If you are looking for a unique, nontraditional theme for your wedding, and if you and your betrothed are the outdoors type, you might want to consider a camping wedding. This Wedessence post will help you plan a memorable camping wedding for yourself.
Camping Wedding Tip
“The more guests feel involved with your wedding, the more likely they will have a great time.” ―The Knot
A camping wedding is nothing but a joyous weekend getaway with family and friends, accompanied by good food, sun, and music, and, not to forget, lots of happy moments. For couples who love the outdoors, camping-themed weddings are the latest idea. People have been throwing wedding parties at campgrounds for ages, but why not take it one step further, and invite your guests to camp overnight with you in the great outdoors?
Traditionalists may not like this idea, since it involves eschewing some time-honored traditions, like holding the ceremony in a church. For those who are willing to think a little outside the box, a camping wedding ensures that friends and family will have fond memories of your special day.
Camping Location and Accommodation
Location Matters
Before you begin planning for the perfect camping wedding, decide on the campground. It is about being wild and loving the outdoors, and for this, you can choose between a camping ground in the midst of the woods, a beach-front, or a nestled location in the scenic mountains. To get the initial planning in place, the two of you need to discuss the location and the overall setting of your big-day.
Reserving a Campground
The first step to planning a camping wedding is to find a campground that will allow you to reserve an entire loop or a large section of the campsite. Depending on how many guests you expect, and the degree of privacy you want, you may want to reserve more or less of the area. To make your guests comfortable, you could book camping cabins for your family, and arrange tents for your friends, if you have a large number coming.
Minute Detailing
Weatherproofing
After the location of the wedding has been chosen, most of the planning should be the same as planning for a normal wedding. However, you’ll have to bear in mind that all the action will be taking place outdoors, and depending on your chosen location, it may be taking place quite far from the nearest town. This means, weatherproofing and transportation are hugely important. You would need to ensure you have enough equipment to shield everyone from unpredictable weather. In case it rains, any electronic equipment and the reception area itself will need to be covered, or you’ll need a contingency plan for bad weather. The tip here is to keep spare umbrellas ready for a rainy day.
The Final Setup
Catering
A camping wedding is all about enjoying, sharing, and volunteering to do things together. The best way to keep your wedding guests entertained is to involve them in the wedding reception. Which means, it is perfectly fine to set up barbecue grills and get your family together by the grill for the reception. If you do not wish to get your guests into these little nuances, you can always opt to have the food catered. If you decide to have the wedding catered, make sure you have a plan for getting plenty of tables, chairs, and, of course, the food out to the campsite.
Preparing the Guests
With all the planning done, the next step is to make sure your guests are prepared for your nontraditional wedding. If your friends and family are seasoned campers and outdoorsy people, this should be no problem. Chances are, though, that you’ll have at least a few guests who aren’t accustomed to being out in nature. Here are some questions you’ll need to think about. Will all the guests be camping, or will you help coordinate alternative accommodation for those who don’t want to? How will you educate your guests about proper campground etiquette (for example, don’t leave trash lying around, conserve water, and follow all campground regulations)? What will you do if some guests come unprepared to the camp? Do you have extra blankets, ground pads, and so on? And, finally, remember to let your guests know where the nearest emergency room is, just in case.
Creating a Private Retreat
Keep the Guests Entertained
Remember, a camping wedding is not a regular wedding. If it is a far-flung location, you are going to be stuck with your guests for a couple of days. In such a situation, you wouldn’t want your guests to be sitting idle, and it makes sense to organize fun-filled activities for them. Get your guests involved to belt out some live music, and get them to shake a leg to keep them entertained.
Last but not the least, plan a secret getaway for yourself, so that the two of you get some quality time together. A stroll together away from your guests should do the trick, if you are going to be spending your wedding night in a tent or camper along with everyone else. You can be sure that your camping wedding won’t be forgotten anytime soon by those who attend it.
