RISMEDIA, March 23, 2010—Spring is the perfect time for an outdoor wedding; however “peak season” also involves “peak prices” from many venues. One way to keep down costs is to use a location you already have, such as your own backyard.
If you are willing to dive in and get your hands a little dirty with some simple DIY projects, you can get a glamorous, high-style look with minimal effort.
Location
Plan landscaping early enough for perennials and annuals to establish and fill out. Choose plants and flowers according to the season your wedding will take place–spring, summer, fall–for the best presentation on your wedding day. Container gardening is also a great way to add “mobile” landscaping.
Make sure your lawn can stand up to the traffic of wedding guests–proper fertilization, grass height–to make sure your lawn doesn’t turn into a trampled ruin.
If you’re worried about the weather, for about half the price of a rental, purchase a gazebo or build your own pergola for the ceremony.
Décor
A few shabby chic ideas for sprucing up an outdoor wedding without breaking the bank:
-Use watering cans as bouquet holders for your bridal party for a country garden feel.
-Line a round galvanized tub with a plastic trash bag to protect the inside from paint. Use painters tape to design the tub and spray-paint the outside of the tub, and allow to dry. Peel off the painters tape, remove the liner, and fill with beverages and ice. Use the tins as centerpieces, filling some with sand and votives and some with filler flowers such as hydrangeas.
-Take a 24-inch window box and paint it metallic silver. Fill it with an arrangement of pink roses, hydrangea or Gerber daisies.
Favors
Leave your guests with something to remember your special day with personalized wedding favors such as spring planters, which are decorative, symbolic and functional.
Start with a terra cotta planter and select a design for the labels. Once you have your design stenciled on with pencil, paint over and let dry. Select Chalkboard paint which allows you to label pots with the names of your guests and they can double as table cards.
For more information, visit www.Lowes.com.
