Park Weddings: Details to Consider While Planning

If you’re the outdoorsy type, take a fresh approach to your wedding and get married in a park—because nothing beats a natural setting and plenty of sunshine. Plus, the cost is tempting: Most permits and location fees are on the extra-affordable side, and many of the parks turn out to be free outdoor wedding venues. However, if you’re not prepared for the possible pitfalls—bad weather, annoying insects—your dream day can play out like an Outward Bound adventure.

To help you plan a snafu-free wedding in a park, here’s a garden’s worth of good advice, plus some pretty décor ideas.

The Location

Before settling on a ceremony site, visit it several times during the same season, day of the week, and time of day as you plan to marry. Take note of pedestrian traffic and the position of the sun; this will determine where you place your officiant, bridal party, and guests. For example, you don’t want people squinting into late-afternoon rays. Try to anticipate potential problems beforehand like restroom facilities, ample parking, etc.

Once you’ve determined the perfect place, contact the park’s administrative office and find out if weddings are allowed there. After you get the OK, ask about regulations and whether you have to reserve the site. You’ll most likely need a permit, which is usually issued by your local parks department. It will state if you are allowed to bring in chairs and toilets, play music, and have guests throw birdseed. Read the fine print to see if there’s a cleanup stipulation. Many parks charge fines for garbage left behind.

Permits are usually issued free of charge, but you’ll probably have to pay a small location fee. “National parks charge anywhere between $50 and $200,” says Roger di Silvestro, former senior director of communications for the National Parks Conservation Association, in Washington, D.C. “State, city, and town parks each have their own fees, which will vary from place to place.”

Religious Affiliations

Some members of the clergy will only perform wedding ceremonies within a house of worship. So before you book that special spot by the lake, make sure your officiant is willing to work on location. While many Protestant and Jewish couples are free to tie the knot outdoors, Roman Catholics are encouraged to marry inside a church. “But each of the nation’s dioceses, which are run by bishops, has its own rules,” explains Father Sean Martin, director of the Institute for Religious and Pastoral Studies at the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas. “So call ahead to speak with your priest. They may be willing to make an exception.”

The Weather

If Mother Nature is having a bad day, it may translate into a rain-soaked ceremony site. So it pays to always have a Plan B. The safest strategy is to secure a permit that will allow you to use an existing gazebo or band shell if one is close at hand. And although tents aren’t usually used for ceremonies, you might consider renting one for the day; check with park officials beforehand about regulations. (Just be prepared to pay for it, regardless of the weather.)

Another contingency plan is to hold your ceremony at the home of a friend or relative who lives close to your original location. (That way, guests won’t have to scramble with alternative transportation routes the day of the wedding.) Print the address and a phone number to call that morning on a rain card, and include it in your invitations so guests know exactly where to go. And remember that no matter what the skies decide to throw your way, a little humor—and a big umbrella—will help save the day.

The Dress

Since most park weddings take place during daylight hours, a bride shouldn’t look like they are attending the Oscars. Save the glitter and beading for a nighttime celebration, as it looks out of place before dark. Instead, opt for simple and chic—like a silk slip dress, or something light and ethereal instead of heavy or grand.

Just as evening wear is a fashion faux pas for the daytime bride, tuxedos are taboo for a groom. If yours will be a formal affair, they can wear a stroller or morning coat with striped pants. A four-in-hand tie completes the look. Keeping things casual? Then have them choose a dark suit paired with a dress shirt and tie. The important thing to keep in mind is that the formality of their outfit should match the formality of your dress.

The Décor and Flowers

Since your celebration is being held somewhere with natural beauty, you don’t need to do too much to dress it up. The main thing is making sure you can transform the space enough so that it feels more personal, not like a public space. You want your décor to feel effortless and breezy—so skip any details that make it feel fussy and unnatural. For instance, shy away from large lanterns in trees and opt for twinkle or bistro string lights. Instead of over-the-top, massive floral arrangements, sprinkle smaller centerpieces and bud vases along your tables.

An outdoor wedding calls for flowers that can brave any weather. “Mums, alstroemeria, and calla lilies survive better than other blooms on a sultry day,” says Carole Langrall, founder of A Garden of Earthly Delights in Baltimore. “Tropical flowers, like orchids, are also good choices. They’re used to heat, so they stay fresh and vibrant longer.”

Roses may be popular wedding-day picks, but they don’t make the cut when it comes to a bouquet that will be used outdoors. “They wilt pretty quickly,” explains Langrall, “but if they’re your favorite flower, choose Leonidas roses, which have hearty bicolored blooms with terra-cotta and apricot hues.” Avoid wildflowers and bulb flowers (tulips, daffodils); sturdy blossoms like sunflowers and heather are better bets.

After you make your selection, ask your florist if they can apply a preservative to the flowers that will help them stay fresh. Langrall suggests immediately placing your bouquet and bridesmaids’ or bridal party’s blooms in a bucket of cold water once they arrive at the ceremony site. If the stems can’t be submerged (perhaps because they’re wrapped in ribbon), at least try to find a shady spot, she says. “Keeping them out of the sun for as long as possible will help them look even more beautiful.”

Park Wedding Tips

Here are a few tips to keep in mind while planning a park wedding:

1. Point the way. Let guests know where to find you by including detailed directions with your invitations or on your wedding website. Be specific about where they should assemble: “The gazebo at the duck pond, Liberty Park”—not “Liberty Park.” If allowed, post signs in the vicinity.
2. Get wired. If you plan to use a microphone, make sure the location has an electrical source.
3. Mark the spot. To prevent unwanted guests from wandering in, partition off the ceremony area (tying white satin ribbons around trees is a nice touch) and appoint someone in your party to welcome all invitees. Having an official “host” will discourage drop-ins.