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Real Weddings: Adan and Marni’s Picture-Perfect Backyard Garden Wedding

March 10, 2009 by Christina

Marni, 35 & Adan, 36

Dallas, Texas

Wedding Date: April 19, 2008

Number of Guests: 50

Wedding Cost: $5,800

Wedding Ceremony Location: Backyard of the maid of honor’s mother

Wedding Reception Location: Maid of honor’s house

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We wanted something sentimental, classy, charming and casual. Budget was also a large factor because we were funding the event.

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

Finding locations that fit within budget and availability. We were lucky to have my best friend’s mom offer up her backyard and house for the ceremony.
Timing of events and who would be handling things like reception set-up, wedding location break down, music, etc. Everything worked out perfect for our backyard wedding in the end, but had to make sure to pay attention to the little details when planning.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

Yes, it was difficult to not be able to invite everyone we knew.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

There were some difficult conversations around why some people were invited and not others. Ultimately, we kept the list to family and close friends – not just casual friends. We found that sharing our decision to have a small, intimate wedding with limited seating was well received by mostly everyone. Explaining the limitations of the location (since it was at a friend’s house and not a paid location) helped keep people who were not invited from feeling left out.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

We had perfect weather for an early evening outdoor garden ceremony – the only weekend in April that it didn’t rain! My best friend’s husband officated the ceremony. It was very special for me in particular because he has been like a big brother/father to me for over a decade. Getting most of the photography done BEFORE the ceremony was another highlight. This really helped reduce stress because we had time to relax and have fun prior to the wedding. Also, when the ceremony was over we only had to take family and friends’ photos and we were able to move from one venue to the next within an hour.

What were the highlights of the reception?

My maid of honor made 8-10 gallons of sangria as our wedding present. This helped keep costs down and gave us a wonderful specialty drink. We both were able to have fun and talk to everyone who attended. Everyone was able to relax and enjoy the party. No ties – and shoes were optional!

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

We got to enjoy everyone and every moment. I remember every detail of our day. For a fraction of the price of a large ceremony, we had something that was special and personalized. We had a blast!

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

Prioritize! Find one item that you both are passionate about and splurge on that. For us, it was photography because we knew photos would last a lifetime. We found Lynn’s style and approach to fit with our taste and style of how we wanted our day captured. The second thing was food, so we made sure the caterer had a delicious variety items and instead of a sit down dinner, we did heavy appetizers, buffet style. My best advice? When friends offer help – take them up on it!

View more photos of Adan and Marni’s Picture-Perfect Backyard Garden Wedding Here.

Vendors:

Photographer: Lynn Michelle Photography

Catering: TX Chef

Cake: HVN Creations

Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas

Flowers: Your Perfect Wedding

Hair: Jim Puttnam

Make up: Erinn Hedrick

Reception decorations: Costco & best girlfriend

Beer and Wine: Costco and Tom Thumb

Wedding DJ: Bride’s sister.

Photos: Lynn Michelle Photography

Filed Under: Real Weddings |

Tips for a Garden Wedding Ceremony

February 20, 2009 by Christina

Outdoor Wedding at San Benito House

Are you considering a garden wedding ceremony? You are in good company.

Garden weddings are becoming increasingly popular, and more and more garden wedding venues are popping up to meet the demands.

Many conservation areas now offer garden weddings, as well as public parks, historical settings, botanical gardens and private estates. Your home, or the home of a friend or relative can also serve as the perfect venue for your garden wedding.

Like all outdoor weddings, garden weddings are at the mercy of the elements. If Mother Nature decides to go a little wild, then your garden wedding could turn into a garden nightmare. That’s why there are tents and back-up plans.

When you are looking for an outdoor venue for your garden wedding ceremony, find out if tents are permitted, or if there is a building nearby that can accommodate your wedding in case of inclement weather.

Many garden venues will only permit ceremonies, and some do not supply chairs for guests. If you are looking for a simple garden ceremony this won’t be a problem.

