- Many states and cities have public parks and gardens that they make available for private events for a nominal fee. This is especially a good idea if you are looking for a ceremony-only location. With costs usually under $100, couples can choose a park or garden location that offers beautiful scenery and a wonderful backdrop for the ceremony and photographs. You can create an "altar-like" area in the front for your vows by asking your florist to create an arch of branches rather than flowers or the traditional white wooden archways.
- If you have the opportunity to utilize private gardens for your ceremony, one way to welcome guests to the wedding area would be to have a table near the entrance with three large spout-pitchers on it. One pitcher could be water, the other can be lemonade and the final pitcher could be mimosas or alcoholic punch. Be sure to mark what each drink is and specify if alcohol is included. Additionally, if the weather tends to be warm, consider having a paper fan on each seat. This fan can also double as a ceremony program if you have the information printed on it. Another idea for personalizing your garden wedding is to match your individual bouquets and boutonnieres to those found in the garden. This will make for beautiful photographs and show a unifying color scheme for your wedding.
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For those looking to continue the wedding festivities outdoor for your reception, consider renting a canopy-style tent with walls. These tents have a higher roof and are sturdier for larger events with walls that can be removed or added depending on the weather conditions. Additionally, renting a dance floor, rather than dancing on the grass, is a cost that many guests appreciate. High heels and moist soil do not go together! To save money on your outdoor reception, consider renting only sound speakers rather than a full DJ package. You can then make four hours of mix dance music on an MP3 player and plug it in without having the cost of a disk jockey rental.
Whether you choose a garden ceremony, reception or both, there are many ways to add your own style and personalization to your wedding. Finding a location that is naturally beautiful will not only save you time and money, it will also make for stunning photographs of a wedding that you will never forget.
