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Fairytale Garden Weddings

Janet Williams — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:06:00 GMT

This time around I'm going to share some great ideas for having the ultimate garden wedding without breaking the bank. You can have a lot of fun with this, especially when you reach out to involve friends and family in putting it all together.

No Fairy Godmother Necessary

You can plan garden weddings in numerous different ways but before you get carried away, you have to find an appropriate garden. The wonderful thing about gardens is that they can be anything from a friend's beautiful yard, to a local botanical garden or park. Here locally, we don't have a botanical garden, but we do have some amazing public park settings and people get married there all season long.

When my brother and his wife married, they tied the knot under one of the Willow trees on my parent's river property. To make it festive but still keep it simple, we brought in long white-painted wood benches for seating (borrowed at no cost) which made for great contrast against all the green of the grass and trees.

Then we made an arch out of the Willow canopy by weaving flower garlands into the branches with ribbon. It was absolutely beautiful for a summer's afternoon wedding and the only expense for decor was in the flower garlands.

One of my favorite things about doing an outdoor wedding like this is how creative people can be. We once turned a dilapidated old rock pump house into a gorgeous backdrop for a friend's wedding.

Fairy Lights Equal Fairy Tale

If your wedding is set in the evening, or your party will stretch into night, lighting is a key ingredient in setting the stage. Lighting can turn even the most ordinary of backyards into a wonderland with some creative thinking.

Here are some great lighting ideas:

Twinkle Lights in trees and on shrubs (not just for Christmas)
Patio lights strung like they're lighting an intimate little Italian Bistro
Inexpensive craft store lanterns hung in the trees
Make your own lanterns with jelly jars, some pretty silver wire and a few glass beads
Luminaries along pathways
Solar lights along paths or spotlighting trees or an arbor

If you would like to add intimacy to your gathering, renting a tent or gazebo and stringing lights on it can be very effective. My favorite rental company here rents a gorgeous domed gazebo for only $30 per day. (Extremely reasonable.)

Putting it All Together

Okay, here's where the fun comes in...

Have your friends and family brainstorm ideas together and assign someone to write them all down. Then get together with your closest friends and decide which ideas would work best for the atmosphere you want to create.

If one of your friends is really creative and you trust her or him, put them in charge of the decorating, give them some people to help and work together to decide how to budget your alloted funds. This is a great way to achieve the results you want without having to micromanage and stress yourself out.

If you decide your decor will involve making something in large quantities, then get a group together and turn it into a party. Have some simple food and drinks there and before you know it, your project will be finished and you will have created some great memories with your friends. (This is also an awesome way to make your wedding favors, but we'll save that for another time.)

Remember to be creative and think outside the box. Have fun with it and before you know it your wedding will be as unique as you are. For more tips you can click on the "Theme Wedding" link in my recommended sites list, or if you have a question you would like to see answered here email me at petuniagirl.janet@gmail.com

Happy planning!

How to Budget Your Wedding (without ditching your Bridesmaids)

Janet Williams — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:54:00 GMT

Since we are all trying to find ways to make our money stretch a little farther these days, I thought I would use my insider information to help you out. Being in and around the wedding industry for as long as I have has taught me a few things about how to cut costs without compromising your special day.

With wedding season fast approaching, here are some great tips for saving money on your event facility even if you are planning at the last minute!

Event Facilities

Most of us at one time or another have envisioned our "perfect day", right? Whether it's a sweet summer garden affair with roses in full bloom, or an enchanted winter wonderland with fairy lights and snow...we all have our vision.

The most important thing you need to do when planning your wedding, aside from catching a groom, is find your location. Popular venues can be booked as far as 2 -3 years in advance, so the sooner you book your event facility the better. However, don't lose heart, because there are ways to make it work even if you have a short amount of time to plan.

Be Flexible

Here's the tip, so pay close attention! Facilities charge premium prices for premium times. Those times are Friday and Saturday nights. If you are willing though, to be flexible with the time or day of your wedding you can save a great deal.

Say you have 6 months to plan and have your heart set on a certain weekend. Though Friday and Saturday night will most likely be booked, your willingness to have a Sunday event or even a morning or afternoon wedding can literally cut your rate by a third or more.

Good Things to Know

Another way to save money is to make sure the venue includes tables, chairs, linens, dishes, flatware, etc. in the total price of the facility. Otherwise you may find yourself not only trying to coordinate with the event facility but a rental company as well.

If you are absolutely set on a facility that does not offer these things, then I suggest finding out if they coordinate this for you. If not, you may want to inquire about them possibly doing that for a small fee.

Not having to figure that all out with a rental company will not only save you time, but the headache of a balancing act between rentals and venue. Your event coordinator and staff at the event facility already have experience and know what you need. Take advantage of your resources and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Last But Not Least

Shop around when looking for venues. Take some time for touring, asking questions and taking notes. Then you can compare advantages and disadvantages to each before making your decision. Also, when you do finally decide, make sure you get everything you've agreed upon in writing! If it isn't in the contract, they aren't obligated. Be sure to be polite and understanding, they are running a business that hinges on you and want your day to be special too.

If you have questions you would like answered or tips to share with other Brides, send your email to petuniagirl.janet@gmail.com

Happy Planning!

Welcome

Janet Williams — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:01:53 GMT

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.