Outsite Wedding

[rainbowtreat]

I am planning an outside wedding. The ceremony and the reception are being held outside at my sisters place in Maine. She has a good size yard and I know I will need to rent a tent and some table but besides that I am going crazy trying to think about how to decorate. I have asked my sister to send me pictures of the yard and deck so I can try and get an idea but I am at a loss here. I know it is still 8 1/2 months away but I feel if I don't start planning it all now I am going to go insane. And also this is my second wedding and I want to keep it small. How do I cut down the guest list. My real dad has 5 sisters and they were all at my first wedding ( exept one ) and now that this one is closer to them I know they will all show up again. It is going to be more of a big party then a formal thing. It's going to be a pot luck kind of thing. Asking every one to contribute by bringing a dish. I just need some ideas thrown at me so I can get my mind going straight here. I also have a couple of ideas instead of the normal guest book. Either a big picture frame every one can sign or we give them all a square of material to sign and wtire a message on and have them put together into a blanket for a nice keepsake. What do you all think and do you have any more neat ideas.


Thanks,
Rainbowtreat

[CarlosHoney]

White Christmas lights, paper lanterns, fake flowers and greens, and a big awning would be nice. Candles, and maybe even some potted plants. You can always have painted terra cotta pots (which aren't terribly expensive) with wildflowers in them. Just plant the seeds to see how long they take to bloom, then do a whole bunch in enough time to bloom and look great.

Wrap the fake flowers and greenery (vines are always pretty) around the poles of the tent/awning and put the flowers at the top. Some nice candles here and there, it will be really special!

[bnd94]

I am planning an outdoor reception too. Mine will be in the evening under a big tent in a hay field. So I am only going to decorate under the tent. Is your reception at night? If it is I have tons of pictures I could share with you for ideas.

[bnd94]

I am going to use a big platter for my guest to sign. That way it is something I will be able to read everytime I use it. When I am not using it I can look at it in my china hutch. I saw this and thought it was such a neat idea. I like the picture frame too!

[As You Wish]

A nice way to decorate both the vertical and horizontal space in the outdoors is to hang flower baskets from those stakes that have hooks on them- they are usually wrought iron- sorry I don’t know what they are called. They could be placed randomly around the space and can add both color and a nice smell.

[bnd94]

I think they are called shepherd's hooks. You could use those podium stand things too. I don't know exactly what they are called. You can usually find them in the craft section. I think they are made of plaster or something. Also another thing you could use is if you have any plant stands in your house or have friends that have some and would let you borrow them for the day. You could check with your local rental place too.

[CarlosHoney]

Also, if there are trees, just get some of those hanging candle lanterns to add a pretty glow.

[timandkymmi]

I am totally following you about it being your second wedding and you want it to be a little more intimate. This is what we did... we sat down with our parents and figured out which of their family members absolutely need to be invited, and covered the family first. Then we decided on our CLOSEST friends. Everyone else gets an announcement instead of an invitation. I know it's tough... you want to invite everyone, but then it's not a special event... it's a party. Good Luck and happy planning!

[usahgrad]

My biggest tip: Don't forget to have an alternate site picked and pick decorations that will be flexible if need be. My wedding will be outside in front of the place my reception's at, so worse comes to worse, we can head inside for the ceremony as well. But I know when I first started planning the idea of rain or cold weather was not anywhere near my mind. Someone pointed it out to me. I was all about getting married outside I forgot there WAS weather. lol

[CindySue]

Me too, usahgrad. When we picked the original site out, the weather never crossed my mind and a later when I did think about I realized there wasnt a place to head for cover should the weather turn bad.
We are still trying to finalized the actual place, but we are having the reception at our new home, so when the date gets closer and the weather doesnt seem to want to cooperate, we have a back up plan.

[rainbowtreat]

We are haing it outsie my sisters house so I am thinking with it being a small thing that we can move it into the house. She has a big open area where the computer and th ekids toys are, almost like two rooms opened to one. And there are glass doors that open up into her living room and there are two door ways into the kitchen. so I am thinking we could make it work if we have to. Thanks for the ideas all. I am still trying to piece it all together. I have thought in my head but it is hard to picture them unless I can see it for real. This is going to be a party of family and our closest friends. It is kinda of a big wedding party for such a small guest list. But the one thing i am lookign forward to more then anything ( except for the marry my baby part lol ) is to have all my best friends in the same place with me at once. I have my sister in Maine, a friend in Australia, my dearest most special girl friend in Ohio, and the other three her ein New Hampshire with me but one lives up north and the others are around close to me but with life and kids and work sometmes it is hard to get together. So for me i wanted them all in the wedding and getting to spend the night before and the day of getting ready with all of them is going to be very special to me. I have to say thank god i have a sister. I could not be able to choose one of my friends to be my maid of honor. If any one wants to share any ideas please let me know. I could use all the ideas you have.

