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.

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Find out if chairs are provided. If not, find out if chair rental is permitted. 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. If chairs are permitted, choose wooden chairs. Metal chairs get scorching hot in the sun.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Keep decorations simple. Gardens need little adornment.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10.  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: Prairie and Andris’ Real Wedding Photographed by Alison Yin

What’s the hottest colour for weddings? Green.

Green weddings, which only a few years ago were on the fringe, have gone mainstream.

There are ‘green’ favours, ‘green’ flowers, ‘green’ invitations and even ‘green’ gowns.

How do you know which ‘green’ ideas are going to make the greatest impact?

Here are 10 of the best ways to give Mother Earth a starring role at your nuptials:

1. Go Small. The fewer guests you have, the less fossil fuels that will be used. You’ll also consume less, and create less garbage. Having a small guest list will also give you more choice of venues. Why not have your small wedding at a designated green inn or have a restaurant reception at a restaurant that serves local food?

2. Buy Consumable Favours. Consumable favours are fun, fabulous and earth friendly. Some suggestions include diy favors such as homemade jam, chocolate, cookies, candy, free-trade coffee, beeswax candles, handmade soap or lotion. If you still want to take the non-consumable route, what about cloth shopping bags, reusable produce bags, or other products that will help your guests pursue an eco-friendly lifestyle? Don’t forget to include information about local shops that carry eco-friendly products along with your favours.

3. Don’t buy any favours. Another wonderful option for favours is to donate money to a charity in the names of each guest. The guest receives a card that informs him or her that instead of a favour, money was donated to a specific charity. Read more about favor donations here.

4. Be a ‘Locavore’. Choose a caterer or restaurant that sources ingredients locally. Buying local ingredients supports your area farmers, as well as decreases your carbon imprint. Even better, choose locally sourced organic foods, and offer vegetarian choices for your meat-free guests.

5. Have your Ceremony and Reception in the Same Location. This will mean less travel for you and your guests. Many inns and bed and breakfasts can accommodate both the ceremony and the reception.

6. Use Potted Plants instead of Cut Flowers for Centerpieces.I admit, I’m crazy about fresh flowers, but I also love the idea of being able to enjoy my centerpieces long after the wedding. Potted flowers are lovely – so are potted herbs and saplings.

7. Buy a Second Hand Wedding Dress and Bridesmaid Dresses. Have you seen some of the gorgeous vintage gowns at www.vintageous.com?

8. Ditch the Disposables. Don’t even think about having disposable cameras at your wedding. Chances are your guests will bring their own digital camera. You can even remind them in your invitation that you’d love for them to capture their wedding with their own camera and send you the images. And don’t forget the DIY wedding photo download station.

9. Don’t use Throwaway Dishes or Flatware. Use china dishes, flatware, cloth napkins and glasses instead of plastic cups. Not only will this save a ton of waste, it will look more elegant.

10. Scrap the Balloons and Confetti. Do you really need confetti? If you feel it’s a must, then use flower petals. Avoid balloons when decorating, as well as any other landfill bound decorations.

BTW, I recently got my hands on a review copy of The Green Bride Guide by Kate Harrison. Stay tuned for more great tips from the The Green Bride Guide, as well as a book review.

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You’ve got the matching towels. You’ve got the dishes, the wine glasses, and the bed sheets. In fact, you’ve got everything you need. You could register for the waffle maker you’ll use once a year, or the ice cream maker that you’ll sell at a yard sale five years from now. Or what about the espresso maker that would look so pretty on your counter top?

What’s a bride-to-be to do when she’s already got all of the essentials?

Everyone loves gifts, and although it’s taboo to come right out and ask for them for your wedding day, they are as synonymous with weddings as the cutting of the cake.

Most couples register at a favourite store, but given the fact that more than half of couples live together prior to ‘saying I do’ , more and more couples are turning to alternative gift registries.

Here are just a few alternative online gift registries that are worthwhile checking out:

http://www.honeyfund.com– If you’re like most couples, you’ll probably go on a honeymoon. Does the thought of your guests helping to foot the bill for your getaway sound enticing? There are numerous honeymoon registries online, but most charge a fee. Honeyfund.com, on the other hand, does not charge a fee. It’s free to sign up, and your guests can contribute using Paypal or by credit card. When you create an account, you can itemize your honeymoon wishes and have them contribute to everything from massages at your destination, to airfare and accommodations.

