From saving money to creating a relaxed atmosphere, there are loads of advantages to having a garden wedding.

But if you do decide to hold your wedding ceremony outdoors, your garden needs to look great – so some prep work is in order.

While weeding, pruning and mowing the lawns are a good place to start, so it’l a good idea to get some expert help. But there’s a lot more to consider.

Caterer Ed Thomson has overseen lots of outdoor weddings. When sprucing up a garden for your wedding day, Thomson suggests employing a gardener to get the best from your garden, and a professional arborist to trim and neaten trees.

She suggests that when holding a wedding in your own garden, it’s a good idea to have two distinct areas or zones: one for the ceremony and one for the reception. "That way people feel like they’re taken on a bit of a journey," she says.

Garden makeover

If your garden is looking tired and colourless, plant some bright annuals well beforehand, to guarantee loads of blooms when the big day arrives. Find your local nursery here. 

Consider splashing out on established plants to give your outdoor space instant appeal. Contact a landscape company for advice on hiring or buying. Hiring is the right option if you’re holding your wedding in a public garden, but contact the local authorities for permit conditions first. 

For a backyard wedding Thomson advises screening off eyesores like sheds and utility areas. Check out your local hardware store, or do some research online to source screens that can be easily constructed on the day of the wedding, and taken down afterwards. 

Another easy DIY trick? The good ol’ paintbrush. Painting your humble paling fence a uniform dark colour like grey or charcoal "really helps highlight the plants in the garden", offers Thomson.

Shed some light

As the reception kicks into gear at dusk, make sure the mood is set by some strategic lighting. 

"It’s nice to give any garden wedding a sense of fantasy, and cleverly placed and correctly chosen lighting can really add that fairy tale feel to the night," Thomson says. You can hire lighting from a party hire specialist.

Peace of mind

As the scouts say – Be Prepared. And that means making sure your wet-weather contingency plans are second-to-none.

Whether your wedding is in your backyard, or in a public park, make sure you have a couple of pop-up marquees as a back-up plan, even if you need to pay a little extra. "Just for peace of mind," suggests Thomson. 

With a bit of forward planning, common sense and some great advice from a wedding expert, you can guarantee that your outdoor wedding goes off without a hitch.