Bright Ideas for a Beautiful Summer Wedding

Are you planning to exchange vows this summer?  If yes, here are some ideas to help you prepare for a beautiful summer wedding.  I also searched Pinterest for stunning photos of summer weddings to inspire you even more.

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A romantic bohemian wedding in the summer!

Tie-the-knot outdoors.  Summer is the perfect time to get married out in the sun.  Why not plan a beach wedding or a garden wedding and make the most of the beautiful, sunny weather?  Don’t have a big budget for a destination wedding?  It doesn’t matter!  There’s no need to go far.  Even a small, backyard wedding can be exceptionally wonderful as long as there is a plan and the preparations are done right.

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Simple outdoor wedding banquets arrangements  

Complement nature.  What’s great about an outdoor wedding is that you can actually take advantage of the natural beauty of the place.  Indeed, decorations can be very minimal, which is great especially if you’re on a budget.  Whether it would be an early morning ceremony by the seaside; a brunch in an orchard; or a late afternoon wedding in the garden; the occasion is bound to be beautiful even without lavish adornments. As cliché as it may sound, what could be more picturesque than two people exchanging vows amidst sparkling bluish green waters; lush, green landscape; or under a glorious sky?

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A long piece of plain, white fabric drapes over a tree to create a stunning frame ; 

lighted string jars hung from tree branches add a romantic glow to an evening reception

Flower power.  Bouquets and garlands of fresh flowers are a feast to the eyes.  Calla Lilies, Chrysanthemums, Cockscomb, Columbine, Daisies, Hydrangeas,  Blue Delphiniums, Gerberas, Gladioli, Lilies, Peonies, Roses, Wildflowers, Zinnias ~ these are but a few names to choose from.  It would be a good idea to ask a gardener or a florist a few months in advance which summer blooms are available in your region. Needless to say, flowers in season would be cheaper than the rare varieties.  But don’t forget to consider succulents and greens in your flower arrangements.  They never fail to bring texture, uniqueness, and charm to a bunch of blossoms.

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love the simplicity of these bridal bouquets ~
an assortment of greens, wildflowers, summer blossoms an succulents

How about fruits?  Fruits! Of course!  What's a summer wedding without cocktails!  Berries, cherries, watermelon, mangoes, oranges, lemons and citruses ~ A beverage station is a must for all weddings, but most definitely with outdoor weddings.

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summer fruit punch in glass, jars and bottles

But summer fruits not only make delightful thirst-quenchers! Mixed with colorful florals, fresh fruits make lovely accents on the banquet table and place settings as well.

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Bring in some vegetables!  I love the idea of having a fruit and veggies bar where guests can help themselves of healthy treats anytime during the reception. 

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little, red raddishes with flowers make unique, vibrant centerpiece; 
artichoke bouquet, anyone?;
a colorful veggie bar featuring fresh veggies and a variety of dips and dressings

Ice cream, please!  It should be safe to say that all the guests would surely be delighted to have something cold and sweet to beat the summer heat?  How about frosty ice cream or gelato for dessert! Get in touch with a local ice cream vendor and see if you can hire an ice cream cart or if you have an ice-cream maker, you can set-up your own help-yourself homemade ice-cream booth, complete with cups, cones, and all sorts of toppings to choose from.  Another fun option to cool the palate are popsicles!

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A vintage style ice cream cart;
ice cream snack bar;
homemade ice cream in glass jars ready to be served

Parasols and fans would come in handy for a summertime wedding and would make great souvenirs too! You may choose to distribute these before the start of the ceremony, placing one parasol or fan on each chair or let your guests take one from the basket.

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yellow & white umbrellas await guests on each seat;
paper fans;
white parasols with ribbons in a wooden box;

a heart-shaped fan with the bride & groom's monogram

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An early evening wedding outdoors with the splendid sky as the backdrop.

These are just a few suggestions that you may consider.  Which one of these ideas would you like to incorporate on your wedding day?  Do you have other summer wedding ideas to share?

