A glass chapel in the woods? Can you believe how beautiful it is? Breathtaking. That’s what it is. Imagine getting married here? Where is it, you ask?

This gorgeous glass chapel is at Garvan Woodland Gardens near Hot Springs, Arkansas. The wedding was shot by Becker.

Wheat isn’t just for eatin’. It makes for lovely wedding decorations. Here are some wheat wedding ideas that are perfect for an autumn wedding:

Photo: Project Wedding

Photo: Project Wedding

Photo: The Knot

Photo: Project Wedding

Photo: In Style Weddings

Photo: Holly Ann Ricker

Photo: Wish Special Events

Photo: The Knot

Photo: Designer PI

What’s the latest craze in wedding ceremony seating? Hay! Cheap, rustic – and biodegradable! What more could one ask? Here are some photos of hay bales used as wedding seating:

Photo: Daria Bishop

Photo: Givefunla.com

Photo: Peacockfeatherevents.com

Photo: W. Scott Chester Photography via The Green Bride Guide

Photo: Celebrity Bride Guide

Photo: c is for charmed

Photo: Martha Stewart Weddings

This is brilliant. You have to watch this. Happy Friday!!

I’ve been noticing more and more benches popping up in photos for outdoor weddings. Some are padded, some are pillowed. Some are white and some are rustic wood. I think they are a refreshing alternative to Chiavari chairs, don’t you?

Photo One: Events by Evonne; Photo Two: Images.com; Photo Three: Events by Evonne; Photo Four: Zephyr Tents; Photo Five: Zephyr Tents; Photo Six: Amy McLauglin Lifestyles; Photo Seven: Jennie Andrews Photography

If you are looking for ideas for DIY wedding programs, check out this gem on Better Homes and Gardens. It has photos for 18-Easy-to-Make-Wedding-Programs.

If you don’t see any that catch your fancy, check out this tutorial for DIY wedding fan programs, or this free wedding template for a DIY wedding fan program. There are also scroll programs, stitched programs and 25 wedding program ideas from Martha Stewart.

Still need wedding program ideas? Stay tuned for upcoming posts.

Photo: Better Homes and Gardens

A dog ring bearer? A bride and groom on horseback?

More and more couples are involving animals in their weddings.

Well-behaved dogs can make wonderful ringbearers, and so can owls. (Don’t believe me? Read this.) Heck, one reader wrote to tell me she’s using her hamster as a ringbearer!

Even horses can play a role. A few years ago I interviewed a couple who surprised their guests by making their grand entrance on horseback.

“The guests were shocked. We kept it all a big secret,” says Sandra.

Visions of Camelot surely danced through their guests’ heads, as they watched David, in full dressage, enter the arena on the back of a gorgeous black gelding. When his beaming bride followed, riding sidesaddle on a gentle Arabian mare, a hush fell over the audience.

Without as much as a nay from the horses, the couple calmly said their vows, making official, their status as husband and wife.

Sandra and David decided to get married on horseback for obvious reasons: they both love horses and they both enjoy equestrian riding.

Deanne and Andy also involved a four-legged friend on their big day: their beloved Staffordshire bull terrier, Scotch, was ring bearer.

With a ring-filled satchel tied around her collar, the good natured canine was led by leash to the altar, where she patiently waited for her cue.

“She was really good. She just sat there, and watched what was going on,” says Deanne, a veterinary assistant.

When the time came to offer up the rings, the groom’s best man knelt to retrieve the rings from Scotch, who obliged without even a bark.

“It worked out great,” says Deanne. “She just looked at everybody and wagged her tail all excited.”

Gloria Steacy, an ordained minister and owner of Royal Wedding Gardens & Chapel in LaSalle, says she’s married several couples who have had their pets involved in the wedding. Steacy recalls a wedding ceremony where ten Labrador retrievers were in attendance.

Steacy explains that the dogs, which were all from the same litter and owned by various members of the bride and groom’s family, sat quietly together near the altar as the couple said their vows.

“There were all these dogs sitting there all prim and proper. They just sat there like they had been trained to do that forever,” she says.

Steacy says she has also conducted weddings that have included other cherished pets, including cats.

She recalls a medieval theme wedding where the bride and groom’s two cats sat in cages near the altar during the ceremony.

Do you plan on involving pets in your wedding?

Photo One: Angie Wilson Photography; Photo Two: AutumnWard.com Photo Three: PBJ Studio

Lanterns are a great way to decorate your wedding pews. They’re simple, but in low light they create such a wonderful ambiance. Simply use ribbon to attach them to the wedding pews.

Here are a few pictures of lanterns adorning wedding pews.

And here are some lanterns at an outdoor wedding. Equally charming!

Photo One: Kristen Spencer Photography Photo Two: Lindsay B Photography; Photo Three: ProjectWedding.com; Photo Four: Prime-Number.com; Photo Five: Luster Studios

My DIY wedding programs did not fit on one page (I’m a writer!). If I had a one page wedding program, I would have rolled it up and tied it with ribbon.  I love the look of scroll DIY wedding programs. You can use any color paper you want, and the choices for ribbon are endless. Wouldn’t they look lovely placed inside a wicker basket? An easy and pretty DIY wedding project!

If you are going with a one pager, here are the details to include:

• Your names
• Date, location and time of ceremony
• The order of events for the wedding ceremony, including titles of readings and songs
• The names of the wedding party
• Names of your parents, clergy, readers and musicians
• Thank-yous, dedications and rememberances

Want more ideas for DIY wedding programs? Check out this awesome DIY wedding program by DellaStella. Also check out this free fan DIY wedding program template.

Photo #1: Little Winter Bride; Photo #2: One Star Away

Lavender bouquet photo by Tine Hofmann.

I’ve got a thing for herbs.  Every year I plant lavender, rosemary, parsley, sage, lemon thyme, chives, dill, mint, basil and oregano. By mid-summer, I’ve got enough herbs to supply a hoppin’ gourmet restaurant.

I use some of the herbs in my cooking (I also use mint, lemon thyme and lavender in my handmade soap), but often I have lots left over.

What should I do with rest of my lovely plants?

Well, if I happened to be planning a wedding, I’d have plenty of uses for my leftover herbs! Especially if I was having a green wedding.

Lately, I’ve discovered so many beautiful ways that herbs can be incorporated into a wedding – from the bouquets to the boutonnieres. Here are some ideas that I love:

You can use potted herbs as green wedding favors. Use terra cotta pots which are eco-friendly. Photo by Miki Duisterhof.

Lavender makes lovely halos and wedding bouquets. Photo from Sunshine Lavender Farm.

What about an herb wreath to hang on the door of the church? Photo California Wreath Co.

A hanging herb bouquet for your outdoor reception. Photo alice q. style.

Mint boutonnieres from In Style Weddings via A Sunshine Wedding.

Lavender boutonnieres from Snippet and Ink via A Sunshine Wedding.

Herb and wildflower centerpieces from Snippet and Ink via A Sunshine Wedding.

Sage handmade soap makes for perfect green wedding favors. Photo Good Earth Soap.

For more ideas on how to use herbs in centerpieces watch this short video from Sunset.com