You might not think "rustic" and "wedding reception" go together, but getting back to nature is especially trendy—and beautiful—when it comes to wedding reception decorations and venues. Whether you live in Boston, Seattle or Dallas, having your wedding reception outdoors in a rustic barn, pavilion or just a spacious backyard can be an especially festive setting.

Functional Outdoor Wedding Reception Decorations

Bring out the galvanized steel tubs to use for everything from iced-down beverages to party favors. Tin buckets and planters look revived as centerpiece containers with fresh cut flowers from the garden. Checkered and vintage tablecloths and napkins set a beautiful table and lend an air of casual elegance to the reception. Old, weathered pieces of wood can be used as signage to direct guests, while outdoor string lights and mismatched candleholders light their way. Decorating can be as simple as draping sheer white fabric along the walls and ceiling and accenting with dried grapevine for a lovely, rustic touch.

Rustic Reception Food With Elegance
Just because your reception may be outdoors doesn’t mean you have to fire up the grill and serve burgers and hot dogs. Beef tenderloin, in-season roasted garden vegetables and a spring mix salad with nuts, fresh fruit and a fresh herb vinaigrette served on mismatched china only reinforces the feel of casual elegance. You can also serve locally made wine with the meal. Use your imagination to transform any rustic outdoor setting into an elegant reception venue that you’ll always remember.

It's about that time to throw a bachelorette party. All of your girls are lining up dates and times so that you can enjoy a fun night together. This is one of the most fun occasions before the wedding. It is also one of the most memorable.

A really good way to celebrate the chicas in your life is to give them gifts at the bachelorette party. If you want that night to be all about you, consider throwing a bridesmaids party. Not only does this say "thank you" for all the times that they've stuck by you, it gives you a chance to remind them that you'll always be there for them also.

Need some gift ideas for the ladies in your life? Consider the type of woman that she is. This will help tremendously when purchasing bridesmaids gifts. Here are some examples:

The Night Owl: Rarely in bed early, loves going out, seems to watch a lot of infomercials.

Something flashy is probably a safe bet for this woman. A set of colorful cosmetics makes the clubbing makeup more fun. This may be your bridesmaid who is very sedate but likes staying up late at night. If this is the case, try something fun like her favorite movie that no one will watch with her. This time, opt in for the popcorn and film noir.

The Working Mom: Bounces between children and career, the ultimate soccer mom.

A bath set of to calm and relax this busy lady will be appreciated more than words can express. There isn't much left for self after a long day of juggling children, work and husband. Give this mom a reason to put the kids in bed early by giving her a bath kit complete with luxurious bath oils, a loofah, balt salts and perhaps a CD of calming music.

The Girly Girl: Loves shopping, beauty, and is often particular about appearance.

This is the girl for whom manicures and pedicures were invented. Why stray from the tried and true? A girls-day-out at the beauty salon would do this woman's heart good. Join her for a fun getaway after the married life begins. Also consider jewelry or a cute purse that she can carry during the wedding. If your favorite ladies are carrying bridesmaids purses instead of bouquets, give hers some extra attention. This is especially beneficial if she's the maid or matron of honor.

The Contemporary: She would make the perfect city girl, if she isn't already.

The contemporary bridesmaid is familiar with modern styles of decor, fashion, art, cooking and similar things. Technology serves this woman well. She probably has a pda and other gadgets so go one step further with a new mp3 player, digital camera, or earrings that match the color of the ear buds that she rarely removes.

This is the woman that would also benefit from a home decor piece such as bookends, unique candles and candleholders. If this seems like a boring gift, try something like tickets to the theater or the opening of an art show. A very special treat is if you make plans to spend this evening with her.

The Intellectual: Spends time reading, seems to know a little bit about everything.

Go a little bit more in depth than books on tape for this bridesmaid. Gifts for the intellectual bridesmaid should reflect her love of learning and culture. Consider a bottle of wine and a set of barware accessories. If she's not a drinker consider a book with a compilation of photographs by a talented digital photographer such as Margaret Bourke-White. MP3 players and techy gizmos are also perfect for this woman.

