For most brides, the Garden Wedding's siren call seems loudest in the spring and early
summer, when it sings of flirty colors that soar from subtle to subtler pastels.
Pink and green seem to draw brides like hummingbirds to honeysuckle. But you'll also see romantic combinations involving mint and lilac or plum and baby blue, to name just a few.
Popular themes? Butterflies and dragonflies, of course. And then there's herbs and lavender, gerbers and glowing lanterns. Super-chic brides clamor for bird & twig motifs, and lucky ones blessed with great geography and timing sometimes get to marry under the apple or cherry blossoms.
History & Tradition
Brides drawn to garden weddings often place great importance on personal and family histories. For these brides, "something old" is more than just a saying!
If this rings true, then even something as central as your engagement or wedding band is likely to have a history ... like a stone or setting that once belonged to a grandmother.
Some brides pin a piece of their mother's gown to their own, or weave a number of referrals to relatives throughout the day: a romantic photo table, for example, where grandparents and great-grandparents smile out from sepia photos. Or a bride might choose one of her mother's favorite flowers for her own bouquet ... or a grandmother's china pattern for the table.
Timeless Reminders
Photography's a wonderful way to express your love of times gone by, and many Garden brides have found great pleasure in vintage-style wedding snaps — either post-processed in black-and-white or sepia tones, or actually taken with antique equipment for a style you just can't duplicate with the usual editing techniques.
Belle in the Blooms
Here's what a garden bride might wear on her big day: an ivory gown touched with delicate floral embroidery. Or one graced with lace, ranging from an overlay to a luxurious all-Alençon style. Perhaps there'll be a petticoat with a touch of pink, or a pair of sandals with some sparkle at each toe.
As for jewelry, chandelier earrings are perfect. Or how about a gorgeous cameo for you and your girls alike. Don't flip for cameos? Pearls are always so comme il faut. And a sparkling brooch at the neckline or sash is the best of both worlds: vintage and all the rage.
Pink, of course, is popular for bridesmaids ... but yours might look even more glorious if each girl wore a shimmering silk dupioni gown in a slightly different pastel, mirroring all those subtle shades in your flowers.
As for the men? Ablack tux is never amiss, but the men might also don lighter dress when the wedding's outdoors ... such as gray or tan.
Simply Sweet: The Perfect Florals
Flowers, of course, are the super stars of any garden wedding (after the bride!). They should be abundant, but not overstyled. Think of Cupid's natural habitat and you're well on your way: roses that blush at the tips, fluffy pink peonies, and above all, ample amounts of the Garden theme's signature flower, Amaranthus (also poetically known as love-lies-bleeding).
Rose petals are another workhorse, toiling overtime for romance when you sprinkle them in bubbling fountains, pockets of tulle, or down the grassy aisle.
Want to add a little sparkle to your bouquet? Swarovski butterfly brooches and bouquet picks are sweet and traditional, whereas dragonfly pins are the height of chic.
And here's a sweet floral splurge: some brides have wowed their guests with a gossamer cake table overlay sewn with live loose orchids, or even an entire blanket of pavéed roses.
Adding in Atmosphere
Fortunately, setting the stage is easy when you've picked a venue ripe with such natural beauty. Prepping for a garden wedding can be as simple as hanging clusters of festive paper lanterns from the ceiling and lashing small trees or ivy and twinkle lights to the tent poles. Or if you're outdoors, try tabletop lanterns and votives hung from tree branches, plus plenty of ribbons to flutter in the breeze.
A Centerpiece That's a Snap
Brides tend to agonize when it comes to these decor decisions, but once again, simple is sure to charm. Birds are popular motifs, so you often see birdcages romanced with fillers like ivy or roses, surrounded by individual favor nests filled with Jordan almonds.
Rustic wooden bird houses are popular too. So are galvanized watering cans serving as vases. Individual potted plants are well-loved as well: they look marvelous clustered around a taller focal point, and double as sweet favors. Try growing African violets or savory herbs in terra-cotta pots or stylish metal pails. Or, for more whimsy, bright green wheat grass ... and plant a lollipop "daisy" in each.
Simple English-garden style urns or pedestals (rent these!) make wonderful bases for flowers. Surround with silver mint julep cups filled with a single peony: again, these double as favors your guests won't forget.
