Garden

• A garden is the ideal location if you want to create a romantic, fairy tale feeling. Finding a garden that’s full of flowers and foliage cuts down your decorating and flower costs, since the space will already be decorated. A bed and breakfast or a local community garden can rent you the space for your wedding. Before you book a garden, visit it during the season in which you’ll be getting married or find pictures of it. Flowers that are beautiful when you visit in June may be wilted and brown by September.
  
  

Beach

• As long as the weather is warm enough that guests won’t freeze, even a rocky coastline or small strip of lake shore beach can suit your wedding needs. While it’s easy to set up chairs for a simple ceremony, holding a reception on the beach is more difficult. Setting up a large tent or holding the reception on an outdoor deck at a nearby beach-side restaurant allows guests to eat, drink and be merry without getting sand in their eyes. Get permission from the city parks and recreation department to marry on a public beach. To marry on a private beach, you’ll likely need to pay the landowners to hold your ceremony.
  
  

Backyard

• A backyard wedding can be a cozy affair or a wild barbecue, depending on the entertainment and food you provide. Holding the party at your home is ideal if you’re on a tight budget, but you will have neighbors and city ordinances to contend with. A reception that starts early in the evening, say around 5 o'clock, allows you to finish up the party by 10, so you won’t disturb your neighbors. You’ll need to contact city hall and your local fire department to find out what permits you need and what rules you must follow.
  
  

Woods

• A wedding in the woods or an open field is rustic and simple, but getting married away from “civilization” and electricity makes a reception challenging. Choose a spot in a large national or city park that’s quiet and peaceful, but close enough to bathroom facilities that guests will be comfortable. A spot that’s equipped with grills also makes it possible for caterers to prepare hot food. You’ll need to get written permission and possibly pay the park authority or city in order to marry there.