A couple of summers ago, I had the pleasure of helping to shoot my cousins wedding. She had an outdoor reception that was absolutely gorgeous! It was full of beautiful & unique decor. I hope these bring some inspiration to you if you are in the process of planning an outdoor wedding reception yourself.

When the guests arrived at the reception, they could see what table they were assigned to on this custom made engraved mirror seating chart. There was also a frame that had the run of events for the reception painted on it as well as the menu painted on a different chalkboard style frame.

The bride & groom had set out a matte frame, which served as their guest book. If they brought a card, and hadn’t already dropped it off at the ceremony, they could pin it to the chicken wire frame with a clothespin. They also had some bug spray out for their guests to use.

Their tables were beautifully decorated with floating candles, eucalyptus garlands, and faux china plates. For the little kids–because they knew exactly which kids would be attending–they placed high chairs (borrowed from family & friends) at the tables where infants would be at, as well as some coloring sheets and crayons. I know the parents really appreciated these thoughtful gestures! For the adults–they also had these fun table games & pens around the tables. In lieu of a place card, they had these small marble slabs personally engraved with each person’s name! It was a beautiful keepsake for each guest to bring home.

They had a number of outdoor lawn games set up for their guests to keep them busy. The kids & adults alike really seemed to enjoy these! It was a great addition to the reception, as not everyone wanted to be involved on the dance floor or be stuck talking with those at their table.

They also had a unique photo booth experience set up, complete with a polaroid camera so that guests could take home a picture!

The bridal party table was a continuous, long table that had a very farmhouse feel to it. The bride & groom sat together in the middle on a love seat style bench, which was so cozy feeling! There were string lights everywhere, which really added a beautiful vibe to the atmosphere as the sun set.