http://www.ourwishingwell.com– Are you saving up for a new car? A house? What about a kitchen renovation? Maybe you and your sweetie would simply like a dinner for two at your favourite restaurant. Ourwishingwell.com lets you create a registry that allows you to list whatever you want – even experiences you’d like to share. Your guests sign up with a free account and contribute cash towards the gift of their choice. There is no fee to create a registry. However, the website says it takes less than 1 percent for each transaction. Your guests have several options when contributing. They can use a credit card, Paypal, cheque, money order, or bank transfer.

http://www.justgive.org If you feel like you have all you need and you want to use your wedding as a time to give back, why not sign up for a charitable registry? Couples who sign up at http://www.justgive.org can choose from over one million charitable organizations. Simply have wedding guests donate to the charity of your choice in leiu of wedding gifts. Talk about a feel good gift!

www.myregistry.com – Maybe you’d love a handmade gift from one of the thousands of Etsy artists on www.etsy.com? Or maybe you’ve seen something else online (or offline) that’s caught your eye. When you sign up for myregistry.com you can set up an online gift registry with items from any store you want. And it’s free to join.

Food stations aren’t just relegated to large weddings. They’re perfect for small weddings too.

Food stations are fun for your wedding guests because they allow guests to sample foods that they otherwise might never have tasted, and they get everyone mixing and mingling.

Although you might not have as many food stations as a large wedding, a smaller guest list will allow you to splurge on foods that might otherwise be out of your budget.

Love seafood? Have a seafood station. Love prime rib? Go for a carving station.

You can also create stations that reflect your ethnicity or your locale.

Here are 18 ideas for food stations that will tantalize your taste buds:

Asian Station

 Rice and noodle dishes, along with spring rolls, pan fried dumplings, and Thai dishes like satay chicken or pad Thai. A dim sum station is another option.

 Mexican Station

Fajitas, quesadillas, tacos and nachos with lots of yummy toppings.

 Pasta Bar

A variety of gourmet pastas. Offer a cold pasta bar, a warm pasta bar or both.

 Crepe Station

Dessert crepes like crepes suzette, cherry crepes with whipped cream, or hazelnut and chocolate crepes. You could also serve dinner style crepes such as chicken paprikash crepes, seafood crepes and grilled veggie crepes.

 Salad and Veggie Bar

Greek salad, Caesar salad, bean salad – the options are endless. You could also include grilled veggies.

 Cheese Station

A selection of domestic and international cheeses from gourmet cheese makers. Pair with a variety of wines, both red and white.

 Perogie Station

Offer a variety of perogies stuffed with mashed potatoes, potato and cheddar, or feta. Offer toppings such as bacon bits, sour cream and chives.

 Mediterranean Station

Hummus, tabouli, souvlaki, pitas and grilled veggies.

 Potato Station

Baked potatoes with buffet style toppings like bacon, sour cream, chives, chili, cheese, and guacamole. You could also have a mashed potato station with toppings such as sour cream and chives, bacon, cheddar cheese, mushroom or seafood sauce. Serve in martini glasses.

 Mac and Cheese Station

We’re not talking Kraft Dinner here. Have a chef cook up some gourmet mac and cheese and offer a variety of toppings to make it even more decadent.

 Children’s Food Station

Having more than a handful of kids at your wedding? Have a kid’s station with kids’ foods such as mini pizzas, French fries, veggies and dip, and chicken fingers.

 Soup Bar

Perfect for fall and winter weddings. Offer a variety of homemade soups, like seafood chowder, minestrone, lobster bisque, butternut squash soup, chicken gumbo, or asparagus soup. What about gazpacho, vichyssoise or borsht?

 Raw Seafood Bar

Oysters, sushi rolls, shrimp cocktail, crab salad, smoked salmon.

 Fish and Seafood Bar

Lobster, crab legs, scallops, salmon.

 Carving Station

Roast tenderloin of beef, prime rib, ham or rack of lamb. Turkey is a great option for fall and winter weddings.

 Dessert Station

You could have a lot of fun with this. Offer a wide variety of home made desserts or stick with a theme like chocolate.

 Ice Cream or Gelato Station

A variety of gourmet ice creams or gelato with lots of delicious toppings to choose from so guests can create their own sundaes.

 Espresso Bar

Espresso, gourmet coffees and teas – and don’t forget the hot chocolate for the kids. Have cinnamon, whipped cream, nutmeg, cane sugar and cream on hand.

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Have your wedding plans been affected by the recession? You are far from alone. This recent CNN article called Love in the Time of Recession profiles nine couples whose wedding plans are affected by the recession. It’s interesting to read about the various ways that couples cut costs.  This one is worth the read!

Read the full article here:  CNN article Love in the Time of Recession