As you and your significant other plan for your big day, it’s only natural that you want your wedding ceremony to reflect your personality. That’s why every fan of the Great Outdoors should consider having an outdoor wedding to truly enjoy their big day. If you’ve already made the choice to celebrate your nuptials outside, here are some tips and tricks for making sure that your outdoor plan is perfect for you and your spouse.

Don’t Overlook the Possibility of a Public Park

One of the most expensive parts of any wedding is the venue. Wedding halls of all varieties will charge you an arm and a leg for the privilege of standing in their back yard. If you want to save a little money but you don’t want to sacrifice setting, you might look through your local parks for the right spot. The prices are agreeable and — in a lot of cases — the setting is just as beautiful as an overpriced venue.

The More the Merrier Outdoors

When you’re planning a wedding, the guest list can be something of a hassle. Between appeasing your parents and making sure you’ve got room for all your friends, there is a lot to think about. When you’re wedding is outdoors, though, you can pretty much invite as many people as you want. Got more people than chairs? No problem, the young people can stand.

Plan for the Grandparents

Every wedding ceremony is going to have at least one or two elderly attendees who might have trouble standing throughout the entire ceremony (no matter how short it is). So, if your wedding is outdoors, make sure that you have some chairs for your older guests. If your wedding location is a bit off the beaten path, you might consider renting a golf cart or something similar to help transport the elderly from their cars to their seats.

Provide Sunscreen and Bug Spray

Just because your guests are wearing suits and dresses doesn’t mean that they’re not still under attack from insects and the sun. Provide a little protection for your guests so that years from now you’re not still being regaled with the time your uncle got a horrible sunburn at your wedding.

Anticipate Bad Weather

It’s cold comfort knowing that rain on your wedding day is supposed to be a sign of future financial prosperity. But when the storm clouds start to gather on your happy day, you might need all the help you can get, especially if your ceremony is outside. It’s okay to plan for a bright, sunny day and a ceremony under the sky, but you should also make sure that your venue has a backup area just in case the weather doesn’t cooperate on your special day.

Lean Into the Outdoor Setting

Your wedding doesn’t need to be a stuffy event that goes by the book. You already chose an outdoor wedding, why not accentuate that theme? Put galoshes on the wedding party to emphasize your outdoor motif (and make moving around easier). Out in the woods? Try a 4-gun salute to celebrate the momentous occasion. It’s your day, do what makes you happy.

Count on Jim’s for the Perfect Wedding Look

No matter what you’re looking for in your outdoor wedding, whether you want something understated and elegant, or woodsy and home-grown, Jim’s Formal Wear can make sure that you and your bridal party look perfect on your big day

A barn can be the perfect setting for your country chic wedding. Today, outdoor weddings at a farm or in a barn setting are taking place all over the country, and they offer the bride and groom a very unique and intimate location for their nuptials and reception.

Here are 5 ways to keep your rustic wedding charming and classy:

1. Choose the Perfect Venue

Country settings are fairly prevalent these days, but don’t discount the importance of a professional vendor when choosing the venue. Hiring an established wedding venue can limit the amount of extra work (and stress) you add to your wedding plans. Opt for a venue location with experience in holding weddings or formal events.

Slate Blue Aspen Slim Fit Tuxedo by Stephen Geoffrey

 

2. Plan for Parking

Most barn weddings are hosted in rural settings, surrounded by grass and dirt. Parking should be a consideration for the amount of guests you’ll have in attendance. If space is lacking or you think your guests will have a difficult time walking the terrain in their wedding attire, consider hiring a bus to shuttle guests to and from the venue.

3. Secure Your Rentals

If you’re marrying at a venue that normally hosts weddings or formal events, it’s likely that they will offer rentals for all the necessary items: tables, chairs, linens, cutlery, etc. Check with the venue’s party planner for details on pricing and availability. Basic items may already be included in the price of the venue rental. Speak to your caterer to find out their needs, too, since they’ll be tasked with serving your guests in the space provided.

If you plan to marry in a barn that normally houses livestock or grain, you’ll have additional items to consider. Think generators for lights and bathrooms. Make a list of items you’ll need and start your research early. Having a plan will help the day run smoothly.

DIY Country Chic wedding decor helps support the theme

4. Dress up the Barn

Now’s the time to channel your inner Pinterest. The possibilities are endless. Fill the space with twinkly lights and lanterns, use mason jars and wildflowers for centerpieces, and accent the tables and chairs with burlap, lace or ribbons. The barn is a blank slate, so make it your own.

Your rustic wedding venue is a blank slate, so make it your own!

5. Select Men’s Wedding Attire to Complement Your Theme

Whether you’re aiming for a backyard BBQ or a whimsical ballroom, Jim’s Formal Wear has formal attire that will fit your style and theme. Keep the ceremony and pictures more formal by having the gentlemen wear jackets. You’ll appreciate the finished look on your pictures in years to come. Tuxedos or suits can be paired with matching or colorful vests and ties to ensure the guys complement your wedding theme…even after they remove their jackets at the reception. And don’t forget the formal shoes made for dancing all night long. Your groomsmen will appreciate not having to shine their own shoes after the event.

Choose a formal look from Jim’s Formal Wear for your Rustic Wedding Theme

As is our suggestion for all wedding parties, relax, have fun, and enjoy yourselves. You’ll undoubtedly look great doing so in your attire from Jim’s Formal Wear, and your guests are sure to notice the effort you’ve put in.