Camping

News Story

Beka Johnson

If you're a bride planning a spring or summer wedding, have you considered an outdoor wedding? No, not a rustic backyard ceremony or a glam barn wedding... how about camping.

Three-day-long weddings in the woods (or on the beach, or in the mountains) have become a huge trend for 2013 couples. The idea that you can have all your guests in the same venue for an entire weekend is just too appealing for some brides to resist. And there are no rules when it comes to taking your nuptials outdoors. Everything from fireside weddings at childhood day camps, to over-the-top "glamping" excursions is fair game.

If you're thinking about bringing your guests on a wedding adventure, make sure you take the comforts of home along with you. Welcome everyone with baskets of treats that they can snack on throughout the weekend, set up common areas for people to gather in, and provide lots ofactivities to keep them on their toes.

What if you have guests that wouldn't enjoy camping outside but want to join the festivities?  Consider renting some cabins or rooms at a nearby hotel for the pickier guests. 

You can even pitch the whole thing as an adventure and a different kind of vacation. If your attitude is optimistic, the guests will catch that.

At Trail Ridge Ranch in Steamboat, Colo head rancher, Carl Walker described a recent wedding. "The couple had the ceremony in the barn in case of rain, but the reception was held in the corral. Even the roaming cows came up to the fence and joined in."  This shows the couples adventuresome spirit and probably left their guests with more memories than a traditional ceremony would have. 

Check out our slideshow below for more ideas on how to create an experience that no one will forget. What do you think? Would you take your wedding to the woods?

Images by Kellee Khal.com