Having guests sign a guest book upon arriving at your ceremony or reception is a traditional way of recording who attended your wedding. But even the best tradition deserves some updating. Consider these ideas for a fresh way to record who attends your wedding while making it part of your wedding decorations:

Purchase a picture frame mat and several good quality black ink pens. A 16’ x 20’ mat is a good size and will hold an 11’ x 14’ photograph. Consider using an engagement photo or any photo of the bride and groom. Display the matted photo on an easel with a sign directing guests to sign their names and include a brief note, if they wish. Using the picture mat as a wedding decoration that welcomes your guests and as a guest book is a great way to set the tone for your wedding.

Purchase or make 3’ x 5’ cards on white or colored cardstock. Lay stacks of cards out on a table, along with an empty container that coordinates with your wedding decorations—a basket, a crystal bowl, etc.—along with good quality black ink pens. Have your guest table attendant (or a simple sign) encourage guests to write a brief wish and sign their names to a piece of cardstock. When they finish, they drop the card in the empty container. You can decorate the table along the theme of your wedding for a cohesive wedding decoration. You can arrange these cards in your wedding album as special reminders of those who attended and their well wishes.

Every week I read several wedding blogs, look at several wedding pictures and discuss a multitude of wedding ideas with anyone willing to talk to me. This week I came upon two unique wedding decoration ideas. Both of these decorations involved wedding flowers.

I love flowers, especially unique wedding flowers that give you a glimpse into the personality of the bride. I think that is why these two approaches caught my interest. The first came from a discussion I had with Scott Darhower, a florist from Tampa Florida (he owns Apple Blossoms Floral Design). Scott and I were discussing creative container ideas for floral arrangements when he mentioned vintage glass containers.

Wedding Flowers Using Decor From Past Generations
Not long ago, he created some lovely flower arrangements for one of his brides. Scott really pays attention to the personalities of the brides he works with. This bride was particularly fond of the her grandmother's antique china. In fact, she uses it often when entertaining.

So when time came for Scott to design floral arrangements for her cocktail reception, he knew exactly what the bride needed. He and the bride canvassed second-hand stores and flea markets until they found a few vintage glass pieces.

Scott then created soft romantic flower arrangements using the vintage glass and an array of creamy white flowers. Later the bride displayed these vintage glass pieces in her china cabinet along side her grandmothers antique china. What a fabulous idea! Using vintage or sentimental containers as part of your wedding flower decorations is a fantastic way to honor the romance of the past generations. The best part is you will forever have an elegant wedding keepsake.

***Just a little hint for grooms – take a piece of the vintage glass used in your wedding to your florist before your anniversary. Have the florist recreate your wedding flowers and deliver it to your wife.***

Pictures And Perfect Wedding Flowers

The second cool wedding flower decoration involved photos. No, not picture taking. Rather a display of pictures of the bride and groom. This awesome wedding decoration came from Markita Brewster, a Fort Campbell KY wedding consultant. She owns Beautiful Weddings On a Budget. At the wedding reception of one of her brides, the wedding flowers were arranged in a photo cube.

What a clever idea! The Casablanca lilies gave the photo cubes an elegant look and the photos were a great way for guests to recall memories of the bride and groom. You could even include pictures of the guests with the bride or groom and place them on the table where they will be seated. This is also a creative way to have a unique flower arrangement and still stay within your budget.

Now that I've shared my unique wedding flower decoration ideas, I hope you will share yours. I can't wait to see them.

Wedding receptions typically end with the bride and groom leaving under a shower of rice, birdseed or bubbles. But why not do something over-the-top that you and your guests will never forget? Imagine the feeling of running hand-in-hand with your new husband through hundreds or thousands of butterflies in flight. Imagine the delight of your guests as they watch them rise in the air and flutter all around.

