An Informal Wedding Party
There's nothing more intimate than an at-home wedding with family and close friends. If it's a summer wedding an outdoor party is relaxing for everyone. Decorations can be less formal, taking advantage of the natural setting.
Pots Of Pink
Dress up clay pots with sponge painting in white over the red clay and fill with lots of pink geraniums and impatiens in clay pots. Trim the rim of each pot with lacy, doily shelf trim to create a delicate finishing touch. Add Queen Anne's Lace to the pots at the last minute.
Centerpieces
Arrange a country basket filled with Queen Anne's Lace for the buffet table. It's so bride-like and abundantly available. Or, cover pots of miniature topiaries with a pretty floral fabric to match the tablecloths.
Table covers
Choose a fabric or two corresponding fabrics to create the theme for your party and use it everywhere. Pink roses are always a favorite and Laura Ashley's Rose Trellis pattern is a classic in pink and white. Combine this with their pink and white stripe or overall rosebud print.
Table covers are easy to make. Cover seat cushions on outdoor furniture and cut strips to tie fat bows on outdoor chairs to dress them up for the occasion.
Umbrellas
If you have umbrella tables on the patio or lawn, make fabric covers with scalloped edges. No sewing involved. Use pinking shears so edges don't ravel and look messy. Add fabric bows between scallops. Chances are your outdoor umbrellas are a bit dirty this time of year and this cover-up saves messy clean-up before the end of summer.
Festive Touches
Dress up the front door to welcome guests with a festive decoration.
Add wildflowers and grasses to a wreath frame of natural vines. Baby's Breathe is pretty here, too.
Day Into Night
If your party starts in the late afternoon and continues beyond sundown, provide romantic lighting with candles in glass containers on all the tables. Fat white candles in snifters, votives grouped in small glass containers, hurricane lamps over tall, fat candles and candles in large glasses. You can't have too many.
Romantic Interlude
If your garden is in bloom it may be the only color needed as a background. Use white lavishly. Cover tables in white damask, use white lace-edged napkins and white flowers on the tables. A buffet is more appropriate for an informal gathering. Cover the table with antique lace and fill a large, country basket with white cosmos, Queen Anne's Lace and other wildflowers.
Copyright Leslie Linsley, author
Reprinted with permission, HouseNet, Inc.