Wedding Centerpieces Blog

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Outdoor weddings are romantic and scenic, but there’s a lot that can go wrong. Here’s your guide to planning a flummox-free, al fresco wedding.

Outdoor Weddings – Things to Consider:

Who will officiate? Some officiants will only perform ceremonies within a house of worship, so you’ll need to check with yours in advance before planning your ceremony outside.

Inform your guests – Guests need to know they’re attending an outdoor wedding so they can dress appropriately. It’s also a good idea to send weather information to out-of-town guests who may not be familiar with the climate.

Be prepared - Combat potential outdoor issues by having the following items on hand:

• Bug spray
• Water bottles
• Umbrellas
• Paper fans
• Sunscreen
• Cell phone
• Tissues/paper towels

Securing your Outdoor Wedding Location

For an outdoor wedding, the draw is the setting, so finding the right spot and coordinating the event around it is the most important task on your to-do list. Your setting options are as limitless as the great outdoors itself. But before getting your heart set on a specific spot, these are some key questions you’ll need to ask:

Is There Privacy? – keep in mind that if your location is a public space – or even near a public place (like a street or sidewalk), you may have to contend with onlookers. Try to reserve your space in a secluded spot to prevent unwanted guests or distractions.

What’s The Backup Plan? – obviously you’ll need a plan in case of inclement weather. If your location doesn’t have indoor facilities to accommodate your event should the skies open, you’ll need to rent a tent.

Can You Hear? – will guests have to compete with roaring waves, gusting winds, honking cars, or screaming children to hear your vows? You may need to rent a sound system and lavalier mics for the officiant and yourselves. Your band or DJ should be able to provide this for you.

Get even more advice on finding unique and scenic settings for outdoor weddings.

All in the Details – Ideas for Outdoor Weddings

Décor Elements

• Let the setting speak for itself – don’t compete with Mother Nature; rather, subtly enhance your background – whether a sandy beach, blooming garden, or thick forest – with a complementary color palette and décor elements.
• Natural elements – depending on your setting, natural items like shells, pinecones, berries, vines, leaves, and grasses provide great décor inspiration.

Flowers

• Blooms – an outdoor wedding calls for flowers that can brave all sorts of weather. Look for sturdier blooms like mums, alstromeria, calla lilies and sunflowers.
• Style – keep your containers and arrangements natural looking, as an intricately designed, elaborate pedestal centerpiece in a tall candelabra just doesn’t fit. Instead, use loose arrangements in urns, wooden boxes, crates, or pails.

Menu

• Keep it simple – even an elegant outdoor wedding calls for simpler fare that can withstand varied temperatures, so avoid items like mayonnaise or dishes which must be served cold. If yours is a casual affair, consider a traditional outdoor barbeque.
• Keep guests refreshed – especially if your outdoor wedding will take place in a warm environment. Have plenty of ice and water, along with teas or lemonades. Alcoholic beverages like sangria, mojitos, or mint juleps will also keep your guests refreshed.

Cake

• Make it last – wedding cakes can melt outside. Opt for fondant icing over buttercream, which doesn’t keep well in heat or humidity. Stay away from mousse and ice cream cakes.

Attire

• Dare to go casual – outdoor settings allow for breezy fabrics and shorter hemlines
• Do elegance right – you can still plan a formal dress code, just consider what’s best suited for sun, sand, or grass. Lace and organza are good outdoor fabric options.
• For the Girls

  - Silhouettes – you may want to forego the giant ball gown skirt. Instead, stick to a romantic empire or a-line. (same goes for your bridesmaids)

  - Hemlines – Keep your hemline clean from the grass or dirt. Consider going knee- or tea-length. Or raise a floor-length gown it to the ankles or at least a half inch higher than you would for an indoor wedding. Avoid a train.

  - Shoes – Opt for a wide, flat heal, as stilettos may sink into the ground.

• For the guys -

  - Unbuttoned affair – consider losing the tux and dressing the guys in khakis and sport jackets or crisp oxfords.

  - Neat in back – if they do wear a tux, get a vest with a full back – which will look better when their coats are off.

Get even more outdoor wedding ideas for every detail.

Cori Russell

Your wedding will be one of the most important days of your life. This is the time to that you will want to look and feel your best. Your wedding will reflect to others how you feel about the person to whom you are marrying, some of your tastes, style, and ideas. To get some help on the style of wedding gown that you are looking for the best-wedding-dress web site has a huge selection of gowns by different designers to view .

Your wedding gown is one of the most important aspects for your wedding and you will want to take your time . There is a huge selection of dresses to choose from. Start by narrowing down the best type of style first . Will a A-line flatter your body type or a Ball gown bridal gown. Remember the Mirror never lies. The best-wedding-dress- guide will help you with a lot of unanswered questions that you may have about your bridal gown and a whole lot more.

