By the time blogger Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere dived into wedding planning, she already knew she wanted to get married in her "favorite place on earth," her hometown of Mill Valley, CA.
The rest of the details—when, how, where—fell into place after she saw the Ralston White Retreat, a grand turn-of-the-century mountainside mansion built a hundred years earlier as a wedding present (complete with a heart-shaped lawn) from a real estate developer to his wife.
Emily and her husband, Geoffrey Fuller, decided to have the wedding ceremony on the grand lawn, and the elegant outdoor wedding went off without a hitch—thanks to careful planning.
We asked Emily (whose newest book, Cupcakes and Cashmere at Home will be published later this month) to share her best ideas for planning an outdoor wedding. Here are 11 secrets to steal:
Photography via Cupcakes and Cashmere.
Wedding Wardrobe
Above: Don't be afraid to wear a Cinderella-worthy dress outdoors. After all, it's a fairy tale setting.
Says Emily: "I had a floor-length gown and crystal-encrusted shoes, neither of which were particularly good for the setting. I think the most important thing is to embrace the fact that your dress won't be in pristine condition at the end of the night and your shoes won't look brand new. But that's part of the fun if you're going to incorporate an outdoor element to your big day."
Flowers
Above: The trick is to make your wedding bouquet and floral arrangements complement the natural surroundings; don't try to compete with the greenery.
With the help of Mill Valley-based florist Gayle Nicoletti of Bloomingayles, Emily limited the color palette of her bride's bouquet to pink and white peonies, roses, and jasmine—all flowers that could have been cut from her mother's garden.
For table arrangements, Emily says, "Instead of large bouquets that can overwhelm the setting, choose smaller floral arrangements in similar colors that aren't too tall so that you can still see everyone at the table."
Weatherproof the Guests
Above: "If an invitation mentions an outdoor wedding, you should remind guests about the elements," says Emily. Share the details: "Will there be grass for women to walk in while wearing heels, shade so hats aren't necessary, et cetera.
"But as with every party you throw, it's better to be more prepared than necessary," says Emily. "Keep a small stash of paper umbrellas, throw blankets (in case it gets cold), or a little basket with some sunscreen—it's always appreciated."
Tent or No Tent?
Above: One big expense at an outdoor wedding is a tent. Do you need to invest in one in case it rains?
"I think this comes down to a few things: where you're getting married, the time of year and how much you tend to worry," says Emily. "We didn't get a tent and it rained the entire week leading up to the wedding."
Emily decided to have dinner and dancing indoors, inside the Ralston White mansion, so "I figured we could probably shift things around last minute if need be, even though I was really hoping for good weather. And sure enough, on the actual day, it was absolutely gorgeous."
Bottom line: Renting a tent certainly isn't necessary, but it can help you avoid any potentially disastrous situations if the weather doesn't cooperate on your wedding day.
Hydrate the Guests
Above: It's a good idea to set up a "water station" to keep guests hydrated on a hot day. "We had a lemonade stand at our wedding and it was such a fun element," says Emily. "People enjoy being able to grab a drink right when they arrive; it makes them feel as if they're being tended to immediately."
Set a Minimalist Table
Above: Emily got married at a turn-of-the-century mansion, a setting that inspired vintage touches.
"Since the outdoor elements add such a lovely backdrop for a dinner, keeping the table as minimalist as possible is key," says Emily. "No need to overdo it!"
Concentrate on "little details—a simple tablecloth with another fabric layered on top (like burlap) for depth, pretty flowers in apothecary jars, and nothing that will blow away in the wind," says Emily.
Cocktail Hour
Above: Consider crowd flow. It's a good idea to set up multiple place where guests can get a drink to avoid having the grass in front of the bar table turn into trampled mud.
"Multiple places helps you to avoid having a long line and enables the party to maintain a nice flow," says Emily. "Having a few signature cocktails listed (ours was typed up and in a frame) is a great way to add personality to the bar and helps people make a decision quickly. And having those signature cocktails passed around on a tray is a nice option for those who don't want to have to keep heading back to the bar."
The Caterers
Above: When you're interviewing caterers, ask if they specialize in outdoor events and if they have all the necessary equipment to prepare food and keep it warm on the fly.
"Since we had an indoor space where our caterers set everything up, we were covered. But if I were to do it again at a strictly outdoor location, I think hiring caterers at the top of their game is key," says Emily. "They should have all of the necessary equipment, plenty of help, prepare food ahead of time that doesn't need to be warm and do everything else on site. One of my friends had food trucks for her wedding, which was such a fun idea, but since they rarely did those kinds of occasions, the company was really ill prepared for the wedding. The line of people waiting for food snaked through the entire reception for the whole time."
Manage the Menu
Above: "For the most part, I associate outdoor weddings as a bit more informal, so make sure not to serve any food that's too stuffy," says Emily. "I think room temperature appetizers are easiest, as well as things that can be easily eaten while balancing a drink in your other hand.
"And for the main courses, I like the idea of serving things family-style at the table (in dishes that can be covered). We did that instead of a typical buffet and it really creates a warm, friendly vibe at each table when people are passing around the food."
Wedding Cake
Above: How do you protect a tiered wedding cake from the elements (and sugar-crazed bees)?
"There are plenty of really pretty options for covering cakes these days - I like the ones that are either glass or made of a really fine mesh screen," says Emily.
Music and Dancing
Above: Acoustics are different outdoors. Discuss this with the band or DJ ahead of time so speakers can be placed strategically.
"One thing we ran into multiple times when deciding on a location was certain noise restrictions and cut-off times for parties, so the more information you can find out ahead of time, the better! There's nothing sadder than realizing the party has to stop at 8 pm right when things are getting fun," says Emily.
Above: Emily Schuman's new book, Cupcakes and Cashmere at Home, goes on sale May 19. Preorder it for $12.55 at Amazon.
Planning a wedding? For more of our favorite ideas, see:
- Bride on a Budget: DIY Wedding Flowers for $20.
- 10 Tips to Plan a Simple Outdoor Wedding.
- Expert Advice: 10 Tips for Wedding Flowers from Kate Middleton's Florist.
More Stories from Gardenista