Hosting your wedding reception outdoors is a great way to stay connected to nature and enjoy an open atmosphere. Being indoors can still be fun, but unless the space is large with huge vaulted ceilings, people might start to feel cramped.

The only challenge when hosting an outdoor wedding reception is decorating the space. You’ll need tables and chairs, but you’ll also want to find décor just for the occasion. If your venue doesn’t already have everything you need, you’ll have to get creative.

If you’re looking for outdoor décor that will make your wedding unforgettable, try these decorative ideas.

1. An outdoor fire pit table

You’ve probably seen plenty of fire pits over the years. Fire pits have become exceptionally popular and you can get them just about anywhere. Fire pit tables, on the other hand, are even better than fire pits.

A fire pit table is a fire pit that doubles as an outdoor dining table. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and designs. Some of the larger propane-powered fire pit tables have an enclosure to hold and conceal a propane tank.

A fire pit table is better than any DIY option

Sure, you can build a last-minute fire pit with fire brick and cement blocks, but it won’t look as good as a manufactured fire pit. Even if you could make one that looks good, the idea is to have a fire pit that also serves as a table. That way, your guests can eat or drink while enjoying the fire.

Note that fire pit tables don’t produce the same amount of heat as fire pits. This is intentional, since they’re designed to be used as a dining table.

2. Tiki-style outdoor propane heaters

Tiki-style outdoor propane heaters look amazing and will keep your guests warm. You can find these heaters in a variety of sizes. One standard 4.5-gallon propane canister will power one of these heaters for several hours.

If you’re getting married in the summer and the evenings stay warm, you probably won’t need outdoor heaters. However, slight changes in temperature are unpredictable. If the temperature drops just a few degrees or if there’s a breeze, your guests will be grateful to have a source of heat.

3. Decorate an old truck bed

An outdoor venue makes it easier to get creative with larger decorative ideas, like parking an old truck on the lawn and staging it as décor. Then place your choice of décor in the bed of the truck, just like you’d place items on a table like plants, statues, signs, and anything else that looks good.

If possible, use an older Chevy or Dodge truck from the 1950s or 1960s. Those are the trucks that have more style than modern trucks that just look like boxes.

Depending on your overall theme, you might want a beat-up truck that looks more like it came right off a farm. Those are pretty easy to get or rent. If you need a nicer looking truck, try placing ads on Craigslist to find someone willing to rent you their truck for the day.

4. String lights

String lights will make your outdoor wedding reception feel cozier, even when the sun is just starting to dip down.

Hang some string lights above all the areas where your guests will gather or eat. If you can’t find string lights long enough, you can always get more string lights and plug them in end-to-end.

Just make sure you don’t try to splice a bunch of string light wires to extend the length. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you could end up crossing the wires or adding more lights than can be powered by the available voltage.

5. An outdoor coffee station

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a guest who doesn’t like coffee. Set up a fancy self-serve coffee station on a table somewhere on the perimeter. To make things really fancy, provide real ceramic mugs hanging from a coffee mug “tree.”

You can put out some air pots full of coffee from a local shop, or you can get a commercial Keurig machine to make sure everyone gets a perfect, hot cup of coffee.

To make sure coffee doesn’t go to waste, stick with 8oz mugs. You can even buy a bunch of matching mugs online, or you can go the other way and collect random, mismatched mugs from thrift stores.

Make your outdoor wedding reception unique with your favorite decor

Whether you’re a minimalist or you want to go all out, make your reception unique. Get creative with your décor to make your outdoor wedding reception an event your guests will never forget.