Colorful garden flowers and blooming shrubbery as well as flowering trees can provide a lovely natural backdrop for a marriage ceremony or wedding. Although an attractive yard or landscape offers a unique space for an outdoor wedding, it is unreasonable (from the gardener’s perspective) to expect every flower to be in bloom for the big day. Between the variability of weather trends each year and the vagaries of the weather on any given day – it is sadly just not realistic to expect a garden to be picture perfect and filled with pristine blossoms on a specific given date, no matter how skilled the gardener and how hopeful the bride. Here are some tips to assure a lovely, flower filled garden wedding regardless of these limitations.
How to Have Perfect Flowers No Matter the Weather
Rather than worry about when the blue delphiniums or pale pink peonies or yellow roses will be fully open (and not have been flattened by a rain storm or killed off by drought or nipped by untimely frost) it is best to plan ahead and order a generous supply of flowers for the wedding day. If you expect to supplement the garden flowers with additional blooms purchased specifically for the event you will avoid disappointment and cut way down on wedding day stress.
When you shop for these extra flowers, consider both cut flowers and container grown flowers for your wedding. Consult your florist and local retail nursery about what would be available and most reliably in bloom at that time of year – and what would complement your colors and the setting and suit your theme and budget. Display the purchased flowers in traditional or improvised vases, plant them in decorative containers, or plant them in the garden early on the wedding day if you have ample help available.
Walking Down the Aisle in a Garden Setting
The ceremony and seating areas need firm, dry footing regardless of the weather. The aisle should be wide enough to accommodate two walking side by side and must provide a smooth walking surface. This might be the proverbial garden path of clipped turf grass, gravel, or a hardscape walkway such as brick or stone. (Avoid fresh mulch as it may invite cats.) Or, you might lay out a traditional white carpet, or even some temporary decking. Think about what kind of shoes the bride and groom and guests will be wearing when you select the aisle material.
The Focal Point: Arch, Pergola, Gazebo, Trellis or Arbor
Most outdoor settings are enhanced by having an overhead structure to serve as a focal point, either to walk through or stand beneath during the ceremony. This structure could be built of rustic hand hewn wood, crisp white trellis, or ornate Victorian style ironwork as appropriate to complement the garden’s style. Or, drape it in flowering vines or roses or simply wrap with ribbon or swags of color coordinated fabric. Use an existing piece, build a temporary one, or rent one if need be.
The Garden Path: Light the Way for Romance and Safety
For an evening wedding, be sure to include twinkling votives or tea lights, lanterns, or strings of small sparkly lights for their sheer magical effect. Combine these with basic utility lighting to illuminate walkways, steps, and other potential night time safety hazards.
Elaborate on the Garden Motif
Depending on the garden, you might want to accentuate a particular garden motif such as a specific flower (think daisies, sweet peas, roses) or a favorite symbol of nature such as birds, bumblebees, or butterflies. Carry through with your theme on invitations, place cards, favors, table settings and linens, and so on.
Relax and Enjoy the Garden Wedding of Your Dreams
With careful planning and a little extra help from the florist or nurseryman, your garden wedding ceremony is sure to be a vision of perfection, filled with the fragrant flowers in full bloom just as pictured in every bride’s dreams. All the best on your big day!
more FLOWER GARDENS ARTICLES and FLOWER GARDENS BLOGS Copyright January 9 2008 Barbara Martin All Rights Reserved
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