Indoor versus Outdoor – Which Venue is Better for Your Wedding?

If you’ve landed here, you’re probably umming and ahing over whether to choose an indoor or outdoor venue for your wedding. It’s a tough decision and one that could massively alter the vibe of your big day (and the practicality of it if the weather misbehaves!).

That’s why I’m here to break down the pros and cons of both types of venue, so you can be best placed to decide whether an indoor or outdoor wedding is right for you.

Protection and Practicality

The main benefit of an indoor wedding venue is an obvious one – protection from the elements.

The weather is unpredictable at the best of times, especially in this country. It’s not uncommon to have a seven-day spell where you see 20-degree heat then extreme rain, even in the supposed summer.

Un-forecasted adverse conditions can put a real dampener on your big day – as can a sudden heatwave – and even jeopardise the practicality of your wedding altogether.

Weather-related stress is something you don’t have to worry about with indoor venues though. They keep you warm and dry, and many have in-built climate control that means your guests are kept at the perfect temperature. This is especially important if some of your guests are more sensitive to the cold or the warm.

Even the wind can be annoying and impractical but that’s not a factor you have to consider with indoor venues.

The practicality indoor venues provide stretches as far as having more control over lighting for photos (you don’t have to worry about it getting dark either), as well as having better acoustics than if you were outdoors, useful for speeches and music.

Indoor venues are arguably more private and intimate than outdoor ones, so if you’re confident that your guests would be happy to mingle, indoor venues are perfect for that.

Flexibility

Another perk of indoor venues is the flexibility; you can decorate it however you want, to fit any vibe you’re after.

You could even go full hog and theme your wedding, but just make sure it’s a theme you AND your partner are definitely happy with.

There’s also much greater flexibility in terms of the time of year you have your wedding. Outdoor venues are essentially a no-go in the heart of winter, whereas indoor venues are suitable all year round.

And by booking an indoor venue during off-peak time, you might just save yourself some money to put toward the honeymoon or whatever else you fancy.

Extra Space

The main practical benefit of outdoor wedding venues is the space they offer – there’s no need to worry about cramming people in and making them uncomfortable because outdoor venues are almost always extremely spacious.

This has the added plus of allowing you to increase your guest list, though that of course costs more.

On the topic of costs, outdoor venues are generally more expensive than indoor ones. This is because they’re not available all year round and it’s costly having to bring in marquees, tables, chairs, bathrooms, and everything else that’s normally included indoors.

And when the weather does get colder in the evening, you need to think about hiring fire pits, radiators and blankets too, giving you extra things to worry about.

Natural Beauty

One thing that’s taken off your wedding planning to-do list however is decorations. Depending on how outdoorsy you go, outdoor venues mightn’t need loads of decorations as the natural landscape provides the beauty already.

This natural beauty is something you can get creative with – think gardens, beaches, forests, waterfronts, foreign destinations. It’s no doubt more expensive to fly people abroad but it can make for a truly unique experience, and some amazing photos.

That being said, you can get creative with indoor weddings too. Castles, manor homes, barns (more on that last one in a minute…)

Relaxed Atmosphere

The final big benefit of outdoor venues is they can give your wedding day a more relaxed feel. There isn’t the expectation that everyone talks to everyone, and the outdoors can provide a welcome relief to people who find big groups stressful.

Outdoor venues are also more child friendly and they provide greater space for activities and games, if that’s what you’re into.

Best of both worlds

Now you know the pros and cons of indoor and outdoor wedding venues, hopefully you have a pretty good idea which one is right for your special day.

But what if I told you how to make the most of both worlds, allowing you to experience the benefits of both and none of the drawbacks?

Our beautiful, rustic Old Wheat Barn is the perfect place for couples looking to tie the knot somewhere totally unique.

It’s spacious, versatile, and accompanied by wedding planning expert Julie, ready to take your wildest dreams and turn them into reality.

We have a range of catering options AND you can hire our decorations (of which we have lots), allowing you to put your own personalised spin on the day.

And if that good old British weather does decide to play nice, you can of course take advantage of our stunning outdoor spaces too.

Just drop me a line at sally@pinkpigfarm.co.uk if you’re interested and we’ll organise a show-around at a time that suits you – happy planning!