Here are some things to consider when looking for a venue for your garden wedding ceremony:

1. Visit the venue beforehand. Is it big enough? Maybe it’s too big for your intimate wedding? Are there washroom facilities? What about parking? Ideally, visit the site at the same time of day you plan to have your ceremony. That way, you can figure out how to configure your site so that you and your guests are not blasted by the sun.

2. Find out if any other events are being held at the location on your wedding date. You don’t want the Addams Family Reunion a stones throw away from your ceremony site.

3. Find out if chairs are provided. If not, find out if chair rental is permitted. If they are, choose wooden chairs. Metal chairs get scorching hot in the sun.

4. If you are planning to get married in the summer, find out if there is shade where the ceremony is being held. You might be able to stand up to the 90 degree heat, but what about your grandmother? Also, provide bottled water for your guests to keep them hydrated. You could also offer lemonade or sparkling water before the reception. Parasols for elderly guests are also a nice idea. Or you could make your programs in the shape of fans so guests can fan themselves.

5. If the venue is in a secluded area, make sure you give your guests good directions and allow for extra travel time for guests to find the venue. If your guests have to take back country roads to find the site, they might need some extra time to get there.

6. Keep decorations simple. Gardens need little adornment.

7. When choosing a wedding gown, make sure you keep in mind that you will be having a ceremony outdoors. A gown that will bustle or has no train is your best bet.

8. Don’t choose flowers that can’t stand the heat. If you are working with a florist, s/he should be able to guide you in the right direction. Also, keep several buckets of water onsite in a shady spot to store wedding bouquets so that they spend less time in the sun.

9. Go with the flow. Garden weddings are less predictable than weddings indoors. Be prepared for inclement weather. Even if the weather is perfect, unexpected things like bird droppings, sirens and bee stings are always possibilities.

Photo: San Benito House, Half Moon Bay, California

Filed Under: Outdoor Weddings, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Planning |

Garden Wedding Flowers : What to Avoid for Outdoor Weddings

February 4, 2009 by Christina

Beach wedding bouquet

If you are having an outdoor wedding in the hot summer months, don’t choose flowers that can’t stand the heat, says Sandy Bartley, a floral designer at Forget Me Not Florist in Erie, Pennsylvania. This includes bulb flowers such as tulips, daffodils and hyacinthe. These garden wedding flowers don’t like hot summer days.

“Bulb flowers like the crisp morning air. Their stems will droop in the heat and they will open. A tulip will end up looking like a poppy,” she says, adding that their hollow stems don’t allow them to hold water.

Also, proceed with caution if choosing lilacs, hydrangea, and liseanthus. These garden wedding flowers also don’t like high temps.

According to Bartley, roses are one of the most substantial flowers for outdoor weddings. Orchids also stand up well in the heat – so do sunflowers, birds-of-paradise, tiger lilies, dahlias and zinnias.

Another way to ensure your garden wedding flowers can take the heat is to choose flowers that will be in season locally at the time of your wedding. This will also save you money.

Bartley points out that no matter what type of flowers you choose, bouquets should be kept in a vase of water in a shady spot when not in use – especially if the bouquets are hand-tied. Keeping a spray bottle handy and misting your flowers lightly every hour or so can also help to keep them vibrant.

“Many brides are going with the hand-tied bouquets, which are a florist’s nightmare: Some brides just don’t know to keep them in water when they aren’t in use,” she says.

So, be kind: Give your garden wedding flowers a drink and they will thank you by staying beautiful.

Photo: Erin Wallis Photography

Filed Under: Outdoor Weddings, Wedding Planning |

Real Weddings: Bonnie and Kevin’s Delightful Garden Wedding

February 1, 2009 by Christina

Bonnie, 35 & Kevin, 35

Sylvan Lake Estates in Angwin, CA (Napa, County)

Wedding Date: September 20, 2008

Number of Guests: 36

Wedding Ceremony Location: The ceremony and reception took place in the front gardens of a gorgeous Tudor estate in the hills above Napa Valley. The home is owned by friends of the groom’s parents.

