Sites and Settings

The Garden Party

In addition to all the love in the air, a garden wedding provides cool breezes, fragrant flowers and a great relaxed vibe.

Put your friends and family in the mood for a spring fling with visions of pastel blossoms, the smell of fresh green grass, soft cotton sundresses and fresh berries.

Flowers, flowers and more flowers. You've got an ample supply of choices. Anything from hydrangea, lilacs, roses, peonies, tulips, daffodils and forsythia to freesia, pansies, poppies and wisteria goes. Buy a gardening book that's full of good photos, and choose your favorites.

The smell of a fresh cut lawn. White picket containers filled with fresh grasses are unusual, fragrant and fun centerpieces. Maybe add some mini gardening tools for a laugh. Or you can use small potted plants, and let your guests take them home as favors.

Everyone goes wild for wildflowers. If you love running barefoot through a field of wildflowers, this is the time to cut loose. Tie bouquets of daisies, larkspur and Queen Anne's lace with gingham, printed cotton, or raffia, a country-esque paperlike material, for your bridesmaids. Use gingham napkins or raffia chair and napkin ties. And for centerpieces, fill jars with loose wildflower arrangements.

Berries at the bottom. Add a little color to white wine or champagne by dropping fresh strawberries and raspberries in the bottom of the glass.

Dress 'em simple. Your bridesmaids and flower girls will look right at home in the garden wearing airy sundresses. And they'll appreciate you for choosing something they can wear through the summer.

Shine a little light. Garden weddings are beautiful evening affairs. The key to success is candles-lots and lots of candles. For centerpieces try pillars surrounded by floral wreaths, floating candles and blossoms in clear glass bowls or wire votive candle trees. Candle-filled jars cast a nice glow hanging from trees and fences and sitting along walkways.