Spring is coming and wedding season will soon be in full swing.  I am sensing a trend in this era of cost cutting and economizing that garden weddings (perhaps at cherished family home) are a realistic option for brides.  I have had a couple of clients speak with me about developing thier gardens for upcoming events so I thought I would share some ideas for creating a wedding garden.

1. ) Theme your garden with plants that are named with wedding titles like these….

1. Retama monosperma #1,(Bridal veil broom) 2. ~Blushing Bride-Rose of Sharon~, 3. Blushing Bride Hydrangea, 4. Calla Lily ‘Bridal Bliss’, 5. 070108_astilbe, (Astilbe Bridal veil)6. Hosta ‘Bridegroom’ — HostasDirect.com, 7. 052708_3, (Poppy Royal Wedding) 8. WEDDING FEAST, (Daylily) 9. Allison’s Wedding (Daylily)

2.) In the spirit of your grow your own and keeping it local, you can plant and harvest these traditional bouquet flowers.

1. Stylish, formal Stephanotis and pearl, 2. They look and feel like rubber.,(Stephanotis) 3. Pink Peonies bouquet, 4. Shirley Temple Peony, 5. bouquet, 6. Roses – Climbing Don Juan

3.) Create a special place specifically for the wedding.   Hotels, restaurants and resort properties should really think about a permanent outdoor place where the wedding ceremony can be held so that there is no travel to the following reception.   Here is an inspiration for a bridal garden.  This was designed by Julie Moir Messervey and Karen McCoy, one of the principals of MSI Design for the Franklin Park Conservancy.

and another at Hatley Gardens in Canada.

I am running out of time today, so I am going to cut this short….but I am having so much fun with it, I am going to continue a little later…some bridal garden lighting ideas, focal points in the garden for the ceremony…and more.