The Faire Garden blog has pictures of the most beautiful garden wedding! I can catch the scent of those flowers all the way from here! And not just flowers… don’t you wish you could offer your guests treats like this… straight off the vine!

Even if you don’t have a gorgeous 5 acres of lush gardens at your disposal, the garden theme is transplantable.  Take a cue from this WedSmack collage, and you can make any venue bloom with backyard charm.

Invitations

It’s a whiff of spring in your mailbox! Who wouldn’t want to join you in your garden celebration? Whether your invitation says English tea party or Palm Beach tropics, your guests will reply “YES!” with a flourish!

Colors & Accents

Your palette is as unlimited as the variety and shades of Mother Nature herself! Pastels work particularly well to create that garden theme. Try pairing a delicate green with pinks, yellows, or creams. To really make your wedding bloom, add garden accents like butterflies, baskets, terracotta and outdoor figurines… and of course lots & lots of flowers!

Tables & Centerpieces

Truly Wedding blog suggests using large round tables with light-colored umbrellas. For centerpieces, you can includes both flowers and fruits, nestled in something like a fruit basket or a straw hat.

Or you can grace your tables with this handsome prince, a bargain at only $6.95 each, from OurGreatDeals. (The froggie couple is unfortunately *out of stock* but I had to include them because they are just so adorable!  Wouldn’t they make a great wedding table centerpiece?)  Pretty birdhouses add a touch of whimsy ($24.99 for a set of 3 at Terry’s village) and butterfly yard stakes will add charm to your table decor ($14.97 for a set of 3).

Wedding Favors

For whimsicle, try little butterfly baskets with packets of wildflower seeds ($17.95 for a set of 12) or gerber daisy boxes filled with candy ($2.50 each).

For a more elegant look, try butterfly-decorated crystal candleholders ($1.95 each) or wine bottle stoppers ($2.50).

Bride and Bridesmaids

The garden bride does not have to pass up a brocaded gown with a trailing train, if that’s what she has her heart set on. But many bride who are getting married outdoors choose shorter dresses with a simpler dresses. This bride wore a formal dress for the ceremony and changed into something lighter for dancing:

The groom and his groomsmen can wear light colored suits in linen, beige, grey or green. The bridesmaids can wear shorter dresses in light airy fabrics.  I love these pink floral patterned dresses, they are so elegant yet girly! Apple green is also a great choice, pastoral and pretty.

Do yourselves a favor and skip the stilettos, which can easily sink into the ground. Instead wear ballet flats or chunky heels.

Trend: Dynamic Colors

Think sophisticated brights. Sticking with just two hues (or two plus an accent color) will keep your space unified. Rather than splashing color all over your reception space, use one dynamic color for a strong statement — think all-pink centerpieces or bold orange table linens. This holds especially true for your centerpieces: Instead of multicolored centerpieces, alternate single-color floral arrangements for a pulled-together look.

Trend: Upscale Picnic Food

Summer is the season for barbecuing, so consider serving a grilled entree for instant seasonal style.  Stay on the lighter side with chicken or fish. Bringing in fruity flavors will add even more seasonal flair — think chili-lime rubbed chicken breasts or grilled tilapia topped with mango salsa.  Upscale picnic-style fare is both a low-maintenance and high-style way to go. One example menu we love: coconut-fried chicken served with dipping sauces, red bliss potato salad, and mandarin orange and mesclun salad with raspberry vinaigrette.

Trend: New Themes

Think of your favorite summer hangouts when planning your theme. Rather than just any beach, bring in elements specific to the beach you remember as a kid. If it was a cabin in the woods, go for a wilderness theme. Another idea is to honor your honeymoon destination. If you’re having a garden wedding but honeymooning in Hawaii, add orchids to your bouquets or fill the bottoms of your centerpiece vases with black lava rocks.

Trend: Unexpected Invitations

Use colors in a new and unexpected way on your invites by reversing the typical invitation color scheme. For example, rather than using fuchsia lettering on a cream-colored invite, opt for cream print on fuchsia paper. Or mix it up — do the cream-colored invite with fuchsia writing, and then a bright pink reply card with a cream-colored font. Consider the material of your invite as well.

One hot-off-the-press idea: Get fabric-printed invites, programs, and escort cards for a laid-back look perfect for summer.

