Most of the couples I’ve photographed have chosen to get married outside. In a barn with the doors open, by the sea, by a fjord in Hardanger, in a garden. There’s something about saying yes under an open sky that no church hall can match.
But outdoor weddings require more planning than most people think. The light does what it wants. The weather is Norway. Sound doesn’t carry. Uncle Reidar sits on a folding chair in strong sun and gets too warm before the ceremony is over.
After many outdoor ceremonies I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. Here’s what I’d tell a couple considering an outdoor wedding.
Think about light, but be realistic
Most ceremonies in Norway are between 11 AM and 2 PM. It’s practical, because reception, dinner, speeches and party all need to fit afterwards. There’s no real way around that.
But you should know that in the middle of the day, especially in summer, the sun sits high. Light becomes harsh, shadows go deep, and people squint. Photos from the ceremony often end up with dark eye sockets and shiny skin, especially if the sun sits directly behind the officiant.
That doesn’t mean you have to move the ceremony. It means you should think about where the sun is at that exact time, and how you place the altar and the rows of chairs.
A few easy moves:
- Position the couple so the sun isn’t directly behind them. Side light is almost always better than backlight or direct sun from the front.
- If you have the choice, find a spot with shade from trees or a building. Diffused light is almost always better than sharp sun.
- If the whole area is open and sunny, consider seating guests with the sun behind them, not in their faces.
The most important tip for outdoor weddings: set aside 15 to 20 minutes for a short portrait session later in the evening — perhaps between main course and dessert, or just before cake cutting. That’s when the light is at its softest and warmest. Guests barely notice you’re gone, and you come back with photos that look completely different from the ones taken at midday.
In June, the sun sets between 22:30 and 23:00 in Norway, so portraits at 21:00 give you a golden glow. In August, around 20:30. In September, already 19:30. Check the sunset for your date and talk to your photographer about when this might fit best into the evening.
That’s often the difference between nice photos and photos you frame on the wall.
A weather plan B isn’t optional
Norwegian weather is unreliable. Even a brilliant week can end in heavy rain on exactly the day you needed clear skies.
When you book an outdoor venue, always ask what the alternative is if it rains. A barn with open doors? A large party tent? Moving indoors? If the answer is “umm, we’ll see”, you don’t have a plan B.
My advice: have the plan ready at least a week before the wedding. Track the weather closely the last few days. Decide no later than 24 hours in advance whether you’re going outdoors or to plan B. Later than that, it’s chaos — suppliers don’t have enough time, and you end up making the call in the rain while someone tries to set up chairs.
A small tip: check wind forecasts, not just rain. Strong wind ruins more outdoor ceremonies than rain does. Speeches disappear, flowers blow over, and veils become a chapter of their own.
Sound is an underrated problem
Indoors, voices carry on their own. Outdoors, they vanish.
If you’re having an outdoor ceremony with more than 20 guests, consider a microphone and speaker. Not a large stage setup, just a simple solution that lets people in the back row actually hear what’s being said.
Also think about background noise. A beautiful spot by a waterfall might be a visual dream, but a sound disaster. Traffic, wind, seagulls, a neighbour’s lawnmower. Visit the location at the same time of day as the ceremony will be, and listen.
Think about the seated guests
A wedding takes time. If you think the ceremony will be 20 minutes, it usually ends up at 35. With speeches, songs and ring exchange, easily 45.
In strong sun that’s a long time to sit. In cold weather it’s even longer. Think this through.
If the ceremony is in an open space in July, consider arranging the chairs so guests have the sun behind them, not in their faces. It also produces better facial expressions in the photos.
If you’re getting married in September or October, consider a blanket on each chair. It’s a simple detail that makes an enormous difference.
If you’re somewhere with no shade at all, consider parasols or a light canopy. It sounds excessive, but older guests will thank you later.
Location affects the photos more than you think
Some outdoor locations are gold for photos. Others aren’t. The difference isn’t always obvious.
Locations that usually work well:
- Barns with open doors (give a natural frame around the couple)
- Gardens with trees providing soft, filtered light
- Beaches and fjord landscapes (but check light and wind)
- Forest clearings with dappled light through the leaves
- Spots with a clear “frame” or focal point behind the altar
Turid and Erik got married under a birch arch on Tromøy, with the Skagerrak right behind them. The arch gave a natural frame around them, and the sea acted as the focal point that ties the photos together — a good example of how a thoughtful outdoor location can give you images that don’t need anything extra.
Locations that often present challenges:
- Completely open fields with no shade
- Spots with messy backgrounds (parked cars, bins, telephone poles)
- Places where the sun sits directly behind the officiant
- Locations with mixed light (half sun, half shade on the couple)
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the location to your photographer well in advance. An experienced photographer can often see from a picture what will work and what will be tricky.
Talk to your photographer early
This is the most important advice in the whole article. If you’ve chosen an outdoor ceremony, tell your photographer as early as possible. It affects:
What time of day works best. What equipment the photographer brings (outdoor in Norway always means extra batteries, rain covers, and often two cameras). How much time should be set aside for portraits after the ceremony. Plan B if the weather turns.
I’ve done many outdoor weddings where we changed the timeline at the last minute because of weather or light. It always works out, but it works best when we’ve talked about it in advance. (For how a typical day is split, I’ve written about it in the wedding day timeline.)
One last note about the most important thing
The best thing about outdoor weddings is that they feel real. No artificial lighting, no decorated ceilings, no formal buildings. Just you, the people you love, and the nature around you.
When I look back at the outdoor ceremonies I’ve photographed, one thing keeps coming back: they feel looser, more alive, more like the couple themselves. People smile wider. Laughter carries further. Tears come more naturally.
It’s worth a little extra planning.
Considering an outdoor ceremony and wondering how the day might look? Get in touch and let’s talk about how your day can be the best version of itself.