Outdoor Weddings: Themes for the Memories
When agreeable weather is in the forecast, outdoor weddings are often a favored option, no matter whether they are held at a park, a beach, or a family’s backyard. However, an outdoor wedding that has a distinct theme allows an engaged couple to take an everyday wedding to the next level of personalization. Today, themed outdoor weddings continue to grow in popularity as many soon-to-be brides and grooms are foregoing traditional church and courthouse ceremonies in favor of choosing a themed wedding that truly reflects their shared interests and hobbies.
Among the most popular outdoor wedding themes are tennis, golf, and horseback riding, which are all seen on a regular basis in weddings that are held at local tennis, golf, and equestrian clubs. In addition to offering a unique background for an outdoor wedding ceremony, some couples choose to include tennis or golf accessories, as well as horses, as complements to their chosen theme. This serves to enhance the personalization and preference of a themed ceremony. For couples planning to get married in Indian River County (IRC), there are many wedding locations that can accommodate a wide range of outdoor wedding themes and requests, as well as a wide range of indoor wedding budgets.
According to wedding industry experts, “Tennis is having a pop culture moment right now, and the chic aesthetic is making its way into wedding trends. But if you and your partner are longtime players of the sport, a tennis-themed wedding isn’t just on-trend—it’s a creative way to really show off your personalities. Celebrate your love match with details like vintage tennis racquets, champagne escort card walls, tennis-inspired attire and themed refreshments that capture the same courtside elegance (and high energy) you’d find at any Grand Slam tournament.”
A tennis-themed wedding “pulls inspiration from different elements of the sport, including everything from the design of actual tennis courts to the spectator fashion and traditions at famous tennis venues.” As such, regal locations like the Sea Oaks Beach and Tennis Club embrace love by offering an ideal setting for a tennis-themed wedding, with a friendly and knowledgeable staff available to help make a tennis-related vision board become a wedding reality.
For couples that prefer the greens to the clay, wedding experts assert, “golf, a sport steeped in history and revered for its sophistication, serves as the perfect metaphor for the journey of marriage. It symbolizes the dedication, precision, and grace required to navigate life’s courses together. When this timeless game becomes the inspiration for your wedding, you’re not just planning your wedding; you’re crafting an experience that weaves the essence of elegance, passion, and professional dedication into every moment.”
Among some of the most popular golf-themed, outdoor wedding ideas are boutonnieres made with golf tees, argyle socks for groomsmen, and a golf ball-shaped groom’s cake. Other notable ideas include a golf-themed photo booth, golf-inspired centerpieces, golf ball-shaped cake pops, signature golf cocktails, and a golf cart exit by the newlyweds. For couples with definite ideas of what they want, and for couples who are still on the putting green of the process, a call to the Grand Harbor Golf and Beach Club can provide the assistance needed to make every golf-themed wedding a hole in one for everyone.
With couples looking to capture the true romance of a wedding, many brides look to a fairytale entrance or exit in a horse and carriage. However, there are also several other ways to have a more casual equestrian-themed outdoor wedding that will highlight a couple’s love of horses and each other. It’s important to note that many of the most popular equestrian-themed wedding ideas are eco-friendly and take careful consideration of the horses that may be a part of the wedding. For couples with equestrian-related wedding questions or concerns, the staff at the Vero Beach Equestrian Club can offer friendly assistance.
Some of the top suggestions for an equestrian-themed outdoor wedding include couples making an entrance on horseback, brides wearing cowgirl hats with veils attached, using hay bales instead of chairs for guest seating, and using cowboy boots instead of vases for flowers. Perhaps the most eco-friendly trend currently is throwing rolled oats during the wedding recession. This is a win-win as the horses love the oats, and the oats—according to tradition—“are considered a symbol of fertility, abundance, prosperity, and new life. When guests toss oats at newlyweds, they’re offering good wishes and blessings for a long and prosperous marriage.”
When it comes to arranging the perfect themed outdoor wedding, the most important guest is often Mother Nature, whose temperature when too hot can melt perfectly displayed desserts or when too cold can drive guests indoors. However, there is little that Mother Nature can do to dim the love that shines brightly on newlyweds.
Photo courtesy of VeryCreative
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Photo courtesy of Danielle Defayette