Wedding Reception Location: See above

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

Kevin and I had been dating for nearly eight years, and when we decided to get married we knew that for us, a large elaborate wedding simply wasn’t going to do. It didn’t fit our personalities. We contemplated exchanging vows on a glacier in Iceland, or at a kasbah in Morocco, both places we had visited and loved, but then we realized that what would mean the most to us would be to exchange our vows in front of the people who had loved and supported us throughout our lives.

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

The biggest challenge is saying no! The wedding industry is so geared to large, elaborate, circus type events where you are pressured to do EVERYTHING, and where every little thing has to mean SOMETHING. You have to be very focused on choosing what is important to you, and sticking to those goals throughout the planning process. It’s so hard when there is so much information on how to do a wedding “right”, and right involves about 3,000,000 things that really mean nothing to you, but you’re worried about offending someone and about etiquette and you’re thinking about your friend’s wedding who had the doves, the photo booth. The list is endless.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

Not really because we kept going back to our original goal; sharing our wedding day with those people who had loved and supported us throughout our lives.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

Originally our guest list was going to only involve parents from each family, however, my mother – in one of those brilliant ‘mother moments’, convinced me that it would be lovely to involve immediate family from each side. She was absolutely right. Not all of them could come due to the distance, but it certainly was the right thing to do in our situation. I can’t imagine not having had my aunts and uncles there.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

So the funniest story involves our vows. Kevin and I come from very different religious backgrounds, and for us organized religion is very much not a part of our lives. Keeping religion out of the vows was important to both of us, and we emphasized that at length with the Officiant. However, somehow our customized vows did not make it to the ceremony, and every other sentence involved God, Christ, or the Holy Ghost. At first, I just raised my eyebrows a little, but then, after the 20^th God, Christ and Holy Ghost, we just got the giggles. So we spent half the ceremony trying very hard not to make each other laugh.

The sweetest part of the ceremony was when my 14-year old daughter walked me down the aisle. Fourteen is such an emotional age, and she was a bit overcome, and started crying while she was giving me away. It was so touching and somehow very beautiful.

What were the highlights of the reception?

The most moving moment was our best man Joe’s toast … He’s as close to a brother as Kevin and I will ever have. Joe gave such an emotional speech, sharing with everyone just how much he loved us and what an impact we had on his life … It brought everyone to tears.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

Being able to spend quality time with every guest without feeling rushed. I was so relaxed and happy, and had the time to relish each and every moment.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

One bit of advice is that an intimate wedding isn’t always an inexpensive wedding, so don’t let budget be the only reason you’re having an intimate wedding.

Beyond that, remember to be true to yourselves, have fun and remember to breathe!

Vendors:

Caterer: Piper Johnson Catering
Piper Johnson manages events at the estate, and handled all the food and rental items.

Flowers: Flowers by Anne Anne Nounou does a phenomenal job of creating beautiful flower arrangements at a very budget-friendly rate.

Wedding Cake: Sweetie Pies
I still have dreams of this cake – it was THAT good.

Photographer : Susan Adler
Susan is an artist when it comes to photojournalism. She just has that way of capturing those special moments and making them come alive in the photographs. There isn’t a single photo she took that I’m not in love with.

Dress: Custom Couture by Amy Kuschel
Amy does “custom couture” gowns for a very reasonable price. The saddest part of my wedding day was putting away my gown. I have never felt more gorgeous than I did wearing her design.

Photos: Susan Adler Photography

Filed Under: Real Weddings |

Real Weddings: Natalie and Leon’s Magical Garden Wedding

January 11, 2009 by Christina

Natalie, 21 and Leon, 27

Comox & Courtenay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Wedding Date: June 29th, 2008

Number of Guests: 30

Wedding Cost: $5,000 (Approx.)

