How to Plan a Perfect Outdoor Wedding in Minnesota: Tips for Every Season

Here's everything you need to know in order to plan an outdoor wedding in Minnesota during each of the four seasons!

Minnesota is a state that remains consistently beautiful throughout the entire year. Whether it’s the warm and vibrant summers, the jaw dropping colors of the fall leaves, the literal winter wonderland it becomes during the colder months, or the moody vibes that come with our blooming springs, every season has its draw. This is why so many couples choose to have their weddings here no matter the season, and that’s why we’re here today! This article will go over everything you need to know to plan an outdoor wedding in Minnesota regardless of the season, yes even winter! 

An Outdoor Spring Wedding in Minnesota

The first season we’re going to be taking a look at is the Spring. This is a tricky time of year in terms of weather, but it’s also one of the most beautiful! Anyone who lives in the Midwest can attest to how unpredictable the weather is, and spring happens to be the most unpredictable. Sunny and 70 degrees in March? Sure. Five inches of snow in mid May? Why not? In addition to this, the spring is also rainy season here in Minnesota, so even if the temperatures are consistent there’s still always a level of unpredictability to the season.

With all that in mind, why would anyone choose to have an outdoor wedding in Minnesota during the spring? For starters, it’s when the natural beauty of Minnesota’s plant life starts to come back to life after the long winter. The bloom of spring is always a sight for sore eyes, and also makes for some wonderful backdrops for your outdoor wedding. I’m also a HUGE fan of rainy day photos as it adds even more emotion to your wedding album. If you do intend on having an outdoor wedding in the spring I highly recommend having a covered venue as your backup (something we’ll talk about more later!)

Overcast also makes for some of THE best lighting for your photos, which combines beautifully with the spring blooms for your photos. I always recommend having some clear umbrellas for your portraits though so as not to get caught in a downpour. Finally, if you plan on having your ceremony earlier in the day I recommend choosing a ceremony space with some tree cover as without it you may have some aggressive sun to deal with if you don’t end up with any overcast that day!

An Outdoor Summer Wedding in Minnesota

There are so many couples that choose to have an outdoor wedding in Minnesota in the summer, and that’s for a few reasons. For starters, summer is the most consistent time of year when it comes to the weather. Not having to worry about snow on your wedding day is a huge plus, and while it’s definitely still possible for it to rain on your wedding day, it’s less common likely in the spring.

The landscapes of Minnesota are also strikingly beautiful during the summers. The lush greens combine with the beautiful lakes and rivers found throughout the state to create endlessly beautiful settings for outdoor wedding ceremonies, receptions, and portraits. And don’t even get me started on the insane sunsets that we’re treated to during the summer months!

The largest concern that comes with summertime in Minnesota is the extreme heat we see during these months. Whether it’s dry air or humid air, hot is hot! You’re going to want to take care of yourselves on a toasty summer wedding day. There’s a lot you can do to better prepare for a hot summer day on your wedding, like:

• Hydrate
• Bring Extra Shirts
• Offer Fans as Gifts or Ceremony Details
• Use Indoor Spaces of Your Venue to Cool Off if Available

An Outdoor Fall Wedding in Minnesota

Fall is a magical time of year in Minnesota, and a very common time for outdoor weddings. Part of this is due to the immense beauty that comes with the changing of the seasons. If you’ve never experienced fall in Minnesota and seen the peak of the leaves changing colors you HAVE to put it on your bucket list. It’s legitimately jaw dropping, and makes for one of THE best backdrops should you choose to have a wedding in the fall! 

Much like the spring, the fall is an unpredictable time of year when it comes to its weather. I remember multiple instances of having a full blown blizzard on Halloween when I was growing up, and I also remember going outside in my shorts and t-shirt in November since we had a random spree of 70 degree days. While the fall is generally more tame than the spring, it’s definitely a good idea to be prepared in case there’s inclement weather on your wedding day!

Even during the warmer stretches, the evenings can get pretty chilly during the fall. Because of this, I strongly encourage you to look into a wedding venue that has an indoor space for your reception. Even if it’s just as a backup, having this additional space available to keep the festivities going can be a complete game changer for your wedding day.

An Outdoor Winter Wedding in Minnesota

Ok so you can’t really have a full on outdoor wedding during a Minnesota winter, but you can still take advantage of the beauty of the season on your wedding day! For winter weddings in Minnesota I recommend booking a wedding venue that’s surrounded by a beautiful landscape that lends itself well to winter. Having an outdoor space available within walking distance means you can still take outdoor portraits with that winter wonderland vibe and not completely freeze! 

How Different Seasons Affect Your Timeline

One of the largest impacts the different seasons have on your wedding day timeline are on the timing of your sunset portraits. These portrait photos are some of my favorites to document, and often some of my couples favorites to receive, which is why I always work with my couples to ensure that they fit within their timeline. A general rule of thumb is that the longer the day, the more flexibility you have with your timeline. Summer days in Minnesota are LONG (sunsets in July usually happen around 9pm), which gives you a lot of freedom with how you plan out your wedding day. On the flipside are our winter sunsets, which happen VERY early. For example, a sunset in December usually falls around 4:30pm!

If sunset portraits are something that’s important to you for your wedding day I strongly suggest you take in that timing when deciding on the season of your wedding. You can use this handy tool to see roughly when sunset falls during each season to help you make this decision. Finally, if you’re sold on a winter wedding but are concerned about running out of time for sunset portraits there are PLENTY of workarounds to make them work! As a wedding photographer with years of experience, I help all my clients craft their timeline to ensure that we fit in every piece of their wedding that they’re looking forward to.

Having a Backup is Key

When choosing a venue for your outdoor wedding in Minnesota, it’s always important to make sure you have some sort of covered backup plan. I mentioned a few times throughout this article how having a backup space as part of your wedding venue can be a lifesaver if you end up having inclement weather on your wedding day, and it’s true! No matter what season it is, there is always a chance that something could be falling out of the sky on your wedding day in Minnesota, and that’s just a part of being in the Midwest! Wedding venues with both indoor and outdoor spaces are always some of the best options, and if you are choosing a space with only outdoor options you can and should rent a large tent so you have some sort of covered space to fall back on if needed!

Putting together the perfect outdoor wedding in Minnesota takes a lot of planning, preparation, and effort, regardless of the season you choose! It’s why I recommend you book a local photographer (like yours truly!), who can help to make sure that your outdoor wedding is the absolute best it can be. If you’d like to book me as your photographer be sure to send me an inquiry through my contact page, and if you’d like to check out some of my other planning resources head on over to my blog page.