Backyard Weddings

Backyard weddings are simple, solemn and sentimental. This is because a most memorable event takes place in a setting very close to the heart of either the bride or the groom. There are a lot of couples who opt for a backyard wedding and rightly so, as there are several advantages to doing this.

Backyard Weddings Advantages
When you have a backyard wedding, you are more in control the situation. You are having it right where the family is and everything you might need for emergencies. You can be very flexible with the lay-out and decorations to suit your needs. There is more control over the flow of traffic of the guests and even the backdrop for those memorable wedding photos.

Of course, let us not forget the cost. It is significantly cheaper to have a backyard wedding, even if you hire a caterer for the reception. The decorations can be done by family and friends and according to your own specifications. You can even have a big decoration day just before the wedding – a special time to hang out with friends who have meant so much to you and your spouse-to-be.

You will also be doing away with the hassle of reserving, booking, and paying for a venue. And, Lord forbidding that the wedding gets canceled or moved, there is no need to cancel or re-book anything. Sometimes, the ambiance you get in an intimate setting like your own backyard is even a lot better than in a hotel or a restaurant.

Lastly, a backyard wedding involves everybody you love. All the members of the family and close friends can all have a share in your special day – the decorations, ushering, reception arrangements and other details.

Backyard Wedding Disadvantages
The possibility of a disagreeable weather is always there if you opt for a backyard wedding. You should be prepared to move the whole event indoors, or at least, have the capability to set-up canopies.

Another downside to having a backyard wedding is the limitation in size. If your backyard is not big enough to hold the ceremony and the reception, you run the risk of limiting and constricting the movements in your wedding. You should plan the lay-out carefully, making sure that there is room for the wedding march and the dancing that might ensue later on. If this is the case, it is wise to set-up the reception table on the opposite side from the ceremonies to give ample space in the middle for the traffic.

Lastly, the location might pose some problems, too. For example, you can not help it if a neighbor chooses to turn on those speakers to maximum volume when you are about to recite your solemn wedding vows.

At the end of the day, your wedding is all about making beautiful memories and tender moments. If it happens right in a familiar backyard, it makes it doubly special.

Creative Wedding Favors

Creative wedding favors are a fun way to celebrate your wedding day and they don’t have to cost a fortune. The creative possibilities for unique and unforgettable wedding favors are limited only to your imagination. With a little bit of thought and ingenuity, and maybe a dab of craftiness you can come up with original and creative wedding favors that your guests will be talking about for months to come.

A favorite theme for creative wedding favors is often the idea of things that go perfect together. A fun idea for inexpensive but creative wedding favors is to tie small packages of peanut butter and jelly together with a catchy poem about the beauty of a perfect pair.

You can also design your creative wedding favors around the theme of ‘a perfect match’ by decorating a pair of chopsticks with a piece of origami paper. Considering that wooden chopsticks can be picked up in bulk at many markets, the cost of creating these wedding favors will fit just about anyone’s wedding budget.

You might decide to make pairs of homemade wax rolled candles which are still attached at the wick. Add a cute poem with the phrase ‘eternal flame’ along with the date and the names of the bride and groom, and you will have succeeded in making unique and creative wedding favors.

If you are willing to spend a little more on creative wedding favors you might want to get innovative with photography; consider superimposing pictures of the bride and groom’s faces on an innocent picture of a young boy and girl, perhaps dressed as bride and groom. These pictures can be made into anything from fridge magnets to key chains, and make unique and creative wedding favors.

The bride and groom that want to give an original keepsake as creative wedding favors might even have custom designed clay figurines made of their likenesses. These unique figurines can be used as card holders at the reception table and can be a permanent keepsake of your wedding day.

Creative Wedding Favors that Add a Dash of Personal Flare
When putting together wedding favors, consider revolving the theme around something that the bride and groom enjoy doing together. The couple who loves to garden together might want to make creative wedding favors out of decorative flower pots that contain seeds of the bride and groom’s favorite flowers.

A couple who enjoys baking might want to put together a crafty bundle which includes heart shaped cookie cutters and a favorite recipe. If the couple loves indulging in chocolate, they might order special candy bar wrappers that detail their special day, which can be wrapped around their favorite candy bar.

If wine is a favorite indulgence of the bride and groom, they may want to order wine with customized wedding day labels.

If the wedding has a particular theme, you can plan your creative wedding favors to go with it. Some people have a themed wedding revolving around a time period, such as the 50’s, or they have a wedding theme around an area, such as an ‘old south’ wedding. Your creative wedding favors can reflect a bride and groom’s unique wedding theme.

Your wedding is a special day, and you want every detail to be memorable. With some thought and effort you can come up with original and creative wedding favors that fit your style and personality, as well as your budget.

Wedding Venue Tips

You will probably try to set the date for your wedding when you start your wedding planning. In order to set the wedding date, you will need to check if the venue you would like to have your wedding is available on that date or not. As a result, you will need to consider the venue together with the wedding date.

When you are choosing your wedding venue, you may fall into the trap of the perception that a bigger venue should be better. In fact this is not quite true. First of all, a bigger venue may usually cost you more money. Besides, you will not need a large venue if your are going to hold a small scale wedding. It will be nonsense to book a venue which can accommodate three hundred people if you are going to invite fifty guests only.

To this end you may know that the size of the venue you are going to choose should be determined by the number of guests you will invite. For example, if you are planning to invite 150 guests, you will probably book a venue which can accommodate 200 people. A small buffer for the number of guests to be accommodated can be a good idea since you may end up with 180 guests eventually. It will be a problem if you originally book a venue which can only accommodate 150 people and you finally get 180 guests.

You will also consider the ambiance of the wedding venue you are going to select. In fact this can be a very personal choice. You will probably try to find a venue which can match your wedding theme. It is certain that you will not book a hotel ballroom if you are planning to hold an outdoor wedding. However, if you are planning for a more traditional reception, a hotel ballroom can be already very perfect.

If you would like to hold a more unique wedding, you may consider holding your wedding on a train. Your wedding will be held during a journey on a train. Both you and your guests can enjoy the beautiful and marvelous scenery during the journey. There are different wedding planners which can arrange such wedding venues. Some locations you may consider for your wedding on train will be California, Maui and Arizona.

You may also book an outdoor place as your wedding venue. Among all outdoor wedding themes, beach weddings are probably one of the most popular. A beach wedding is usually more causal than a traditional one. You can forget nearly all the etiquette for weddings and enjoy the time with your guests. Again, the beautiful scenery on the sea side is certainly a plus for your wedding. You cannot imagine how romantic it will be if you are going to have your wedding on a sunny day on the beach. You will enjoy the beautiful sunset with your spouse and your guests.

When we talk about the venue itself, you have to bear in mind that every venue may have its own restrictions. This is usually related to the decorations. You should ask what those restrictions are so that unnecessary arguments can be avoided. You will also need to ask if there are any hidden or extra fees. For example some venues may charge you a cake cutting fee. Besides, asking if there will be any over running fee is a must.