How to Plan a Garden Wedding

You love your fiancé and you love your garden, so what could be better than combining your two loves in a garden wedding. As long as neither of you suffers from allergies and you have a suitable green space, planning a garden wedding could be perfect for you.

Instructions

Preparing for the Big Day

1. Pick a day. You know when your garden is usually at its peak. Choose your wedding day to correspond with that lovely time of the summer.

2. Find a preacher or justice of the peace to do the honors. You will need to make sure your big day fits his schedule, too.

3. Draw up a guest list. The number of wedding guests you can invite will depend on the size of your garden. Measure the area where you will seat your guests, allow two square feet for each folding chair, do the math and invite the appropriate number of guests.

4. Mail the invitations. Be sure to let your guests know that you are planning a garden wedding. This lets them find appropriate wedding clothes.

5. Plan the post-ceremony menu. You can choose to have simple hors d'oeuvres, a barbecue or more formal meal for your guests. You may want to rent tables if you opt for a more elaborate meal.

Preparing Your Garden

1. Plant extra flowers. Whether you plant new flowerbeds near the place you will say your vows or in the backyard to use for bouquets and cut flowers, you cannot have too many flowers for a garden wedding.

2. Add an archway. A small trellis or canopy could make a beautiful place for your ceremony. Adding this to your yard early in the growing season will allow you to grow vines or climbing flowers on the structure.

3. Splurge on potted plants. Add colorful flowers in decorative containers wherever there is a bare spot in your yard. These will bring beauty and wonderful scents to your garden wedding.

4. Mow the grass, deadhead the flowers and pull any last weeds two days in advance. This will ensure your garden is lovely on your wedding day.

5. Rent a tent. Although you will hope for a beautiful day, make sure you have access to a tent or other backup site in case the day turns wet or cold.