Flowers & lighting are vital to setting the overall ambiance, but it’s often the small touches your guests will remember the most – including the thought you put into wedding favors created especially for them. Send them home with a gift they will remember long after the last dance, like plant-able seed papers. Embedded with tiny seeds, these dissolving papers can be planted as-is and will grow into wildflowers, daisies, or other annuals. Available in many shapes & colors (like pink hearts or white doves) seed papers can also be printed on, so use them as the ultimate recyclable invitation or place card.

Like the “Spring in bloom” idea but want something more substantial for your wedding favors? Your local craft store or favorite online hobby shop will have a variety of tiny flower pots, watering cans, or decorative boxes. Get them pre-decorated or paint to match your wedding theme and fill them with live baby plants. Include a small note or thank you card with growing instructions and you’re sure to be remembered every time your guest waters their new plant. Don’t want to mess with real plants? Faux flowers can work just as well, and require no long-term care! A small faux flower arrangement is just as pretty as the real thing, and can still be given in any number of decorative containers.

Another idea is letting your place cards do double-duty as take-home favors as well. Skip the boring flat cards and go for origami-style die-cut 3-D cards in the shape of butterflies or your favorite flower, which can be used as decorations later. If you have a little extra time and a bit of a creative streak, consider giving small sun-catchers that you’ve painted yourself! Add the couples’ names and wedding date and your guests will have beautiful hanging mementos of your day.

Even the simple candle can be spruced up to bring in Spring. Shop for candles made with embedded rose petals or even whole flowers for one-of-a-kind decorations. Or start with plain votive or tea-lights and wrap them with tiny satin ribbons; attach baby’s breath or other small buds to the bow for an elegant touch.

An outdoor wedding reception with the white lights--starry, romantic ambiance!

Many of you know that spring-time weddings can be a bit expensive—from the flowers and decoration, choosing a top-notch photographer, hiring the best DJ, getting the food catered and selecting a nice open venue. Luckily I have a few tips that can help you stay in your budget while planning your outdoor garden wedding extravaganza!

1. Instead of hiring a DJ or musician, try connecting your MP3 Player to a couple of large
speakers. You could save yourself a few extra bucks and have control over the music.

2. When selecting the perfect flowers, buy them at a local supermarket and create your own
bouquet. Maybe have a girl’s day in, with you and your wedding party and they can help put
together some fabulous centerpieces for the table. This is a win-win—you will be able to bond
with your wedding party and save some money at the same time!

3. Before you go out and hire that expensive photographer, find a good friend or family member
who knows how to take good pictures—have them use a digital camera to catch all the special
moments. Candid pictures are the best!

4. As for decorations, you can hang white lights through and around nearby trees and on top of arbors. Placing candles in dark areas will give that starry, romantic affect.

5. Wait on the cake! Before you go out and buy that wedding cake, try serving an assortment of
cupcakes instead of a wedding cake. Since it’s a garden wedding, you can get away with fun
ideas and trying different things. Trust me–cupcakes will satisfy everyone and cleaning up will
be pretty simple!