A garden can be one of the most beautiful spots for a wedding, but planning an outdoor affair in the garden can be challenging. With a garden wedding, timing is everything. If your planning cycle permits, consult with a gardener 12 to 18 months ahead of the wedding for information on plantings, recommendations on flowers, plants and trees.
Avoid doing any major reconstruction in the garden in the months leading up to the wedding. In the weeks leading up to the wedding, the garden should be in maintenance mode. Have trees professionally pruned or trimmed several weeks prior to the wedding. Make sure the garden is weeded and watered properly at all times. Also if the garden has a sprinkler system on a timer, make sure that the system is off during the wedding.
Flowering plants add a touch of elegance to the location, so be sure to select those plants that will be in bloom at the time the wedding is scheduled. If that’s unlikely, consider renting or buying greenery or flowering plants from a nursery.
Lighting in a garden setting is important, especially if the garden will pull double duty as the site of the reception. For an evening wedding, torches and lanterns can add both light and ambiance to the wedding site. For a daytime wedding, schedule the event to avoid having the sun beat down on the wedding party or guests. Also avoid times where the sun is likely to shine directly in the eyes of the bride and groom, the guests or the officiant.
Sound may not carry well in the garden, and with a large group assembled, hearing the ceremony may be difficult. Rent a good quality sound system and check it the day before the wedding. The bride and groom should be heard, as should the officiant. Speakers should be placed unobtrusively and in such a way as to avoid feedback.
Provide comfortable seating. Use plastic wherever possible. Metal chairs will heat up in the sun and may be too cold in crisp evening air. Additionally, they can make a substantial amount of noise when they’re moved during the ceremony.
Finally, make a backup plan that includes a nearby indoor site in case the weather isn’t cooperating. If you’ve rented greenery, it can be brought to the backup site to liven up the second-choice location.
Keywords: Reception Venues, Weddingblog, Wedding
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