While a butterfly release may be a little more costly than birdseed or bubbles, the impact is definitely bigger and unforgettable. Keep the butterfly release a surprise—even from your bridal party—and watch the surprised looks on their faces as the surprise unfolds. You could even "tease" your guests by using the symbolic butterfly on your wedding program, invitations, wedding cake, and reception flowers as a hint of what is to come.

Many brides and grooms put so much focus on their entrances to the ceremony and reception, but spend little effort thinking about their exit from the reception. A butterfly release is a surprising way to leave you and your guests feeling uplifted, encouraged and hopeful about the future. As a butterfly in flight symbolizes new beginnings, so do weddings and this is a great way to add an exclamation point to your wedding day.

I love outdoor weddings. There’s just something about the natural beauty of the greenery that makes them so fabulous. Outdoor wedding reception decorations and table centerpieces can be somewhat tricky though, because you don’t want to take away from the natural scenery. The new overall wedding decoration idea trend is "earthy glamorous" and this theme is even more beautiful outdoors.

This can be done using twigs, leaves, containers of grass, and several other resources. Table decorations and centerpiece options are endless with this theme. Long low containers of grass with a Read the rest of Take Advantage of Natural Beauty… Outdoor Wedding Table Decorations »

I had never heard of these, but they were brought to my attention while planning my wedding and I fell in love with this wedding decoration idea. Aisle runners are usually pretty standard and most brides usually rent one from a wedding supply vendor; which is perfectly fine. However, I wanted something more personalized … more unique. Little did I know you can have custom aisle runners made!

When you have a custom aisle runner made, you have so many options in creating making the runner Read the rest of Make it Personal with a Custom Aisle Runner »

Looking for a unique way to personalize your wedding ceremony? Think about using sand in your wedding. A sand wedding ceremony uses two vessels of sand; one for the bride and one for the groom which are poured together into a keepsake container or released into the wind symbolizing the coming together of two separate lives.

This is unique wedding idea is commonly done at beach weddings or outdoor wedding ceremonies. Although I have seen it performed at indoor ceremonies, it seems that the unity candle is preferred Read the rest of Memorable and Unique Wedding Ideas- Sand Wedding Ceremony »

When I saw the picture submitted to the Wedding and Party photo gallery by Levy, I knew I wanted to know more about her wedding and the theme that inspired such a beautiful wedding cake. I thought that others planning a wedding could get some ideas from her wedding story. I sent her an email asking out their wedding and its traditions and she was gracious enough to reply.

Hi there Ma'am, I apologized too for the delay of my replies. I have 4 weddings in a row this month and checking my emails is so hard hehehe. Anyway, I want to introduce first my self to you.. I am Levy B. Tkaczyk, a wedding coordinator/ planner for 11 years now. I am happily newly married last Feb2008. I just want to showcase my wedding coz i believe that its kind of unique and unusual.

Our wedding concept/ theme is a fusion of Ethnic/ tribal theme with canadian touch since my husband is from Canada. I live in an island here in the Philippines were the tribal/ethnic tradition is still intact. I am a Sociology graduate too and am fond of indigenous materials because i find it artistic and unique. Our Wedding Cake was inspired by different tribal groups of Mindanao namely Maranao, Higaonon and Subanen. It was 4 layered chocolate cake with 6 islands.

yes, Mr. Edwin Orbe is a professional photographer. He was the one who took beautiful pictures before and during our wedding. I recommended him also to almost of my clients here. I have a website too , feel free to view it ma'am.. mybrideandgroom.multiply.com —- i put some pics of my clients this year. we have a wedding website too its www.dannylevz.com, and we have some post nup pics at rlbphotography.multiply.com so till next, i am looking forward hearing from you soon Jam. thanks really for the email , it means so much. if there's anyway that i could help just let me know too…if its okay , i would like to link ur site too over my multiply account. please take care and God bless!

Have Your Cake and Top Too!

