Outdoor Weddings

Ideas & Inspiration

Karen Feder Photography

Outdoor Weddings

Under sunny, clear skies in 75-degree weather, Samantha Ferrozzo wed Josiah Cree on July 11 on her mother’s hobby farm in Farmington. The ceremony and most of the reception was held outdoors, in the peaceful calm of a perfect Minnesota summer evening.

“I wanted an informal, outdoorsy wedding; something more casual, as it was more my personality and style” says Cree. “And it was perfect.”

Cree experienced what few brides do when they wed outside in Minnesota: idyllic weather with no surprises. Getting married outside, from a simple garden ceremony to an elaborate, elegant reception, is a beautiful way for couples to begin their life together. But while all weddings require some preparation, proper planning is a must for an outdoor affair.

“The outdoor wedding is not for the faint of heart,” says Nicolle Sellers, owner and lead planner at Mother of the Bride, a Twin Cities-based wedding planning, design and management company. “You deal with every aspect that Mother Nature can throw at you and you must handle it all calmly.”

Save the Date
Weather is usually the primary concern for Minnesota brides celebrating outdoors. “I’m sure every bride who considers an outdoor wedding thinks it should be in the summer and on the driest day,” says Christina Anderson, owner of Christina Marie Events in Shakopee. But she encourages couples to look beyond the usual dates. “Don’t shy away from the odd times of the year,” she says.

Jane Pennington’s May 16 wedding in Battle Lake, Minn., took such a chance—she and her fiancé hosted an outdoor, tented reception for 120 guests. “We pushed it a bit weather-wise, as spring really had not arrived,” says Pennington. “We were a little nervous, as honestly, it could be snowing. But we also believed that you can have a gorgeous day in May.”

The day proved to be a pleasant compromise. “When I got up that morning, it was 34 degrees and so windy,” says Pennington. “The wind calmed down for most of the day, but it ended up being sunny and about 55 degrees.”

Pennington had planned for potentially cold weather, equipping the tent with heaters. “It was warm and quite cozy, actually,” she says. Guests came equipped too, with shawls, sweaters, and appropriate shoes.

No matter what date you choose, couples should follow Pennington’s example and include any outdoor plans on save-the-date cards and invitations. “Always tell your guests in the invite that it’s outside so that they can make their own preparations,” says Anderson.