Dialing Up the Decor
Want more tips for instant, inexpensive romance? Cluster hot-pink parasols in the open grass wherever you need a burst of color. Place pink
silk fans at every setting, weaving in a small slip of paper calligraphed with your guest's name or a personal note of thanks.
Instead of an ordinary signature frame, have your guests sign die-cut flower cards and glue the individual blooms to the matte for a more whimsical look. Send your ringbearer down the aisle clutching an enchanting pillow made of sheet moss (ask your florist). And use satin ribbon in your colors to lend a personal touch to small yet meaningful details, like bottles of bubbles.
Serving Up Tiny Temptations
Be sure to pique the palette with treats that sing "spring": flirty petits fours, tea sandwiches, fruit kebabs, and tiered cupcakes topped with fondant butterflies.
Then, quench their thirst with Martha-esque rows of iced teas and fruity lemonades. Or for an extra-special treat, serve individual chilled Lorina lemonades in bright sherbert hues.
Rest assured: these treats will go down even easier with a string trio or a harpist to pluck sweet strains from the air.
Tried-and-True Ways to Say 'Thank You'
A few more popular garden wedding favor ideas: flower pins, with showy silk Gerber blooms; seed packets filled with sweet peas or wildflowers, or mini garden pails heaped with sweets and wrapped in tulle.
Terra-cotta pots can be made extraordinary, too: paint them to suit, then plant with some sweet flower or herb. Finally, use chalkboard paint to dash a "label" on the pot. Use colored chalk to add each guest's name, and tie off the pot with a ribbon.
Another idea for the crafty: paint beautiful flower patterns on wine glasses for a work of art your guests will savor for years.
Dish on Your Unique Spin
The garden theme comes in
so many different seasons and shapes, moods and colors. Share your plans and inventions below ... and upload some pics!
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I’m having my ceremony at Centennial Gardens and it’s beautiful….but I have a problem with it’s location. It’s next door to an amusment park and we are getting married during labor day weekend. the garden is fenced off and i was thinking about putting something up against the fence but i’m not sure what. Please help me!!!!!
Denise,
Can I see a pic of what it looks like? I dont wanna give you the wrong choice if it wont work!
Hi,
I am in desperate need of advice. We are planning on having my ceremony at the Botanical Gardens in August 2010, but since it can only accomodate a certain amount of guests, we cannot have the reception there. Does anyone have any ideas for the reception? There are indoor halls, but I’m not sure if we would have to carry the garden theme there as well or if it an be completely different? If anyone has any suggestions for either please help,
Cindy,
For the indoor halls, it would be beautiful to carry the garden theme into the venue. It doesnt have to be all out garden. It can be more like garden roses and greenery in centerpieces, etc. Or you can choose more streamlined. The choice is yours. The decor will need to compliment the setting though. Let me know which venue you choose for the reception and I will take a look, if you like.
im so lost in my wedding planning. i wanted a small wedding but my family and his family is not going to allow this. but no one wants to help pay? my hunny is from florida and im from new york. where do we have the wedding where everyone can c it?
please help
steph,
you have to do what is best for you as a couple. i would sit down with my fh and talk with him about what we want. if he is wanting a small wedding then that is what i would do. i would gently but firmly say, if noone can help then we are going to have the wedding “we” can afford. i hate to hear what dilemma your going through. this is a big reason many couples have a destination wedding.actually this isnt a bad idea. why not pick a spot that you both love so much and marry there? guests will have to pay for their own transportation and lodging of course, but it would settle a lot of disputes. i understand you not wanting to upset anyone but this is about what you two want. the best advice i can give is: dont take on more that you truly want in your heart, planning a wedding bigger than you desire can cause unnecessary pressure and stress. it is unfair that someone says you must plan a wedding and pay for it too. if you do want to proceed though, i would love to help, i hope to hear from you soon!!
ooo thanks for the idea we decided on a destination wedding we decided on the place we first met.. his family dont like it but o well lol
Hi
We’re getting married on the first day of spring, March 21, 2009 in my parent’s backyard which has city and ocean view! Being that it’s the first day of spring, I would like to do a spring theme. I think i will purchase the tiny butterfly baskets with seeds in them for the favors. any ideas in terms of decorations, to make it spring like?
salmira, hi,
* This Young House: Wedding Album
(one of personal faves!!lots of amazing ideas!! an amazing wedding!!focuses on the meaning of the wedding instead of the wedding itself I love that!!)