Wedding Accessories: Alternative Bridal Bouquet

These bouquets are not your typical bridal bouquets! They are made out of recycled paper, vintage fabric, old buttons, or trinkets.  These alternative bridal bouquets are perfect for a bohemian-themed wedding or a handmade wedding.  These are eco-friendly, budget-friendly, and beautiful!  So when fresh flowers are not available or are too expensive, why not use alternatives? Here some inspirations from Etsy sellers.

vintage rhinestone and fabric bouquet by florabond

paper hydrangea florets and denim roses in deep blue by The Crimson Poppy
beach wedding bouquet with teal accents by Seashell Design Co
rosettes and hydrangeas made out of vintage wedding dress by Autumnand Grace Bridal
 

bouquet made of seashells, dried flowers, and grasses by Crocus Creative

bouquet made of faux pearls, crystals, brooches, pins, buttons, rings, earrings and other trinkets by Lillybuds Bouquets

paper bouquet made out of recycled books by A Bespoke Touch

bouquet made of vintage flower brooches and earrings by hairbows wonderworld

Camille felt flowers by Muncle Fred Art

bouquets made from recycled pages of old books  by redzebradesigns

Handmade Rustic Wedding Signs

These rustic wedding signs are adorable!  Perfect for outdoor, backyard or garden weddings, vintage-themed weddings and bohemian-style weddings.  Be inspired and make your own or check out handmade sellers from Etsy to order a custom-made signs and banners.

wood heart sign with the words "Here Comes The Bride" : braggingbags 

burlap heart garland with yellow hearts : victorian station 

Just Married Wedding Banner Sign : Sew Barefoot 

rustic old barn wood sign hand engraved with "Just Married" : bragging bags

How to Put Together a Vintage Themed Wedding

Do you want a vintage-inspired wedding? If your answer is, "Yes, I do!", Here are some tips to help you plan and put it together:


Think of a theme. So you want a vintage wedding but when it comes to the theme, your imagination is the only limit. Some inspirations include a travel-themed vintage, old Hollywood wedding, a fairytale story, a bohemian wedding, or a particular era (60's wedding, 80's wedding?) that you fancy.

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Gather vintage décor.  What’s great about putting together a vintage wedding is that the décor does not need to look alike, as long as they complement each other.  Uniformity is not a factor with a vintage wedding.  It’s all about harmony.

Make a list of the possible things that you will need for the reception tables before you do your search. Having list will serve as your guide but there are no restrictions.  If you can’t find certain objects, finding alternatives is perfectly fine.  Scout thrift shops, second-hand stores, flea markets, garage sales, and online vintage shops. 

You can also ask your friends if they have vintage things in their home that they can lend you for the wedding.  If you will be borrowing vintage, make a list of each item and to whom it belongs to be sure that none will be misplaced and that everything will be returned to their owners.

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Create a vintage setting. Designing a vintage backdrop doesn’t need to be complicated.  You can look for inspirations from real weddings online.

 
Check out Catie & Ben’s vintage-inspired backyard at Green Wedding Shoes.  I love how they turned their backyard into a fairyland by hanging old window and using different vintage chairs. 

photo via: Green Wedding Shoes

by: Dana Grant Photography

Another inspiration is Larissa & Niall’s wedding. I love her goddess-style wedding dress and veil! So gorgeous!

 photos via: Green Wedding Shoes

by: Paper & Lace Photography

You should also check out Deborah & Stephen's wedding at Ruffled blog. I love how they used antique cabinet drawers to display their wedding favors and sweets.  So cool!

 photo via: Ruffledblog

by: Half Orange Photography

Make it a group project. It will be easy to put together a handmade vintage wedding with the help of family and friends. Jot down the specific tasks that need to be done and assign people to do each task.  For example, who will be in charge of the flower arrangements or the table settings? Do you plan to create your own favors or print out your own invitations?  Make sure that you have enough time to accomplish all errands. 

Know where to scrimp and where to splurge.  Many couples who chose a vintage-inspired wedding would say that they worked on a very small budget, yet they were able to put together something extraordinary. 

Some brides spend half of their wedding budget on the dress and shoes alone.  However, you can buy a really simple, inexpensive, yet classy, vintage wedding gown or a vintage pair of shoes.  It is okay to splurge a bit but you need to decide where exactly you will put in more money.  For instance, you may want to invest on photography to make sure that the best moments of your wedding will be preserved.

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Set a budget and stick to it.  A vintage-themed wedding should be budget-friendly. However, if you will not set a definite amount, you might still go over-the-budget shopping for décor that is not really necessary.  It’s always a good idea to write down the plan and calculate the exact expenses.

Do you love vintage weddings?  

Would you like to share some tips?