Trend: Wine Smoothies

Wine smoothies are cold, frosty, and pack less of an alcoholic punch than margaritas. Perfect for your cocktail hour and as a signature drink for the evening, ask your caterer about serving one of these concoctions. A wine smoothie consists of a fruity wine, like rose, blended with ice and fruits of your choice. Garnished with a couple of berries or fruit slices, it makes for a refreshing and unexpected signature sip.

Trend: Natural Centerpieces

Cut citrus fruit is a tried-and-true favorite for summertime centerpieces, but other options out there are more unexpected and just as visually appealing. Have your florist use hollowed-out watermelons as a centerpiece container for a casual look that’s fun and seasonal. Another option is to go natural and green with your containers. Incorporate wooden vases or pedestals with grass or moss to give centerpieces a textured, natural feel.

Trend: Beyond Wedding Cake

White wedding cakes are popular for every season, and of course, chocolate always reigns for groom’s cakes. But with cake bakers nowadays offering so many delectable flavors and fillings, why not try a seasonal selection?  Think fresh strawberries and whipped cream filling for a strawberry shortcake-style wedding cake, or a citrus-infused filling like Key lime, lemon, or orange vanilla buttercream that honors a summertime fruit.

A big-hit idea we love: Hire an ice cream truck to arrive at the end of the night offering summertime favorites — the perfect nostalgic, late-night snack for your guests.

Trend: Eco-Friendly Favors

Why not give back to the planet while you give to your guests? Eco-friendly favors are bigger than ever, particularly if you’re taking advantage of natural beauty and marrying outdoors. One idea: Give guests locally grown herbs planted in recyclable glass jars or tin cans. Dressed up with ribbon or paper in your wedding colors, they’re gorgeous and good for the earth. Beyond plants, you might also consider donating to a local charity for a wedding favor idea that never goes out of season.

Myth #1: You have to say “I do” outdoors

If you live in a cooler part of the country where the lush, green months of summer are precious, it may seem like you absolutely must head outside for your summer wedding. But if an outdoor wedding isn’t what you’ve always dreamed of, an indoor space can be just as summery (and much more reliable). For one, if you’re in a super-hot climate, an indoor wedding may be more comfortable for your guests not wanting to bear the heat. But beyond that, you can use your creativity and design skills to make an indoor space suit the season. Hang summer lanterns or create a summer flower-strewn indoor aisle.

Myth #2: You have to use bright summery colors

While many summer couples look to vibrant colors to reflect the season, it’s most definitely not a requirement. If bold and bright just isn’t your style, there’s no need to hew to a palette of intense hues. Going with a subdued color scheme can actually be more unexpected — for example, icy blues will exude a cool and refreshing atmosphere. For a surefire palette that works with almost any style — from ultra-formal to relaxed and natural — look to a combo of whites and ivories with green accents. An apple green hue will give a preppy, fun feel, while a deeper green like loden or moss will imbue your nuptials with a subdued elegance.

Myth #3: You can’t be too formal

Yes, high temperatures probably mean you should skip the stiff, heavy dresses made of taffeta and brocade. But you don’t have to put your bridesmaids in dresses with high hemlines and have your groomsmen don loafers if it’s not your style. Decide on a level of formality, and then work with your bridal salon and tux shop to explore your options. For a sophisticated, formal summer wedding, consider elegant silk sheaths for your bridesmaids and lightweight dark suits for the guys. You should be able to find attire that reflects the formality of your event but won’t leave you sweltering.

Myth #4: A city wedding won’t work

Summer is a season when many urbanites head for the hills or the beach. But if you’ve always wanted a chic city wedding, you can still have it even in the summer months. A rooftop ceremony or reception will give you an outdoorsy touch without sacrificing an urban feel. Loft spaces are great for summer weddings too. Awash in windows, you can avoid high temperatures while still taking advantage of bold sunsets and glittering skyline views.

Myth #5: The heat will ruin everything

Yes, summer can be hot. But don’t let the naysayers get you down! If you know there’s a decent chance it will be especially hot on your wedding day, make plans to avert any weather-related disasters. Avoid wilting blooms in the bouquets and boutonnieres by asking your florist to steer you toward hardier blooms, like orchids and lilies. Consider water-submerged centerpieces featuring Mokara orchids. Because the flowers are completely under water, they’ll keep cool all night long. And as for your wedding cake, get fondant instead of buttercream to avoid a melting mess. If you’re set on the rich taste of buttercream, display the cake during your cocktail hour and then have the cake cutting at the beginning of your reception.