Colors! Cake! Flowers! Music! So many decisions! Anyone who has witnessed or is planning a wedding can attest to the multitude of design decisions to be made when planning a ceremony and reception. It’s a list that goes on and on. The location sets the tone for the event; the flowers add whimsy; photos, pets, and music add personality. Today, the amount of the opportunities for conveying individuality is ever increasing as the wedding industry has begun to acknowledge and cater to the qualities of each couple rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all ceremony.

Almost every aspect of a wedding day is available for tweaking. This includes the flowers, vows, bridesmaids dress, and endless other details. The reception carries this trend with everything from centerpieces to entrées, and even napkins. However, few parts of this day can be preserved and taken home as a souvenir of the launch of a new life.

One item that has become a shining example of personalization-meets-tradition is the wedding cake and more specifically the wedding cake topper. It was once the epitome of mass-produced tackiness that was the demise of past wedding ceremonies, and it is now a traditional piece used to display the couple’s identity, whether it is goofy, geeky, or glamorous.

The official origin of wedding cake toppers is unknown, and there are as many stories as there are choices. However, most historians agree that cake toppers can be traced back to the 19th century when the tradition of the bride and groom in formal attire symbolize atop the cake began. The trend took hold in America in the 1940s and has become a staple in wedding cake design ever since.

Like many elements of today’s weddings, the demand for unique wedding cakes and wedding cake toppers has led to a tremendous amount of choices ranging in everything from the quirky and humorous to the elegant and traditional. Even once a couple decides on a direction for their cake topper, they’re still left with a dizzying array of choices to further enhance their wedding cake design.

A popular option for many cakes today is to top them with a monogram of the either the couple’s combined initials or the first letter of their last name. It is a sophisticated way to display individuality and the uniting of two people. Couples can choose the font, size, and material of the piece. Ideas monogram toppers include for etched glass, cut mirror, or metallic materials. Some choose to take it a step further and add rhinestones, flowers, or crystals to add extra glitz to their cake.

For a wedding on a beach, a tropical-themed cake topper would be a great way to tie-in the wedding cake with the nature of the ceremony. Ceramic figurines depicting a couple in their favorite beach attire is a light-hearted touch to a normally casual event. There are also sculptures of beach scenes and items like shells and palm trees in a variety of materials. Like most other toppers, the design of these can be incredibly detailed, showing facial expressions, sand on the beach, or patterns in clothing, or they can be monochromatic, lyrical pieces full of movement and grace.

Wedding cake toppers for an avid hobbyist are ideal for laid-back ceremonies or grooms’ cakes. Golfers, baseball fanatics, and car enthusiasts can all find a topper to suit their interests and are sure to make guests chuckle. Geeks can also find their niche by choosing geeky groom toppers such as sci-fi themed or techie options. The possibilities are endless when it comes to finding the perfect topper to match a matchless personality!

Other themed wedding cake toppers choices include those for the sportsman, fisherman, musician, and the farmer. The list never seems to end! A great idea for a musician is a microphone-shaped cake topper or a music note. And the fisherman is sure to get a kick out of a bride and groom donning waders and fishing poles! Brides who enjoy shopping can find a number of choices of shop-a-holic brides, and grooms who enjoy a friendly game of golf can find a golfing groom to complement his game.

Religious cake toppers are another choice for couples who are devoted in their beliefs and want a wedding cake that reflects their faith. For example, grooms wearing kippahs are available for Jewish ceremonies, and lovely items, such as crosses and doves, are offered for Christian weddings.

What’s more, members of the military can even find a cake topper to suit their needs. If the groom wears his dress blues in his wedding, he can find a cake topper to match. Usually, highly specialized cake toppers such these are sold alone. By opting for the interchangeable cake toppers, couples can find a perfectly suited arrangement the fit their personalities to a tee.

Every couple is unique and together they possess a dynamic unlike any other. Modern wedding planning seeks to display that special something that makes them work so wonderfully together. Each aspect of wedding can contribute to this goal, including the cake. Choosing a wedding cake topper is another step towards making a wedding one-of-a-kind.

Contributor: Ashley Slayton

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