When you start looking start with the bridal magazines. The bridal magazines will give you some really great ideas of some of the awesome dresses that are out there. Now if money is a major concern you may want to check out a seamstress . These are some vogue patterns and patterns on the internet to purchase. The great thing about making your own style designer dress is that you can make it similar to some of the very expensive gowns for a fraction of the cost. Remember you will also want to take into consideration where you are going to purchase your material from for your gown. You can also price shop for fabrics on the internet. You may also find better bargains.

Some of the gowns that you see in the magazines have great detailing which makes the cost of the dress go up tremendously. If you have a good seamstress and start early enough where she can have enough time to do detailing you will have a stunning gown that looks perfect. The best thing is that you will be saving literally hundred of dollars.

Next when you do start shopping consider the time of year. Will you wedding be in the spring, winter ,summer or fall. You will also want to consider the type of wedding. Will you have a beach wedding. If you do have a beach wedding and it is a very hot time of the year a gown that is strpless may be a better choice. You can even choose from a short wedding dress to a tea length wedding gown. If your wedding is in the winter you will need a gown with sleeves and a gown of heaver weight material. You will need to also ask your self do you want a white gown or a ivory gown.

If you are on a budget you may want to consider eBay as a choice to get a gown. Remember there are a lot of places out there to find bargains . You will need to start early for this . If you order a gown online and it is not what your thought it would be you will need time to send it back. Always when you are ordering a gown on line order it a one size bigger. The reason for this is that it is easier to take a gown in then to let it out.

Linda White

Weddings are a significant occasion in one’s life. Couples invest a lot of time and money to make it an extraordinary and memorable event. Usually, brides and grooms get married in formal venues like churches and reception halls but nowadays they are trying out something new like planning it on beaches or resorts.

Getting married on a beach at sunset or sunrise will surely be a spectacular event. Unlike the usual traditional wedding, this will be a more casual way of getting hitched. This sounds like an exciting and fun idea but keep in mind that this type of wedding can also pose a lot of problems. Here are a few tips to ensure your beach wedding will run smoothly as possible.

• The most important factor to consider when planning a beach wedding is the weather. Do not just simply rely on nature to go your way. Be sure to have an alternative or back up plan in the possibility of rain and other weather conditions. Inform the set up to your guests so they will have an idea in case of bad weather.

• In picking a location, do some research first to be able to apply for the necessary permits if you are setting up to have a big celebration.

• After obtaining the consent, also ask for information on specific rules on the beach so you can plan your wedding preparations accordingly. You can also inquire if you can light up candles on the beach.

• The wedding videography will be a lot less formal than the traditional wedding. To make sure that everything you expect to see in your wedding video will be captured, provide the videographer with a checklist of important shots.

• It is usually a bit breezy on the beach so it is much better to pick a location near a cove to avoid strong winds. It is advisable to use decorations that may not likely be blown away by the wind.

• Remember to check the tide tables on your wedding day so you will not be surprised by high tides.

• Have an area that is out of the sun if you are planning to have your wedding during the day. These will prevent heatstroke especially for the elderly and children.

• Do not stage your wedding in midday if the beach is a public location. You certainly would not want to see unfamiliar faces in your wedding photographs later on. Early morning or near sunset is the ideal time to hold the ceremony.

• Select music that will work well with the sound of the environment. Also consider arranging a good sound system to create sweet musical notes.

• Do not forget to put flooring under the chairs and tables of the guests. It may sink in the sand as they sit down and eat supper. Flooring comes in a variety of materials from parquet to carpeted which can be very affordable.

• Use microphones during the ceremony so you will be heard by all of your guests. Although a beach is often a quiet place, you may possibly contend with the sound of seagulls, children playing and the sound of the surf as you recite your vows.

Like a typical wedding, a lot of work and time is involved in planning a beach wedding like looking for a wedding photography studio or ordering your gown. To make it easier you should consider having a ceremony that includes only a few friends and family and moving the whole entourage in an indoor reception after. There also a lot of creative ideas you can add to the reception location to create a romantic beach atmosphere without actually holding the wedding on the beach. Either way, a beach themed wedding can be dreamy and unforgettable for you and your guests. By planning ahead and preparing for possible problems, you can have a beautiful wedding.

Juhlin Youlein

So the day you have always dreamed of as a little girl is now a reality! Your (Best Friend, Soul Mate), or person that makes you feel whole has proposed. You feel like you are on top of the world and you shall. You wonder where you start. If I may suggest the top 10 ways to help your “Big Day” comes true with little or no problems.

