Planning a summer wedding for 2013? Here’s how to create a fantastic vintage garden party for your big day!
Brilliant bunting
Decorating your venue with bunting is a sure fire way to create that vintage garden party feel. Have a go at making your own bunting for a really personal touch.
Love by candlelight
Tealights in lanterns create a lovely romantic glow, especially around pathways and entrances. You could even pick ones with coloured glass to match your theme. Just check that your venue allows candlelight. If not, battery-operated candles are a great alternative.
Personalised plant pots
Paint your guests’ names onto plant pots to make unique place names. Pop a packet of country garden seeds in each one and you have your unique vintage favours sorted, too.
Cracking crockery
Hiring vintage floral crockery will add a whimsical feeling to your 2013 summer wedding, and it’s much prettier than the plain white sets that venues provide. See My Vintage Party or Eclectic Bliss for some ideas.
Cage your cards
Keep all your cards together by having your guests post them in a giant birdcage. It’ll keep everything safe and make taking them home easier, too.
Strike up the band
Hire a jazz band to entertain your guests while you’re having your official pictures taken and create a retro vibe in an instant. This will also give the older guests something cool to listen to before the DJ kicks in later on!
Super scones
Switch the traditional fruit cake for a tower of scones and serve with lashings of cream and jam. Serve with tea as an afternoon treat or a late-night feast before they head for home. Wedding Ideas prefers jam first and then the cream (the Cornish way!).
Recycle jam jars
Sprigs of fresh flowers in jam jars make simple but elegant centrepieces for your table, and they won’t blow the budget. Ask friends and family to collect them for you in the run-up to the big day.
Watch love grow
A great alternative to a traditional guestbook, have your guests leave their thumbprint on a cool tree print available from Not On The High Street and watch your love tree grow.
Guide your guests
Hang cute wooden signs around your venue pointing your guests in the direction of key places, such as the bar and the toilets.
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Paper pinwheels
Pinwheels are the perfect garden party decoration. Why not set up a children’s table at the reception so they can make their own pinwheels?
Picnic hampers
Save on the sit-down meal and present your guests with mini picnic hampers! You could make these up yourself with cheeses, cream teas and mini bottles of Champagne and celebrate outside in the sunshine.