* 3 Inspiring Wedding Themes: a Garden Wedding
* Great Tips and Ideas for Planning a Wedding in Your Backyard
* Thoughtful Day: Our Wedding Details
( this is the one!! it is a backyard wedding with the ocean view!! add butterflies to this and you have a winner, i just loveeee it!! the yellow looks amazing!! and i would certainly stick with a 2 color scheme,(1 bold color 1 neutral, so it wont compete) the outdoors will not need much, nature has already decorated. look at the colors already in the garden and compliment. lavenders and shades of pinks are common as yellow. or consider a something blue wedding bm wear blue that suits them in knee length carrying garden bouquets. put guys in taupe and maybe flipflops (girls too). tiki torches, mason jar lanterns, ribbons with (shimmery butterflies a couple per ribbon) hanging from a large tree( to marry under) no pew markers have urns overflowing with garden flowers and greenery.
if you dont like marrying under tree, have a simple chuppah of billowy fabric set on bamboo poles. mimic billowy fabric onto tables and let puddle to ground(fabric can be very cheap) for utmost romance!! have a tea party reception with fingerfoods and punches, along with skewers( from the beach food) use silver centerpieces or better yet mixed matched pieces to add a vintage twist. borow from family and friends, everything you can. use galvanized tubs for a chic way to present sodas and bottled water. a designer said use one flower in one color and use it everywhere, co much simpler!
last but not least… for you i am thinking an oceanfront(so to speak) garden wedding.
* Sweet Bunches of Hydrangeas
write back if you need more help!!
I am getting married on 8/30. My wedding is going to be in a summer garden, but my dress is ivory with a Champaign ribbon around my waist, which would be far from garden colors, any suggestions for me. Am also trying to find table ideas and colors for the weddings.
I am getting married on 8/16. I have a like front house with a Mt. Rainier view. My reception will be held lakeside. I’m looking for a some casual/smart table ideas (table cloth/centerpieces) with some type of lake theme…..any ideas for me
Lauren, a few ideas for you! Grab a cup of coffee
Kay, I’m going top to bottom, L to R.
Starting w/ first row! The top 2 pics are from a shabby chic baby shower by Your Heart’s Desire party planning. Among the brilliant ideas here are PINK candelabras (spray paint your own). Awesome. Pic three, a brilliant party hat (made from wallpaper!) by DreamCreateShare. Not only is it a great decoration, I look at this and think of how lovely it would look holding all the bride’s ribbons from all the gifts. (Instead of, you know, her head.)
All of second row — a must-see shabchic garden party by Lucky Design Department. Everything about this is inspiring. Check out the invites, the lovely display of the fan favors, the containers for the flowers, the punch bowls, the lounge area. Perfect.
Third row! First pic, a one-of-a-kind shabchic card box by VintageArtiste. Second pic … and I admit it, this one’s for brides planning a shabby chic wedding! — a showstopper cake from Brides, which also features these heartbreakingly pretty linens.
Fourth and final row, a shabchic cupcake classic by Kylie Lambert. Anyone having a wedding should see everything Kylie does. Pic 2, a fascinating lace cake by Damselfly58. Pic 3, an interesting DIY sachet craft by SaveOnCrafts.
I hope this helps … personally, I also really love petal cones (I see these trimmed in seed ‘pearls’, hanging from chair backs and filled with fresh lavender, petals, or candy). Another cool idea is to collect those beautiful mismatched teacups from thrift stores and make them into candles for the event. Of course, I love those pink candelabras above. One last note is that big organza roses aren’t just shabchic, they’re very chic for 2008. If you’re crafty and can whip some up, you can tack them to table linens for a special display (like the bride’s table, or gift table), or from floating fabric panels (tree branches, porch rafters).
Hi!! Does anyone have any ideas for an outside bridal shower. I’ve looked online everywhere for ideas on shabby/chic slightly vintage bridal shower and haven’t found much. Our theme is shabby chic as the bride LOVES all things shabby chic. We have the place which is at a park with an outside picnic shelter.
