touch.
34. Outdoor Wedding Arch
Unlike most indoor weddings, you get to choose the focal point for your outdoor nuptials. Use the scenery to inform where you’ll exchange vows, and mark the spot with a ceremony arch festooned in fabric and florals. Flower garlands add a luxurious floral element to wedding decorations that everyone will be in awe of.
35. Custom Wedding Napkins
Wedding napkins are an essential part of your reception décor. Elevate paper napkins to a new level with personalized wedding napkins from Shutterfly. List some interesting facts about the couple that some of your guests may not know—such as where you met, where your honeymoon will be, what you love about each other, or where your first date took place. Be as sentimental—or as silly—as you like.
36. Use Plants For Your Centerpiece
Potted flowerless plants mimic the shrubbery of a backyard and make for stunning centerpiece displays. Cluster a few plants, baby fruit-bearing trees, and herbs from a local garden store for a visual masterpiece that will smell just as good as it looks. The plants can live on as landscaping for the backyard instead of meeting a quick demise.
37. Wedding Guestbooks
A wedding guest book is a small under-the-radar detail, but everyone is sure to see it. Capture the advice and well wishes of your family and friends in this fun and elegant wedding guestbook. Pretty patterned backgrounds beautifully showcase your favorite photos. Use our pre-designed templates, or quickly customize to make a guestbook that’s uniquely yours. It’s sure to become a treasured keepsake.
38. Make A Picture-Perfect Display
Stack white crates filled with black and white photos of the newlyweds, eucalyptus, and lanterns for a personalized décor statement that’s both refined and rustic. Or add a sentimental twist by displaying family wedding photos that go back generations. Long after the “I dos” are over, wedding photos will be the ultimate keepsake of your special day.
39. Vine Wedding Invitations
If your outdoor wedding reception is taking place in a vineyard or garden, vine-themed wedding invitations will work perfectly for you. Use an illustrated vine border to make these invitations pop, and consider using a font that matches your wedding’s color scheme.
40. Chalkboard Menu
Save paper and display your reception menu on a rustic chalkboard sign. If you’re having a buffet, you can also label each type of food with small chalkboard signs. Let your guests know about all the delicious treats available at your wedding with a rustic chalkboard menu. Draw an illustrative border around the edge of the menu to make the menu pop.
41. Rustic Wedding Signs
Create rustic wooden signs or custom yard signs to direct your guests to your ceremony and reception. Signage might not be the first detail you think about when it comes to your wedding décor, but it’s a great opportunity to add a personal touch to different areas of your outdoor wedding space.
42. Succulent Boutonnieres
A small succulent is a creative boutonniere idea that will fit in perfectly at a garden or backyard wedding. Creating a boutonniere out of cacti and succulents is so simple and so unique. For contrast, pair the succulent with a few colorful flowers and a few bright green leaves.
43. Small Accents
Small leaves make a big statement in a simple place setting, bringing the backyard straight to the table. You can also use fresh herbs like sprigs of rosemary for an artisanal flair that hints at the culinary delights to come. Incorporating nature into your wedding ceremony, reception, and even wedding thank you cards are the easiest ways to create a stunning and fragrant setting for your big day.
44. Vintage Window Frame Seating Chart
A wedding seating chart is usually simple and organized and it’s very easy for your guests to figure out where they are sitting with minimal searching to find their name. A vintage wooden window frame is a great way to display your place cards. Clip the place cards to the frame using clothespins, and then decorate the window frame with a few flowers or a string of fairy lights.
45. Wheelbarrow Drinks Station
Fruity drinks are a must for a summer backyard wedding. Display them in a bespoke wheelbarrow for a bit of vintage flair. Add some southern charm by filling adorable mason jars with iced tea or lemonade. Use a vintage wheelbarrow as a unique cooler for your drinks! This creative drinks station will fit in perfectly at a backyard wedding or a barn wedding.
46. DIY Leaf Escort Cards
Leaves as escort cards not only complement a backyard wedding, they’re a budget-friendly DIY. Pull leaves from a tree right in the backyard—with a bit of calligraphy, they transform into escort cards. Give them a feminine touch with pretty bows. These leafy escort cards are especially perfect if you’re planning on sending out outdoor wedding invitations.
47. Garden Seed Favors
At the end of your garden-themed or backyard wedding, give guests a bag full of seeds they can use to start their own garden. Your guests will love getting to try their hand at planting their own flowers. For more party favor ideas, check out our personalized wedding gifts for a chic collection of wedding keepsakes that are thoughtfully and stylishly designed.
Closing Thoughts
Whether you’re going for a country-themed barn wedding, a boho-chic garden wedding, or anything in between, these outdoor wedding ideas will help you. These wedding ideas will help you create a dreamy outdoor wedding that you and your guests will be talking about for years to come.
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