HOW TO DECIDE ON AN INDOOR OR OUTDOOR WEDDING RECEPTION
You're engaged and now you need to decide on the perfect wedding venue. But with so many to choose from, it can be an overwhelming task.
One of the greatest struggles that couples have to deal with when they begin searching for a venue for their wedding day is whether to have it indoors or outdoors. There many advantages and disadvantages to indoor and outdoor ceremony venues. We want your wedding planning to be easy and stress-free, so we put together this post to break down the pros and cons. This is a helpful guide designed to help you decide if an inside versus outside wedding ceremony suits you best.
OUTDOOR WEDDING: THE PROS
Decorations
One of the major benefits of having an outdoor wedding is most of the decorations are already there, and probably the reason that you choose the setting. Think about lovely rolling hills, majestic oak trees, a quiet lake, and a beautiful gazebo. With the soft breeze blowing gently as your wedding guests find their seat, sounds amazing right? It is! Bavaria Downs has this exact outdoor wedding venue in Minnesota and it is gorgeous.
The great thing about an outdoor wedding venue like this is that minimal decorations will need to be added by you. Maybe some floral arrangements down the aisle but other than that you can save on the decor budget with a setting like this.
Larger Space
Many outdoor wedding venues in Minnesota offer a much larger space for the ceremony setup. This is great in our current situation because it allows your wedding planner to implement safety precautions that ensure social distancing requirements are met. The guests’ chairs can be 6 feet apart which will make them feel more comfortable and relaxed. And don’t worry, it will still look gorgeous in photos.
Another great advantage of the larger space is your photographer will have more space to move around.
Natural Lighting
This is a big one and your photographer will love you for it! Natural lighting is probably one of the best advantages of having an outdoor wedding. Yes, of course, the natural setting is the top reason but natural lighting will ensure that your wedding photos are gorgeous. Something about the way the sun comes down from the sky on wedding days that just creates pure magic.
OUTDOOR WEDDING: THE CONS
Inclement Weather
We know this one is the number one thing that couples don’t want to see on their wedding day. But if your heart is set on having an outdoor wedding in MN, you have to take this into consideration. When you set your wedding date there is no way to know what the weather will be like on that day. Sure, you can choose a month that the weather tends to be great, but it’s nature and things happen.
To ensure that you have the most wonderful wedding day ever, talk with your wedding planner about the options that are available if bad weather rolls in. You may have to speed up your ceremony so everyone can get inside, or have a backup plan such as a tent. Just remember, it isn’t just rain or snow that can impact an outdoor wedding in Minnesota, extreme hot weather could affect it as well.
One thing we do know for sure is, you can get some truly amazing wedding photos in the rain and snow. So bad weather isn’t really all bad.
Decor
When you have an outdoor wedding most of your decor will be the natural setting. If you have your heart set on adding some elaborate decorations that you have seen on Pinterest it may be more difficult to achieve when your setting is outside.
INDOOR WEDDING: THE PROS
Weather
Not much definition needed on this one. Indoor weddings protect you from any inclement weather that might roll in. But if you are a nature lover, we suggest that you book a wedding venue such as Bavaria Downs because we designed our ballroom to bring the outdoors in. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide you and your guests with incredible views of our expansive property. You definitely have the best of both worlds.
Freedom to Decorate
If you fell in love with the incredible flower installations that hang from the ceiling, it is hard to do outside. But an indoor wedding venue does provide you with many more options for adding your own decor. So, if adding lots of colors and fancy decor is something you desire an indoor wedding may be right for you.
Air-Conditioning & Heating
No matter what time of year you always have to be concerned about the weather. Having air conditioning or heat is definitely a huge benefit.
INDOOR WEDDING: THE CONS
Capacity
Depending on the indoor wedding venue that you select, you may be limited on the number of guests that you can invite. Each indoor wedding venue in Minnesota varies in size, so when you are doing your initial research keep your guest list in mind. Don’t spend too much time looking at a venue that can only accommodate 50 guests when you know your list is closer to 200.
Photography
Tight spaces make it difficult for your photographer to move around. Depending on how the space is set up with tables and chairs it may limit the space that the photographer has to really get in position for the best shots. Not a deal-breaker, but something to keep in mind.
No matter which wedding venue that you choose, the most important thing to remember is - it is not about the decor, the setting, or the guests. Your wedding day is about the love that you share for each other and joining together as one. If you need any help planning your special day or are struggling to decide between an indoor or outdoor wedding venue, give us a call. We are here to help you every step of the way.
No matter which wedding venue that you choose, the most important thing to remember is - it is not about the decor, the setting, or the guests. Your wedding day is about the love that you share for each other and joining together as one.
If you need any help planning your special day or are struggling to decide between an indoor or outdoor wedding venue, give us a call. We are here to help you every step of the way!
Imagery provided by: Bellagala Photography, Tarah Elise Photography, Lucas Botz Photography