1.  You and your  fiancé need to announce your engagement. This can be as simple as verbally telling all your family and friends or getting very creative. Some examples would be to make engagement announcement cards on your computer, or start a web page to keep your family and friends on top of the current plans on planning your wedding day
2.  You and your significant other will have to agree on a budget you are willing to spend for your special event. This will be one of the biggest financial costs you will encore together. Remember to stick to your budget,  you may want to allow for a 2% adjustment either way for any unexpected expense. What is most important the both of you want for your wedding day? It could be the cost for the hall… or the florist, In any event you get the point. Most Brides and Grooms will receive back most of the money spent on the cost of the wedding from the gifts and or money received at the reception.
3.  Chose your wedding date. I would advice to check with your clergy to find out  what available dates they may have open then book your Wedding and reception hall around that date. It’s also customary to give the Clergy performing your ceremony a donation for his or her services. Most of the churches and reception halls are normally booked a year in advance, so pre planning is the key to an eventful wedding day. Then either make your wedding invitations on your computer or check the prices at your local print shop, now days you can even go to an office supply store and they’ll offer this service at a low cost.
4. Chose your Best Man, Groomsmen, Maid of Honor and your Bridesmaids. Generally these are your closest friends and family in your life,  the ones you can confide in for anything. Now the question how many do you want to be in your Bridal party? The average amount is 5 of each. Also consider the financial obligations that your wedding party will have for the cost of the formal wear they have to purchase. Remember this is a time to celebrate the union of your love and commitment to each other for the rest of your life, many couples have many other finical obligations and the cost of the formal wear could put a burden on their budget.
5.   What are your colors and the theme of your wedding do your have in mind?  Maybe a FairyTale Wedding with a carriage drawn by white horses. Then there’s a Beach Wedding with the elegance and simplicity that will be a lasting memory. What ever your preference may be – remember –  It’s Your Day!
6.   Book your Hall… You will general have to put down a minimum deposit that will be non refund if you cancel your date. I would suggest asking the reception hall owner or manager  what their policies are, and get that in writing. Also a lot of halls now days require you to use their catering service which can range from $28.00 a plate and up. It can get quite expensive if you have a many guests that will be attending your wedding reception. You will also have to consider if you want to serve alcohol. Most halls have open bars that will charge you for what the use. Unlike the remaining food that you can take home you can not take home the remaining open bottles of alcohol.
7.  Contact your florist or do the floral arrangements yourself with the help of friends and family. Your local craft store is the closest to wholesale you can get and have many how to ideas to make your Flower Bouquets, Boutonnières and center pieces for the bride and groom table and also the reception tables. You can use votive glasses with cracked ice (colored) if you prefer with a floating candle. Be advised to check with the hall some have policies of no open flames. In that event you can get flickering candles at the craft store that use batteries which also make great presentation, or if you prefer, use silk flowers and vases.
8.  When choosing a caterer,  get references and get written quotes so you can get the best and lowest price. You will need to know what you want on your serving menu. Most caterers offer (2) two different types of meat, vegetables and potatoes , salad, bread , and of course dessert. Remember you also have a Wedding Cake for dessert too. I would inquire about the left over food, most caters will package what is left in containers for you to take home.
9.  What type of music for your wedding guest entertainment? I would recommend a DJ. Than you have more control of the music being played. I would suggest for the first 2-3 hours of the reception a softer side of music… as they are settling in and eating dinner. Remember a large amount of your guest may be middle aged and do not relate well to new modern music. Also, tell your DJ what you consider appropriate music for your event. 
10.   Last but not least…… The Wedding Cake, the Photographer, and the Limousine. Your local Baker is a good start, or ask around,  many  women do cake decoration for a much lower dollar amount and you maybe surprised on how well the presentation and of course the taste is . Ask to see pictures of their work. Ask how much, most bakers will charge per cake slice. The photographer  is truly one of the most important details of all the three. This will be your memories for the rest of your lives… tell the photographer what type of pictures you expect to have. Examples:  Parents of the Bride and Groom. The Grandparents, Wedding Ceremony, Cutting of the cake, The Dollar dance, etc. These are just some of the choices for great photos.  You may want to hire a Limousine to drive the bride, groom and bridal party after your Wedding vows or just use family and friends. I want you to remember what you want to spend your budget on. One more thing it’s a nice jester to invite the event planners of your wedding to the dinner at the reception.

The only advice other than what I have described to you would be… It’s not all about the wedding day, but more about sharing one of the most important days of your life with your family and friends! So remember to enjoy the whole journey of planning and the actual event of your special day adn into wedding bliss.

Michael & Kimberly