“A place this beautiful is for living.” So ends the American poet, Ray Hansell’s, poem on the great outdoors. What better day to remind yourself of the beautiful world we live in than you’re wedding day? Taking some time to relax in nature might also be a good idea after one of the biggest days of your life. If you plan appropriately, an outdoor party can be a great way to chill out with wedding attendees after the main reception.
What’s on the venue?
The biggest decision you need to make is where you want it to take place. If your wedding is taking place in the summer, there are many different options to choose from. Why not take advantage of Chicago’s beautiful beaches or wide variety of parks and hold your party there? Do take into account location costs. Depending on where you decide to pitch your tent, you might need to ask for a permit from the landowners. Moreover, be like Bigfoot: leave no trace, in order to preserve the natural beauty of your surroundings for future generations. Protecting the environment might mean you need to splash out on clean up costs. If you’re worried that the cost of a permit might be outside of your budget, a good alternative could be a backyard party. Consider hiring outdoor furniture or a portable pool if you don’t have one already, if you want to make it a bit more fancy. If you are using a swimming pool though, do make sure you have a clean pool to swim in.
Let me entertain you
Make sure you have enough going on at your event to keep your guests happy. You could carry on the party with traditional funfair activities like a coconut shy or tin can alley. For the kids (including the big kids!), why not hire a bouncy castle or a jungle gym? And of course, a party isn’t a party without music, and an after-wedding event is a great opportunity to play the kind of music which didn’t quite fit at the ceremony or immediate reception. If you played Lucky by Jason Mraz at the reception, the most popular wedding song in Illinois according to Spotify, maybe now’s the time for some Vic Mensa or Twista!
Plan of Steel
Being outdoors means you’re more dependent on weather. Do have plans in place of what to do if the wind picks up or the temperature drops. This is still the case if you’re using a tent or a similar portable shelter, as no tent can withstand the strongest winds. As well as a Plan B, also consider hiring outdoor heating equipment, or air conditioning units depending on the season, so a small change in temperature doesn’t need to lead to a complete rethink.
An outdoor party can be a great way to let loose and start to relax after your wedding. With an appropriate venue, some great entertainment and a good back-up plan in place, it’s a great way to extend the joy from one of the most important days of a couple’s time together.
-Chrissy Ireland