10 Garden Wedding Facts

By: The Wedding Zone

1. Seating - Aim to seat at least 30 percent of your guests – guests with high-heel shoes will appreciate a little relief and the chairs will help to create an aisle.

2. Aisle Décor – Rose Petals look amazing at Garden Weddings but they should be laid just prior to the arrival of the bride – this applies especially to very windy days. Fresh rose petals can disappear in seconds! The stronger shades do stain the dresses and the aisle runners. In lieu of the aisle carpet runners, two buckets of rose petals are sufficient for a light scattering of a 10m aisle. Use them only on grassed areas as they can become slippery on non-porous floors. Check that your venue will permit them. Rice and Confetti are no longer considered to be "eco-friendly". Aisle chairs - Most Garden Wedding Venues no longer allow items to penetrate the ground’s surface. In this case we recommend that you embellish your aisle chairs with organza sashes, fresh rose posies, hanging lanterns etc. Choose a colour which blends with the girls’ gowns and bouquets. When in doubt… choose white or ivory. Sashes may be teamed with Lily Heads, Roses or Orchids. If using chair covers, a single rose at the back of the chair will always bring compliments from the guests.

3. Wet weather contingency plans should be made well in advance. The point of this exercise (aside from the obvious) is to relieve the additional stress of having to make this decision on the day of the function. Nominate a reliable person on the day to make the decision between the outdoor ceremony and the indoor contingency venue. The nominated party should carry a mobile telephone and this number should be provided to any service provider participating on the day. Be completely happy with the decision that this person makes but ensure that they have informed everyone and be sure to have a list of important people to call (celebrant, car hire, photographer, videographer, musicians, equipment hire etc) - set a deadline for a change of plan and keep to it. Lingering and waiting for the sun to appear will only prolong the inevitable and may put everyone at risk of running late.
Here’s a tip from a celebrant - Put a note at the bottom of your invitations "in case of inclement weather, please call this no. xxxxxxxxx by (time of day) for confirmation of venue". When the rain sets in, start dialing!

4. Shading - Hot weather requires just as much consideration. Hand-held umbrellas are now a modern option for rain or oppressive heat. Sandalwood fans are inexpensive but functional gifts for the ladies on a hot day. Cream parasols make for great photos and bottled water is a must in extremely hot weather. Marquee canopies (where permitted) and large white weighted jumbo umbrellas actually enhance a garden wedding setting. Once again, remember the comfort of all service providers in attendance.

5. Red, Pink, Black and Ivory Carpets are available in all lengths. For girls with longer gowns, we suggest that you also hire a small cross-section for the bridal party to stand on. This also prevents your shoes from making a slow descent into the soft ground. Soiled heels may show up in your photographs. When using lighter carpets, white ribbon should be used to line the aisle from the back to the front row of chairs on each side. This will ensure that the carpet is kept in prestige condition for the arrival of the bridal party.

6. Bubbles – are a matter of personal choice but they can in fact, stain the gowns. Having said that, children love them and this is a great method of keeping them entertained. Bubble machines require electricity to operate so keep it simple and present small bottles of bubbles in tissue-lined baskets or boxes.

7. Microphones and Electrical Appliances – Most good celebrants have their own PA system, but those who don’t have often mastered the technique of "projecting" their voice. On a wet day, a celebrant may have concerns about their expensive equipment being damaged by rain. This is a genuine concern and should be discussed at the time of booking. Another important tip is to ensure that all portable CD players have new batteries and a few spares just in case. If you have arranged for a friend to look after the music, ensure that you have noted the track number of the disc. Better still, copy the desired songs onto a new disc in the order in which they should be played. (A second back-up copy of songs/music is also recommended, in case of damage to the original CD).

Not all musicians are familiar with playing at garden wedding locations. Occasionally they arrive to find that they are without access to electricity! Be aware of whether or not your venue has this facility and if so, provide full directions to the music providers before the big day – it should be their responsibility to set themselves up in readiness for the ceremony. It can be rather amusing watching them rummaging through the scrub looking for electrical points.

8. The layout of your equipment is vital - Visit the venue at least two weeks prior to your function (or earlier if possible). Take into account the following factors:

• Daylight Savings – Especially if your ceremony is in the latter part of the day. Late evening ceremonies could have guests leaving the gardens at dusk.
• Point of Ceremony – Your Celebrant and your Photographer can assist with this. Ensure that you will not be facing directly into the sun. Shading from the hot sun is another subject altogether. If the ceremony is longer that the standard 20-30 minutes, shading and possible seating for the bridal party may be required.
  Brides should also plan their entrance point and photographer should be pre-advised.
• Equipment Layout – as an example: 32 chairs generally consists of 3 rows of five either side of the aisle. Two chairs are used for the registry table which the celebrant will often re-position accordingly.
  
  Allow a good two to three meters between the front row and the point of ceremony –aisle carpet should start at the first row of chairs. Remember to allow a wider aisle (at least 1.5 meters) if both parents are escorting the bride down the aisle.
  
  Front row seating is reserved for older guests and family. Reserved signs may be provided but are not particularly necessary.
  
  Don’t forget to include seating and possibly shading for musicians, guests, caterers and celebrants. Anyone tending your function should be catered for.
  
  Registry table cloths should be weighted or fitted to avoid lifting off in the wind. Floral décor is not generally required for registry tables – the bride’s bouquet sits front and centre during the signing of the official documents.

9. Maps and Clear Directions for Guests – You can download most garden wedding locations and maps from any official Parks & Gardens (or Royal Botanic Gardens) website. Photocopy the map and mark entrance points and landmarks clearly, to ensure that guests will arrive on time (and at the correct ceremony!). Lawn Numbers, Gate Numbers & Exact Locations are all vital – a general address is not enough information for Melbourne’s huge parkland locations. It’s a good idea to also mark out nearby parking areas and toilets.

10. You have chosen to be married in the gardens. Absorbing all that nature has to offer, and accepting all that our Melbourne weather throws at us at any given time, remember that the most important thing at the end of the day is that you take the time to enjoy the day.

Garden Weddings are beautiful in any form. Relax and enjoy your day!