Weddings don’t necessarily have to be in fancy hotels or expensive halls. They can be beach-side, river-side, or anywhere you’d like. Similarly, the reception doesn’t have to be super formal. It could be more relaxed too. A picnic wedding is a great option for those looking for something more simple.

Since this type of reception is not the most common, you may feel a bit lost when it comes to planning. You need not worry! It’s more simple than you think, as long as you know where to start.

If you’re considering a picnic wedding, here’s how to go about the planning:

– Size and Location 

Consider where you’d like to host your picnic wedding. Is it in a park, river-side, by the beach or on the lawn in your garden?

If you have a large amount of guests, you’ll have to think about the size of the space and whether everyone will be comfortably accommodated. For example, a backyard picnic will not work out well if you’re having 150 guests.

Another important factor is whether you’re allowed to have events in your desired location. Often, you may need a permit to host an event in a location such as a public park. Before you start making big plans and spending any money, get in contact with a municipal official to find out how you should go about hosting the event.

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– Decor 

Since you’re likely to be outdoors for the picnic, decor needs to be done cleverly.

Ensure that you’re using decorations that are not harmful to the environment, and which are easily disposable to prevent littering.

You’ll also want to make contact with vendors who provide items such as cutlery and crockery, so that they can advise you on the most appropriate items to use at your reception. The last thing you want is broken plates and inconveniently sized items which make eating outdoors difficult. They’ll also be able to advise you on transportation of these items, since you won’t be in a hall or similar venue, the logistics may be slightly more complicated. Be prepared for that.

Additionally, a picnic often means you’ll be sitting on the ground or much lower down than you would at a normal table. Find ways to make seating picnic appropriate but still comfortable for guests. Perhaps low tables with comfy pillows for sitting on is a good place to start.

Finally, take the surroundings into account. You could save big on items such as flowers and table decorations if you make proper use of the area you’re surrounded by.

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– Food 

Ensure that you choose picnic-appropriate food. You wouldn’t want it to be too difficult for your guests to indulge in the treats you provide for them. Finger foods are a good start, but a caterer will be able to advise you on meal options that are best suited for the type of event you’re having.

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– Weather 

A picnic in the rain is not the most pleasant experience. A picnic wedding is best in the summer time. However, if you’re getting married in the autumn months try to find a way to cover your guests, for example by creating a tented area in your chosen location.

It may be cute to supply blankets for later in the day when it starts to get a bit chilly, and it will show that you considered your guests while planning the wedding.

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Thomas Hardy, an English novelist and poet, is quoted by his second wife, Florence Hardy, saying that “Poetry is emotion put into measure”. If we consider it, poetry is one of the best means by which to express feelings. The flow of words which sound like a melody will be like music to your partners ears.

Including poetry into your wedding vows could be a great way to elevate them and make them more special. If you’re struggling to find the perfect words to say, this is also a good work-around. You could base your vows off of the perfect quote, or add in a quote to precisely and lyrically express the message you’d like to get across.

After all, poetry is known to cause swooning. Who better to look to for help with your vows, one of the most romantic things you should ever write, than the legendary wordsmiths themselves.

Here are some poetry quotes to add to your vows:

– Sonnet XVII by Pablo Neruda

“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way”

– Untitled by Lang Leav

“You were you,
and I was I;
we were two
before our time.

I was yours
before I knew,
and you have always
been mine too.”

– [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in] by e. e. cummings

“i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go, my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)”

– To Be One With Each Other by George Eliot

“What greater thing is there for two human souls
than to feel that they are joined together to strengthen
each other in all labor, to minister to each other in all sorrow,
to share with each other in all gladness,
to be one with each other in the
silent unspoken memories?”

– Our Souls are Mirrors by Rupi Kaur 

“when i look in the mirror
i am looking at you
when you breathe
my own lungs fill with air
that we just met but we
have known each other our whole lives
if we were not made as one to begin with”

– Loves Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelly 

“And the sunlight clasps the earth
And the moonbeams kiss the sea;
What is all this sweet work worth
If thou kiss not me?”

– In and Out of Time by Maya Angelou

“We see in the distance…
our long way home.
I was always yours to have.
You were always mine.
We have loved each other in and out of time”

– “La Reina” (“The Queen”) – Pablo Neruda

“And when you appear
All the rivers sound
In my body, bells
Shake the sky,
And a hymn fills the world.
Only you and I,
Only you and I, my love,
Listen to me.”

Feature image: Unsplash