With the vaccine rollout picking up speed in the UK, we now have hope that weddings in some capacity will be allowed to go ahead this summer. Many couples who had planned to marry this summer have already postponed until next summer, but that is not for everyone. The good news is that since this pandemic took over, the quintessentially British summer garden wedding has become increasingly more popular.
Last year’s intimate garden weddings were just as glamorous as many of the larger more traditional weddings, they just had a slightly more relaxed feel to them. The choice of whether or not you should postpone or go ahead and have an intimate garden wedding this summer is entirely personal. Hopefully this blog will give you some inspiration if you do decide to go ahead and have a magical midsummer wedding this year.
A Magical Oasis of Summer Beauty
In recent years, the UK has been blessed with warm summers and this has made garden parties ever more popular. For their wedding, a lot of couples want a location which is unique and also beautiful and this is where private gardens have come into their own. A private garden is secluded, beautiful and will undoubtedly make for the most stunning photographs.
Another reason why choosing to have your nuptials at home in your garden is magical is because it will likely have a lot of sentimental value to you. Whether it is the garden which you have fond memories playing hide and seek in as a child or whether it is special because it belongs to you or someone close to you, it will be a deeply personal wedding.
Everyone knows that summer is the most wonderful time for stunning colourful flowers such as roses, peonies and hydrangeas to name but a few, but by choosing to have your wedding in your garden, you will likely have a unique variety of stunning florals to choose from. You can then choose to match any additional floral displays to the theme already in the garden or you could add some other beautiful varieties.
Either way, flowers can be a large part of any wedding budget and by getting married surrounded by a host of natural beauty which is already there, then you will be saving a pretty penny when it comes to buying floral arrangements! Additionally, choosing the backdrop for your ceremony is always difficult and what could be more stunning than saying I do in front of a huge oak tree or underneath the delicate branches of a weeping willow tree? Ultimately, you can tie in the underlying floral theme to every aspect of your wedding day, from the floral lace appliques on your wedding dress to the decorative fondant icing flowers on the wedding cake and so much more.
More Blogs from optimum Weddings...
- Unique Wedding Traditions across the World
- Little Bubbly Truck for Weddings Blog
- A Guest Blog with One of Our Beautiful Marbella Bride’s to Be…
- Wedding Fashion Fever
- Wedding Etiquette – Your Questions Answered!
It’s All in the Detail
There are so many additional touches which you can include to make your garden wedding that bit more special. If you are lusting after something which is reminiscent of a scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream then adding some draped fairy lights between the trees and foliage will ensure that the magical vibe continues as the sun goes down. You could also use tall bamboo garden torches to act as an entrance to your event if it is in the evening or opt for some rustic hanging lanterns. Additionally, there are no set rules with seating if it is in a garden and so you could add a relaxed picnic theme to the day with blankets and luxurious piles of soft decorative cushions if that is your style!
Taking into consideration the smaller number of guests then you could do away with the traditional idea of catering and have something more modern such as a food truck which would give off a festival vibe and make your day truly unique. If tradition is more up your street then wooden tables with beautiful flower displays and family style dining would create an intimate setting. We feel it would be wrong not to remind you that one of the best parts of summer are the wonderful garden BBQ’s and what better way to kick back and relax than to have a delectable BBQ feast as your main dining option.
Are You Newly engaged? Check out our new eBook, a guide to planning the perfect wedding, written by Dyana Dessar, award winning Destination Wedding Planner.
Buy it here…
Whilst summer garden weddings are truly beautiful it is always worth remembering that in the UK, the weather can be somewhat unpredictable. A good backup option would be to book a marquee so that you can relax in the knowledge that your wedding day can go ahead come rain or shine. This is also a great option if you want to look into hiring some outdoor heaters to keep your guests protected against the chilly night air.
It goes without saying that a wedding would not be a wedding without music and fortunately there are multiple options available to you. Most of the big showbands have smaller groups of select musicians and singers who play at ceremonies and cocktail parties and it can be a wonderful immersive experience as the musicians make their way around the party. This is a great way of adding a more laid back and less regimented feel to your musical entertainment.
Matching You Dress to the Occasion
You may have already purchased your wedding dress and it might be perfect for your new reimagined wedding day. However, if it was bought with a formal winter wedding in London in mind then you still have options! A lot of dress boutiques will work with you to customise your dress should you want to. Taking out layers of tulle or simply adding some ethereal style lace to it might not be as complicated as you think.
If you are sure that you do not want your original dress then you can speak directly to your dress providers to see if they can help you sell it or if they might want to buy it off you. Alternatively, there are plenty of websites which will act as a platform for you to sell it on.
Traditionally, dresses need to be ordered anywhere from nine to twelve months in advance of your wedding day. However, you don’t need to worry if you have only just decided to change your wedding plans as you have “off the rack” dresses. Most dress shops will have a selection of dresses which are available in a small selection of sizes which you can buy and have altered to fit you, thus eliminating any fears of you not getting your dress in time!
Safety First
It goes without saying that whilst one of the biggest advantages of having a garden wedding is the beauty, it is also practical for the time in which we are living. We are hopeful that small intimate weddings will be allowed in some form during this coming summer, but social distancing and limited numbers will almost certainly still be in place.
By having your wedding outside you are keeping your guests safe, which they will thank you for! It also means that should the guidelines change from one week to the next, you will not have to worry about your indoor venue suddenly having to be being cancelled. It really is not difficult to make an outdoor wedding look positively “normal” and beautiful even with the chairs spaced apart as it works well with the environment and setting. You can even add some unique touches to make it feel like any other wedding, such as rustic handmade signs to set the scene.
Embracing the Now
If you have chosen to go ahead and get married this year and, in the process downscale your wedding, then embrace it. These are unprecedented times and there is no set manual on what you should do or how you should do it. You can plan any wedding which complies with the relevant guidelines at the time, and it will be both beautiful and unique to you.
Changing your wedding in every sense of the word might seem daunting and overwhelming but it is completely possible. If you have a wedding planner then they will be able to organise all of this for you very easily and if not then at optimum weddings we are always happy to offer you a one-off consultation via our service optimum support, which will help to get your plans off the ground. Failing that then you can always head to the optimum weddings website or Amazon and download our trustworthy e-book to help you plan every aspect of your re-imagined wedding on your own. One way or another, you will have the most beautiful day because love cannot be cancelled.
Leave a Reply