Outdoor Wedding Decorations & Flowers

Outdoor wedding decorations need to be pretty and have to be hardy enough to stand up to the elements. The wedding decorations should embrace nature, rather than compete with it. They can be extravagant or inexpensive, depending on your budget. They should also be safe for the environment so as not to leave lasting damage long after your wedding day is over.

Altar

One of the most important wedding decorations is on the altar where the bride and groom are joined as husband and wife. It doesn't have to be fancy; it's a focal point for the couple. Wooden arches can be rented at a local garden or wedding supply store. Try a nontraditional arch made out of Queen Ann Palm trees by placing one on each side of the bride and groom and weaving their palms together. After the wedding, the bride and groom can plant them at their new house.

Flowers

Use nature to your advantage for your outdoor wedding. If you are getting married on the beach, skip the extra flowers and let the ocean be your perfect background. All you'll need is your bouquet. For a garden outdoor wedding, try buying flowering shrubs or rose bush topiaries in pots. They are beautiful and can be planted in someone's garden. Flowers can cause a problem with bees, so a spring wedding might be best without too many flowers.

Aisle

Create a beautiful, natural aisle for your outdoor wedding by using sod as your aisle runner. If the bride is worried about walking in heels, stepping stones can be placed down the middle. Frame the aisle by sprinkling rose petals down each side or by placing small potted plants or flowers every other row. They can serve double duty by moving these pots after the wedding and placing them on the tables as centerpieces for the reception. These can be given away to special guests after the reception.

Fans

Place a hand fan on each seat for your guests. These make a great wedding favor. They can also make a strong decorative impact for your wedding. Imagine 50 brightly colored fans all being used during the ceremony. With the right color, fans will make a bold impact with which other wedding decorations can't quite compete.

Lights

Outdoor wedding decorations can be as simple as adding special lighting. White twinkling lights hanging up in the surrounding trees add a romantic touch to your outdoor wedding. Candles can be hard to manage while outdoors. So try placing a small candle in a brown paper bag filled with sand at the bottom to stabilize it. These luminaries can be placed on the ground all around the wedding. These lanterns need to be watched by someone at all times to prevent accidents or fires. A less risky option is to buy outdoor solar lights at a home and garden store. Make sure they have been charged by the sun for several days before using. Solar lights are another item that can be brought to the happily wedded couple's home. Throughout the years as they look at the items around the house, they will remember the part each played in their outdoor wedding.