Wedding Dresses for the Great Outdoors

Many people feel that there are few things more beautiful than nature. As a result, the outdoors makes a perfect place to hold a wedding ceremony. During most of the year's seasons, there is plenty of beautiful foliage and a range of lovely settings that provide a perfect backdrop for your ceremony. However, getting married outside means that you need to take into consideration the wedding dress you choose. It should match the setting (so that it looks like it belongs), and be comfortable to wear.

A park or a garden outdoor setting is perfect for a more formal wedding ceremony. Your dress should be more formal in nature, meaning that it should be long in length. Formalwear can have sleeves, or not, but many formal wedding dresses in garden or park settings are sleeveless and the bride wears matching gloves. For formal weddings, the bridal attendants usually all wear one color, usually a dark color (like burgundy, navy, or even black).

Formal weddings, however, are not the norm for the outdoors. Most outdoor weddings have a more semi-formal or casual feel. This allows for the bride to be more expressive in her choice of wedding dress. A mountain wedding is often beautiful and rustic. But a long, formal dress looks out of place. Use a tea-length wedding dress in your mountain setting, and make sure that the dress in simple.

Semi-formal is a good rule for mountain settings. Nature's grandeur is not one of gaudiness, and an overly ornate dress looks ridiculous amongst the trees and peaks of a mountain setting. During the spring, outfit attendants in bright colors and during the fall use earth tones. Outdoor mountain weddings are great opportunities for bridesmaid "color runs," where each bridesmaid wears a dress of a different color.

Beachfront weddings are often the most casual of weddings. A wedding dress patterned after a sundress is a great fit. Something that is soft and flowing, and that falls to just above the ankle is perfect on the beach. Bridesmaids wearing pastel aqua, green, and blue reflect the water's colors, while attendants in pastel pink and yellow mirror the sunset over the water. Simple white sandals or even bare feet are appropriate for the bride at a beachfront wedding.

Getting married outdoors can be a beautiful experience that enlivens the entire wedding and can help you enjoy a more spiritual wedding experience. The key, however, is simple. That way you will look more natural and feel more comfortable in your outdoor setting.