The few ideas I have are as follows: For food only appetizers and such as mini quiche and mini sandwiches. For desserts there will be cup cake stands and cute stacked stands to put mini desserts on. Since it is going to be shabby chic I was thinking of having lace table clothes with flowers in vases and also candelabras. As for drinks I am thinking white wine spritzers and all different size wine glasses (to go with the shabby chic theme I want some things to be mis-matchy but in a appealing way).
The bride also likes Shabby Chic mixed with some vintage so I some how want to incorporate this as well. The shower will be for 25 max. I do not have a huge budget of money to spend on this so creative ideas would be much appreciated. I do however have another bm’s who is doing all the food and another who is doing all decorations and an aunt who offered to help so I guess we have a decent sized budget but we want to be able to stretch and have something really amazing, classy, and fun for the bride. Thank You all SO much for your help!
I need a pattern for a flower I had seen years ago from another wedding. I remember floral tape taped on green floral sticks and silk material that was shaped like a tulip and was filled with birdseed and tucked into place andwhen the bride and groom took off for the car you would hold on to the stick and shook the the tulip at them and the birdseed fell towards them. no messy ribbon or bags to pick up off the ground. ant ideas on where to find it.
Thanks, Blake! I appreciate it! GB
Hi GB, I believe that event actually took place in Germany. I wrote the photog to see if he could narrow it down for us … I’ll post if I hear back!
Hi!
I was on your website a while back, and I saved a picture that inspired me… (it named itself “garden-mon2-sm” when I saved it…) The picture was under the subtitle, “Simply Sweet: The Perfect Florals”, and was from the page entitled, “The Garden Theme Wedding”, which I found at this link: http://www.favorideas.com/wedding-themes/garden-floral-themes/the-garden-theme-wedding/
Anyway, I saved the picture because the image on the middle left, (the one showing an all-white reception table with a formal garden in the background) really inspired me as far helping me visualize what my “dream venue” for my wedding would be. I dream of having my wedding in a formal garden similar in landscaping and privacy to the one in the background of this picture. However, I have been looking, and I haven’t found any venue in my area that looks like it would be anything close to this picture.
I was just wondering if you might happen to know where that picture was taken, as in the name of the garden or its location… but I realize that the picture is probably just a stock photo, and that you probably don’t have any idea which garden it was taken in… I just thought I would find out for sure! Thanks so much!
Oh my goodness! you are a life saver! that is excatly what i have been looking for! thank you so much!
Meghan, how sweet! Good luck! These are not easy to find; I know of these:
wind chimes @Jean M
Maybe someone else knows some other sources … that is wonderful of you.
so my sister is getting married in april in a backyard wedding in northern california. She doesn’t have a lot to spend on the wedding so she said not to do wedding favors, but being her sister and her maid of honor, i thought it would be a great surprise to get the wedding favors for her. My sister is very classy and i thought silver wind chimes with ribbons in her colors would be perfect. except i don’t know where to find 50 mini chimes.
any help would be great!
thanks!
I ran across this dream garden wedding, with a soft Asian spin — everything was over-the-top perfect. The couple turned the setting into a fairyland.
Some highlights … that gorgeous butterfly cake, the table decor — don’t you love the strings of pearls, the abundance of petals, the strawberry-red water? Doesn’t that remind you of hummingbird feeders … so perfect for a garden feel?
I am going to have an old-world / garden themed wedding. All of the girls are going to be carrying feather fans accented with flowers - instead of the traditional bouquet. Their dresses are all pastel (different colours or shades) and the bouquets are garden flowers with emphasis on the colour in the gown worn by the bearer.
Hi! I am planning an outdoor garden wedding thats set for Aug. 16th 2008. I’m asking anyone for any advice for colors and decor..actually anything would be great! I love flowers and outdoors..but I’m trying not to go too froo-frooey with it, ya know? Any advice or ideas would be awesome!!
Outdoor wedding locations — contact your local historical society or city parks department. They should both be a good source of outdoor locations. Arrange for a tent as back up. Keep things simple and let the outdoors do the work as a back drop for you.