Backyard Weddings

With the current economic situation, a wedding is far more painful financially than ever before. You have the cost of the church, the ballroom for the reception, the restaurant for the rehearsal dinner, the flowers, and don’t forget the $800 cake. The list goes on and on and the cost goes up and up.

There really are alternatives to the traditional wedding that keeps us strapped for two years after the big day. Consider having your wedding at home or in a friend’s home—maybe a backyard wedding around the pool. Or go to a public park and create a magnificent wedding under tall oak trees by a flowing creek.

Any home can be a great backdrop for a wedding. Flowers, candles and ribbons can hide or enhance any decor. Consider moving all of the furniture out of a room and renting folding chairs for more seating. Rental stores have wonderful candle holders, fern stands and metal arches for creating the perfect atmosphere with very little expense.

Outdoor weddings, whether in a tent or in the open air, are especially lovely. A few years ago, a friend asked to use my front yard for her daughter’s wedding. I was thrilled to help and excited about the event.

It was a fall wedding, so the yard was green and plants were flowering everywhere. My yard has large flower beds that we filled with white mums. The trees were lighted with thousands of clear lights and the wonderland came to life for the wedding of a princess.

There was an expensive tent, and tables and chairs had to be rented because it was a very large wedding. However, the wedding, the reception and all of the pre-wedding preparations were done in one place. The parents were given the opportunity to offer their daughter a fairy-tale wedding without the expense of a country club or ballroom.

Any home, whether modest or massive, can be a wedding wonderland. Did you ever notice a home at night during the holidays and light up with glee at the beauty of the Christmas display in the yard? Then maybe you passed by the same house in the daytime to see a little shanty that is ill kept and broken down? I have and it always makes me smile. Everything is beautiful by candle and moon light; even something broken and ugly.

This brings a story to mind. My youngest daughter chose to have her wedding at home in our backyard. That was great news to me, a single mother, who had limited funds for a wedding.

I did all of the flowers, the cake and all of the food for the reception, which was held inside my home. I had a friend make her dress and we decorated the yard near the creek with candelabras and flowers. For a tight budget, we created a really lovely wedding.

I decorated the house with lots of candles. Tables were dressed and decorated with flowers, food and more candles. Everything was perfect. The house was filled with about 75 people, so we were snug, but it worked out just fine.

I was visiting and introducing myself to guests who were friends or family of the groom when I struck up a conversation with a chunky little man with a strong country drawl. He was talking about how pretty everything was and that he thought it was the most beautiful wedding he had ever seen.

I think that just sums it up. Moonlight, candles, flowers, ribbons and a beautiful bride can make any home a lovely place for a wedding.