The scenery comes courtesy Mother Nature, but the lighting? Here, some of the most inventive ideas from nuptials that took place outdoors. Twinkling bistro lights lit these reception tables as the sun set during dinner. See More of this Real Wedding Chandeliers sparkled overhead these tables, which were set with pastel blooms, including cream-colored peonies and peach garden roses. Bistro lights, inspired by the restaurants in New Orleans' French Quarter, cast a romantic glow on this backyard celebration, while chandeliers hanging from the tent's ceiling lent a dramatic touch. Antique lanterns illuminated the walkway to the reception, held in Blue Hill’s intimate private dining room, with pine floors, Venetian plaster walls, and an arched ceiling. See More from This Wedding At a garden reception in Dallas, single strings of twinkling lights created a starry sky beneath the tree branches. Hang elegant lighting fixtures that you'd usually spot indoors in the trees at an outdoor reception to create an extra dramatic effect -- and an ideal spot for a portrait like this.

Palm Tree Light Display For a destination wedding in Bermuda, this couple made local palm trees a part of the decor at their alfresco reception by wrapping their trucks with lights and stringing them strategically from tree to tree.Laptop Screen Protector For Hp At a laid-back Texas wedding full of rustic details, basic bistro lights were strung to create a canopy effect over dinner tables.Mini Bikes For Sale Florida Outside the barn at The Fearrington House Inn in North Carolina, starry bundles of lights wrapped in and out of wicker balls provide a dreamy scape for a photo shoot.Scalloped Neck Lace Wedding Dress Styled like a sidewalk cafe, the tables at this Tuscan reception were adorned with sleek lamps that were then switched on at dusk.

Luminarias (paper bags holding lit candles set in sand) created a glowing path at this eclectic Ohio wedding reception. Need a bit of structure for your lighting but still want everything out in the open? Try a tent frame sans the tent. Here, vintage French chandeliers hang from a frame to cast a warm glow onto a garden reception. A maypole-like structure hosted strings of lights and turned the area outside the historic Stagecoach Inn Museum into a reception-worthy space. If you've chosen to wed during the day, your ceremony can still get a boost with a bit of added lightning. Simple string lights created a lovely ambience at this afternoon Florida fete. For a destination wedding at the Alila Ubud resort in Indonesia, white lanterns were hung in bundles against tree trunks that seemed to mimic the look of tropical fruit. Work with existing structures in an outdoor space, like this slatted patio roof, to hang lights and lanterns over cocktail hour tables. The soft light of paper luminaries sets such a romantic mood.

Two bags, one fitted over the other, form a box. These are strung on electric Christmas-tree lights and hung along branches, are tied with ribbon and sway gently in the evening breeze. As the sun began to set at this destination wedding in Tuscany, the garden was illuminated with hanging string lights and scattered lanterns. Classic bistro lights were coupled with a totally unique light show at this outdoor reception in Santa Monica. A pattern wash was projected on the lawn and patio to give guests something to gab about. Looking for a new way to use the oh-so versitile white lantern? Run a string of lights up one side of bamboo stick or dowel and down the other, securing it with masking tape. Then stack paper lanterns over the stick, securing the lanterns to each other with tape. Plant these sticks securely in the ground to add a modern look to an outdoor reception area.If you intend to place these fixtures by a swimming pool, be safe by plugging the lights into GFCI outlets and use extension cords approved for outdoor use.

As the sun set over this casual California dinner, bistro lights and paper lanterns started to give off soft lighting that would illuminate the reception space for the rest of the night. Like the idea of candles but not the idea of mini open flames in the great outdoors? Set the mood with solar lanterns, such as the Soji Modern, that turn on automatically at dusk make alfresco dining elegant. For a midsummer night's meal at an outdoor reception, string lanterns hanging on chains from strong low-hanging branches. Small and large, these lamps hold ivory tapers, their bases disappearing in a thick layer of fresh, fragrant rose petals. As the sun set, glowing wood lanterns hung from the trees lit the lawn at this farm wedding in Virginia. See More Details From Meg and Landon's Wedding A celebration at sundown is more memorable when you supplement the waning daylight with lanterns. The tabletop ones consist of colorful sheets of vellum paper sandwiching tall votive candles in glass holders.

Knowing how to decorate a barn for a wedding can help couples interested in a country or western wedding create a rustic yet beautiful fantasy setting for their big day. A barn may include a silo, sheds, corrals, and other farm details, or it may simply be a beautiful building surrounded by fields of grain or wildflowers. Some barns are specially built to host wedding receptions, dances, parties, and other group events, while others can be easily renovated and decorated for the perfect day. A barn is not as easy to decorate as a reception hall or garden that may frequently host weddings. With careful planning and coordination, however, a barn can go from rustically simple to romantically gorgeous. The wedding location is photographed dozens of times on the big day, and outdoor barn decorations can make it a welcoming and photogenic setting. Options for exterior accents include: A barn can be dark and dreary if not properly lit, but great lighting can turn it into a romantic venue perfect for a wedding.

Flowers are a staple wedding decoration, and flower accents can brighten any barn. How tables are decorated can add color, sophistication, and flair to barn wedding decorations. The walls of most wedding venues are tastefully colored and accented with artwork, but barn walls are often large, bare spaces. To decorate the walls: Whether a couple is interested in a fall harvest theme, a western wedding, or basic country ambiance, there are many decorative accents that can add richness and flair to barn decorations, such as: Not all barns are ready for decorating the minute you walk into them. If this is the case, you'll need to do some prep work before you can begin incorporating your beautiful decorations. The prep work may need to be started several months before the actual wedding date. If the barn is frequently used for large events, there may be no necessary cleanup prior to the big day. If, however, the barn is part of an operational farm, there may be substantial improvements needed to ready it for a wedding, including:

Before using a barn to host a wedding ceremony or reception, the couple should determine if it has adequate facilities to handle the number of guests. Restrooms are a must, and proper heating or cooling mechanisms should also be in place. Adequate outlets will be needed for lighting and music, and there should be plenty of space for tables, dancing, and circulating. Furthermore, there should be sufficient parking nearby, and guests will appreciate if the barn is easy to find from main roads. While a barn may seem like an empty palette for wedding decorations, most barns for rent do have restrictions on the types of decorations that may be used. Because of the risk of fire open flames may not be permitted, and extra hanging items may not be allowed. Before planning an elaborate decorative scheme, couples should investigate what types of restrictions the location imposes on decorations. From a fresh coat of paint to lucky horseshoes on the wall and a rustic western cake topper, knowing how to decorate a barn for a wedding can turn an otherwise ordinary location into an extraordinary setting.