Wedding Resources

What are some interesting/unique ideas for an outside wedding ceremony?

Hi, Im getting married in July 2007 and the ceremony will be held outside at a park. Its going to be a very private ceremony with just our immediate family present but we are having a reception following the ceremony with our closest friends and family :)The wedding party is also just family (our siblings, my niece and nephew). So I was wondering if anyone has any interesting or unique ideas that we could add to the ceremony to make it more special.

Public Comments

1. Include family in the service. I would do simple, if my brides maids had jean dresses and use sunflowers. Guys in jeans and shirts.
2. Considering it's in July, you may wish to have it early in the morning or late in the day (well, that's my Florida perspective, Guess it depends on where you live). Either way, an outdoor wedding is a great idea! White chairs and an arbor add to the crisp, pristine feeling of being outside. One cool thing I saw was the bride and groom poured colored sand from vases into a large one to indicate the inability to extricate one from the other once they're married. I liked that.
3. Im getting married in August, outdoors.Instead of a unity candle we are doing the sand ceremony. You have 3 glasses, 2 filled with colored sand and you pour them jointly into the other vase. the concept is you will never seperate each individual grain of sand and like the marriage you are now 1.
4. I just want to say congrats, I am getting married outdoors as well in July, but I am making it a quick wedding to cut budget, instead of chairs, I am having people stand for the few minutes we are there. Since its outdoors, maybe instead of having bubbles, and depending on where you have it, have them throw bird seed out (doesn't have to be on you) to the animals around. Or depending where you are at, have them all help plant a tree, and every year you can visit and see how the tree grows and your marriage grows with it.
5. I would have someone hand out flowers to all of the guests on the end seats and as you make your way down the aisle, you collect the flowers that make your boquet. You could also just line the aisles with potted flowers that the guests can take home with them. If you get married in the evening, You could have tiqui torches lit before the ceremony, and have them line the aise. Or use little white candles to line the aisle.
6. Champagne fountain for the adults and Sparkling Cider fountain for the kids. Instead of throwing seed or rice, have sparklers....
7. Because two souls found their love of a lifetime you have planned a special day to honor each other by bonding in the unity of marriage. It is your very own unique celebration of love chosen to be kept preciously intimate. The decision to share the most important day in your lives with an esteemed few, is an unspoken gesture of their value in your world. Why not take that gesture one step further and give each a personalized poem about their role in your lives inside a bottle with your picture on it! If you'd like to know more just email ipoem4u on yahoo. Whatever you choose to do make it a personalized expression of the love that has brought you all together on your wedding day. Best wishes for a spectacular day and life!
8. How about putting up a maypole? The attendees (or just the children, if you want to use a shorter maypole) each hold the end of a colorful ribbons tied to the top, and dance in a weaving pattern around the pole, creating a thick, colorful braid around it. It symbolizes the bonding of the couple and the way the whole community of friends and family is a part of the strength of the marriage. It's also a very pretty dance to see, and the couple can keep the maypole for years and add layers at special occasions. It becomes a really nice tradition at family parties. Congratulations!
9. congratulations. I am getting married in October . I suggest you lots of flowers ,roses everywhere ,violins ,white chairs with ribbons .And at the end of the ceremony you let white pigeons free.
10. Hun, i personally don't think that having it outside is a great idea. if you have it inside, there wont be any bugs, it wont be really hot, and you don't have to worry about the weather. having it inside will open up possibilities for decorations and stuff. best wishes! and Congratulations!
11. WISH YOU BOTH THE BEST IN LIFE. APART FROM OTHER FLORAL DECORATIONS WHICH WILL BE JUST FOR A DAY, IS IT POSSIBLE TO PLANT A TREE ON THE SPOT WHERE YOU BOTH WILL SAY "I DO" ? YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY SOMEONE FOR IT'S UPKEEP FOR A LITTLE WHILE AS IT MATURES. GOOD LUCK.
12. Some people turn white doves loose, but I always worry about where they'll go, so that seems kinda cruel. Maybe some "gassed up" balloons in your colors and with "Celebrate with us!" written on them with your names and the wedding date. Some old farmer in a bean field in Illinois might find it and have a big smile the rest of the day!
13. The best advice I could give you is to think about what really makes you happy in your everyday life. Whether it's food or people or anything! I had a very small wedding that was completely spontaneous and relaxed and I wouldn't have it any other way! A crazy and unexpected idea would be instead of your family and friends throwing seed or rice at you, you and your new husband could turn the tables on your guests and spray them with silly string! This would definitely let them know you are wanting to have a fun and relaxed day.
14. congrats! since it's such and intimate wedding i would honor any loved ones that have past by having a memorial candle. or you can have the person performing the ceremony to say a special prayer or reading to the family.
15. I would suggest to have your whole family to "stand up" for you. My son was the "Brother of Honor" in his sister's wedding. He stood on her side in a suit. Have the siblings and niece and nephew stand up for you. Have them recite poems or bible verses or say a prayer. Have each one of them do something special in your ceremony. God Bless on your SPECIAL DAY!!!
16. I had my bridesmaids choose their own dresses. I told them the color and let them take it from there. It was beautiful! They looked great, because they were comfortable in what they were wearing.
17. My brother got married recently, and the ceremony was held outdoors, in a wooded area. It was right around dusk, and they had hung tons of round paper lanterns from all the trees, at different levels, with very low watt bulbs inside. They stood in a gazebo, and draped cream satin all over the outside of it, and wrapped white christmas lights around all of the beams. The bride wore a very free flowing calf length dress and was barefoot with baby's breath in her hair, and the groom wore a white suit with a single baby pink rose in the lapel. It was all very... sweet, romantic, and natural feeling. Almost surreal.
18. Plant a tree and you can watch it grow like your Love for each other!! So you could even ask everyone to buy a small tree and plant them in your yard
19. if it is at dusk have everyone hold a candle and surround you as you exchange vows instead of them just standing far away.
20. The maypole idea is very unique but will require a wedding planner to organize your party. I also like doves, we did this for our Grand Opening (hello, they are homing pigeons and they go home). Another idea that is great for outdoor ceremonys is blending of sands either between you, your fiance and the officiant as a rep for God, or between the families and your selves as a couple. If you would like other ideas regarding the blending of sands feel free to contact me: www.blessedbeginnings.com You may also want to consider butterflys Balloons (although cool) are destructive to the environment. Whatever you decide it will be special and unique to you as a couple. Best Wishes!
21. Private at a park? Well good luck with that...But seriously, don't forget to give out one-use cameras to the guests, and get double prints from all of them...make an album from the many shots that you like, and then you can make Cd's/DVDs for all the family too! (You may even like the second albumen of all the blooper shots you get of the toilet, bare bottoms and all the like LOL!) Another thing you can do, is all the kids sing a song for the bride, like...Candyman...so cute.
22. I always thought family slideshows were very fun and interesting for everyone. You can pull pictures from your youth till now and your to be spouse's, scan them in and put it in a self running PowerPoint presentation. You can even add your favorite song to the PowerPoint presentation. You can rent a portable screen from any rental store in your area. If you or your fiance works in an office, you may be able to borrow one for the day.