Outdoor wedding ceremony: 10 tips for a relaxed ceremony in nature

For many couples, an outdoor ceremony in nature is the most beautiful part of the day. In Germany it's called a "freie Trauung": a celebrant-led ceremony where you choose the place, the words, the music and the running order, and instead of a hall you say I do under trees, on a meadow or in a garden. In a castle park, by a lake, under the old lime tree of a farmstead or privately in a parents' garden: the photos in this post come from seven outdoor ceremonies in and around Leipzig, and each one was different. But that freedom also raises questions you'd never have at the registry office: where is the shade at 3 pm? Can people in the back row hear the celebrant? And what happens if it rains?

As a wedding photographer I've been at a lot of outdoor ceremonies, and it's almost always the same small things that decide whether everyone feels comfortable. Here are my ten tips, so you can truly enjoy the moment.

1. Visit the spot at the time of your ceremony

At a morning viewing, a spot often looks perfect. In the afternoon, when you actually get married, the sun is somewhere else entirely, and your guests may be sitting in full sun. So if you can, go there once at exactly the planned time, or ask the venue where the shade falls then.

A big tree is the best friend of every garden ceremony. At Herberts Hof near Leipzig, for example, the ceremony takes place under an old lime tree, in the garden of Mädlervilla in Leipzig the guests sit in the shade of tall trees, and at Lehmhaus am Anger a sun sail stretches across the courtyard.

2. Think about the light for your photos too

Even shade isn't just pleasant for your guests, it's also the most beautiful light for your pictures. Midday sun casts harsh shadows on faces, everyone squints, and a white dress quickly gets too bright. In dappled or full shade, your faces and your emotions show. Just like with Nikki and Robert, who got married privately in Robert's parents' garden: the trees there gave exactly this soft light.

If you can still choose the time: in summer, the later afternoon is usually more pleasant than midday, for everyone.

3. Water and fans for your guests

At a summer ceremony, your guests often sit for a while before things begin. A few crates of water with glasses or small bottles at the end of the rows are quickly organised, and nobody has to hold out until the drinks reception.

Fans on the seats help in the heat and can do more: print the order of ceremony on them and they double as your programme. On very sunny spots, guests also appreciate a few parasols or some sunscreen at the entrance. And if you like it a little more relaxed: an old wheelbarrow full of ice and drinks, like at Teresa and Max's wedding at LAKESIDE on Lake Zwenkau, is practical and a lovely detail at the same time.

4. Plan for sound

Outdoors, voices carry away much faster than in a room. Wind, birds, children playing: from the third row back, without a microphone you often only catch half. So clarify early whether your celebrant brings their own sound system or whether you need to organise one, for example through the band or DJ.

Think of yourselves too: if you're saying personal words to each other, there should be a microphone for that as well. The most beautiful sentences of the day shouldn't only reach the first two rows. That's why Annett spoke her words to Felix into a microphone at Schloss Püchau, and every guest in the castle park could hear them.

5. Check the path for your entrance

Meadow, gravel, cobblestones: what's no problem on a walk quickly becomes a challenge in high heels and a long train. Walk the path once beforehand and choose shoes to match the ground.

Also plan a wide enough aisle. Then you can walk to the front comfortably, and I have room to photograph your entrance from the front without anyone having to move out of the way.

6. Take your time walking in

The moment you see each other at the arch for the first time is one of the most emotional of the whole day. Many couples walk far too fast out of nerves. Go slowly, look at each other and let it sink in. The music can happily play a little longer.

7. Say personal words to each other

What makes an outdoor ceremony special is that it tells your story. Words you've written for each other are among the moments your guests remember for a long time. For Anne and Robin at Herberts Hof, that was the heart of the ceremony. Write your words in good time, don't read them to each other beforehand, and take them to the front printed out, not on your phone.

8. Involve your guests

An outdoor ceremony doesn't have to be a show where everyone just watches. For Jacqueline and Nico at Lehmhaus am Anger, the rings travelled through every row on a cord. Every guest could hold them once and give the couple their wishes before the rings reached the front. Children are welcome to be right in the middle too, even during the ring exchange.

9. An unplugged ceremony

As you walk in, you want to see faces, not screens. Ask your guests to put their phones away during the ceremony. That works charmingly with a small sign at the entrance or a short announcement from the celebrant before you walk in. Your guests get the photos from me later, and you have a clear view of everyone who matters to you.

And when the moment comes: don't cut the kiss short. Count slowly to three in your head. Then everyone can really see it.

10. Make it clear what happens after the I do

After you walk out, many guests stand around unsure at first: do we congratulate now? Where are the drinks? Is there a group photo? Ask your celebrant to briefly announce what happens next. Also plan enough time for congratulations, with lots of guests that easily takes half an hour. These are often the moments with the most hugs and tears, by the way.

And if it rains?

Every ceremony in the open air needs a plan B. Clarify with your venue where the ceremony takes place if it rains and how quickly things can be moved. Decide on a cut-off time, for example two hours before, so nobody has to carry chairs in a rush.

Jacqueline and Nico experienced how well that can work: rain rolled in after their ceremony, everyone moved into the barn, and they celebrated extensively anyway. You can read the whole story in my post about the wedding at Lehmhaus am Anger. A ceremony under the lime tree in late-summer light is in my story of the wedding at Herberts Hof.

Your outdoor ceremony in pictures

So much happens in just a few minutes at an outdoor ceremony: the entrance, the looks, the tears in the second row, the laughter during the personal words. I work quietly in the background, so you can experience the moment rather than perform for the camera.

Planning your outdoor ceremony in or around Leipzig? Find out more about my work as a wedding photographer in Leipzig and my packages. Or write to me directly via the contact form and I'll get back to you.