Romance is in the air, you love your garden, and there's no place you can imagine where you'd rather say your vows than in your own back yard among the plants you've tended and nurtured. Start planning now and make it happen.
You need to consider several things when planning a backyard wedding. Let's go through this one step at a time.
Your back yard. What kind of view do you have? Is there an arbor, gazebo or archway that you want to use? Take a walk, as if you were a stranger, through your yard. Should a compost pile, or unsightly lawn areas that you wouldn't want people to see, be hidden? For instance, we have hunting dogs. I wouldn't want our guests to have to look at dog kennels. Solution? Put up a screen or fence of some kind to mask it. A mask doesn't have to be expensive, just something to hide what you don't want to be seen on that day.
Flowerbeds. Next, let's have a look at the flowerbeds. Are they where you want them? Do you need to plant flowers close to where the vows will be spoken? Some of my favorites for planting at a wedding site are baby's breath, lupines, roses, yarrow, pansies and liatris. Talk to a local greenhouse or nursery to find out what kind of plants will give you the best show of color for that time of year. If you don't have time to plant a flowerbed, remember that it's easy to plant your "gardens" in containers so that you can move from place to place.
What time of year is the wedding day? Talk to a local greenhouse or nursery to find out what kind of plants will give you the best show of color for that time of year. You may want to consider hiring out the garden work. There is always a lot to do in the weeks before a wedding, and you may not have enough time for all of it.
Archways. There are many ways to do archways. You can make your own archway out of lattice (you can find it at your local home improvement store). All you need are three pieces of lattice, one for each side and one for the top. I've seen archways done out of nothing more than flexible PVC pipe and fabric sleeves. They can be inexpensive and very effective. Another idea might be to twine grapevine through and around your archway for a more woodsy and natural look.
Another option for an archway is to create a canopy-like presentation called a huppah. A huppah in a Jewish wedding symbolizes the couple's new home. One way to create a huppah for your outdoor wedding is to use four poles (ask your florist to use birch poles if it's not too expensive). Then string flowers or large foliage such as lemon leaves across the top.
Floral decorations. When choosing the flowers for your bridal bouquets, consider the landscape you'll be in. If you have a formal garden, then keep your flowers traditional. If your yard is more relaxed and informal, then go with flowers and styles that complement it.
Many people want more trees and foliage for their back yard but can only add them gradually because of the cost. Talk to your florist about palm buckets, another inexpensive way to help achieve the atmosphere you want. Palm buckets are simply palm leaves put in containers to resemble live palm trees. They look like fancy houseplants, and they flank walkways beautifully too. After the wedding you can return them to your florist.
If you want to have centerpieces on your tables, then look into growing or buying small pots of flowers instead of going to the expense of having arrangements made. You could also use small grapevine wreaths with candles in the center as a table decoration.
Canopies or tents. Weather, like all of nature, is unpredictable. You should probably look into renting some canopies or tents. You wouldn't want to go to a lot of trouble only to have it pour rain on your guests' heads while you're saying "I do." Also, if you're planning on having a band or a DJ, then you should consider where you're going to put them. They can't have their equipment out in the rain.
More decorating ideas. Do you have a deck you want to decorate? Try looking for inexpensive fabrics at your local fabric store. The clearance rack is my favorite place to start. Drape the fabrics from one deck post to the next. Add a bow at the posts and you've got great decorations. To finish off the look, add a flower or two in the knot where the bow is.
What will your guests eat? Catering is another thing to consider. You can go as simple as a barbecue or as fancy as a regular banquet. Talk to your local churches or community centers about borrowing or renting tables and chairs. Table linens are another thing you might want to rent or even borrow.
Adding a personal touch. Whether it's serving cocktails in your favorite pitchers, writing both of your names on a wooden sign and propping it up in front of the house, parking an antique truck in the driveway and filling it with beer bottles, or using your grandmother's heirloom tablecloths, your at-home wedding should resemble you. Have fun with your ideas, even if they seem a bit strange. Remember, it's your home. Be creative.
More outdoor wedding planning tips:
- Depending on how many people you have on your guest list, you may want to look into renting some portable toilets.
- Are you having an evening wedding? Candles can go an extra-long way when decorating at night. A couple of lanterns would set a romantic glow.
- You and your wedding party may want to wear flat shoes for the back yard. You don't want anyone sinking in the sod.
- Depending on the size of your wedding, you will need to consider how many cars your neighborhood can handle. It's also a good idea to check with your local chamber of commerce or police department about noise ordinances.
- If you aren't inviting your neighbors to the ceremony, you might want to invite them for the reception afterwards. Including your neighbors in the party (even if you don't know them very well) could help cut down on aggravation due to parking and noise. Neighbors aren't as likely to be grumpy if their bellies are full.
Jackie Musgrave (iVillager just_ask_jack), a floral designer, is the community leader of the Floral Crafts message board. You can also get more wedding advice on Jackie's member website.