My baby found something neat we might do. You know how most weddings have the little bags of mints on the tables? Well I think we are going to do M&M'S. We found a site that you can pick two colors and on one put our names and on the other put the date. Seeing we are keeping this as cimple and as cheap s possible this takes the candy thign and the thing with our names on it and puts them together. And it just fits us any ways.

Rainbowtreat

[CindySue]

What is the website for the M&M's? This sounds really cute and I would like to check into it.
Thanks.

[CarlosHoney]

That does sound cute!! I might have to get some of those when my baby is born. Better than cigars or chocolate bars.

[rainbowtreat]

here is the site you all asked for have fun with it i know i did


http://shop2.mms.com/home/index.asp

[bnd94]

Check out this site
http://www.nzweddingplanner.co.nz/bridal_tips/backyardweddings.htm

I am still looking for some pictures for you to hopefully give you some more ideas

[bnd94]

I have a few questions for you Rainbowtreat.
Is your wedding in the daytime or evening?
Does your sister have an arch or any structures in her backyard?
Is there any flower beds?

[rainbowtreat]

Well I haven't actually seen any pictures of what I want. I am not sure what it is I want. I am just playing with ideas in my head at the moment. If you want my e-mail addy let me know and we can exchange ideas.

Rainbowtreat

[bnd94]

We can always exchange ideas here that way the other girls can chime in. Together I am sure we could help ya :D

[CindySue]

See I like the arch idea, but to buy one is about the same as to rent one, so Im looking for a cheap garden arch and after my cremony, Im going to use it in my garden.
I have found pics of just about everything i like exept the idea I have about how I want to decorate my arch and I have seen tons of pics of them.

[LaceyinPgh]

See I like the arch idea, but to buy one is about the same as to rent one, so Im looking for a cheap garden arch and after my cremony, Im going to use it in my garden.
I have found pics of just about everything i like exept the idea I have about how I want to decorate my arch and I have seen tons of pics of them.

Check garden supply and hardware stores. All of their spring an dsummer stuff should be on clearance to make room for winter and Christmas items. Ask for them to look in the storage room too. It is cheaper for them to dig it out of storage than to keep it there and put it out next spring.

[rainbowtreat]

My wedding is going to be around 4:00 to allow people travel. We are getting married in my home town 7 hours away. And it gives them Sunday to travel back home. Not many people who will be there ataully live there but no matter where I have it they all have to travel. nicholas' family is 13 hours away from as so they have to fly in nay way so it is jsut easier to do it at home. My mom and my sister are there so they help me out seeing I am down here.

My sister does not have an arch but she was talking about this gives her a good reason to build one. She has been wanting one but has been putting it off. I will have to talk to her about that.

And she does not have any flower beds. Actaully the yard is right at the vorner of 2 streets. And the tree I wanted to get married under is right on the edge of one of them. I was thinking of hanging a big piece of material behing the tree ( like from the corner of the house and maybe from a metal or wooden post ) to hide the street and the house across the street. Not shure how I would do that either. But they are ideas and things I need to deal with.

I am not sure if I need a tent or just table. Becaue like I said in another post, if it rains her house should fit us jsut fine. I was thinkign if i could get a hold of enough picnic table that that was work to. Only having about 50 to 60 people if that many show up. And it is a pot luck. SO more of a gathering of friends and family then a reception. But still with the cake and dances and what not.

Any and all ideas are welcomed.

Rainbowtreat

[bnd94]

I think you can rent tarps to hide the street, although I don't know if it is cheaper to buy one of these or rent it.

It may be nice to have a tent to sheild you from the sun too and not just the rain. 50 - 60 people would be a tight fit in the house wouldn't it. I mean to put everyone in one room for a meal and everything?

Picnic tables would work perfect and tie in nice with a backyard wedding.

[rainbowtreat]

I would have to see how many of my sisters friends have picnic tables I could borrow. And then maybe just rent a couple of bigger tables. I dont know it is all up in the air at the moment. I dont remember my first being this difficult to plan. But this is so special to me. I am marrying my best friend. So no matter how or where or when it will mean the world to me to be able to call him my husband.

Rainbowtreat