Wedding Ceremony Location: Lower Garden of Filberg Park, Comox BC

Wedding Reception Location: Tomato Tomato Restaurant, Courtenay, BC

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We wanted a celebration that felt very personal, both for us and for our guests.

What are some of the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

There were certainly people around us who thought that the idea of a small, afternoon wedding in a garden was a little strange and could not be as remarkable as a fancier, larger wedding. Since the ideas and concepts we had were a little usual, it was challenging at times to convey that vision to others.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

It was difficult. We tried to keep things tactful by sending out a few “wish we could have had you there” notes and politely explaining that our wish was truly for a small, intimate event.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family?

We had a few but most people were quite understanding. I think it was crucial to keep in mind that this was our one and only wedding day and our happiness was what truly mattered.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

The landscape of our location was gorgeous and magical. Walking myself down the aisle, which was a curving stone staircase, and making eye contact with nearly every guest was a very special moment. Our Justice of the Peace performed the ceremony which Leon and I had written almost entirely from scratch. After the ceremony had finished and we were walking back through the rows of chairs Leon surprised me my having guests throw fresh rose petals, something I had wanted but hadn’t had the time to organize.

What were the highlights of the reception?

At the reception a mutual friend of ours sang an old love song and we danced surrounded by our closest friends and family. Our littlest guests were adorable and the casual finger food and cake atmosphere made everyone feel at home. Leon and I both had the chance to visit with each guest and thank them personally for coming. We also had many personal touches displayed such as childhood pictures and a little gift “nest” handmade by my sister.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

It felt like a real reflection of who we are as a couple and what is important to us. I was able to do many DIY wedding projects, with the help of others that likely would not have been feasible on a larger scale. My mother sewed our flower girl dresses, Leon’s mother did all our bouquets and arrangements and Leon and I spent countless hours hand-making a variety of other projects. Seeing the vision come to together so beautifully and being able to share that experience with our loved ones made the day feel incredibly intimate.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

Prioritize what you want to invest in. For Leon and I photography was the most important aspect so we decided to designate more of our budget there. Having beautiful images to remember the day by was far more important to us than giving out favors. Most importantly go with what you really want and try not to be discouraged by other (less creative) people. Having a wedding that is truly a reflection of you as a couple is refreshing and modern. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to have an event that leaves a lasting impression.

Vendors:

Ceremony: Filberg Park and Lodge, Comox BC

Reception: Tomato Tomato, Courtenay BC

Cake: Cakebread & Hot Chocolates, Courtenay BC

Hotel: The Old House, Courtenay, BC

Photographer: Erin Wallis Photography

erin wallis photography

Filed Under: Real Weddings |

Gardens: Weddings with Garden Theme Showcase Beauty of Outdoors

December 3, 2008 by Christina

Heirloom Inn Garden Wedding

Whether you are having a backyard wedding at your own home or you decide to tie the knot outdoors at a bed and breakfast or public park, there are many ways that you can carry the garden theme throughout your wedding. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Stationery – When it comes to gardens, weddings with a floral theme are ideal. Use pressed flowers on your invitations and place cards. Or use a pretty vintage garden motif on your stationery.

Flowers/Centerpieces/Décor – Informal garden bouquets look lovely. Accent bouquets with herbs such as thyme, lavender, rosemary. Hurricane lamps for an evening wedding look lovely. Use potted plants to decorate, such as potted flowers on the table or potted herbs. Wear flowers in your hair and make flower halos for your flower girls.

Colors – Use bright, cheerful colors, such as coral, pink and lavender.

Food – Take advantage of the great local fruits and veggies that are in season. Have an afternoon wedding with a summer salad bar that includes gourmet greens and pasta salads. Have a lemonade stand for the kids. Or have an evening reception, complete with grilled seafood, steak and veggies.

Favors – Give guests handmade soap scented with essential oils or pressed flowers behind glass. Other favors could be bulbs for planting in the garden, or small plants. Summer preserves are also a lovely favor.

Photo: Heirloom Inn, Ione, California.