An Outdoor Wedding Extravaganza
Hooks – Salgado: A lakeside wedding followed by a sit down dinner for 80 people
My husband and I have a small lake house on Lake Island Ford, a beautiful ski size lake in Odessa, Florida. It is a rather old Florida style property with a wild yard that looks green with little watering as our weeds are greener and more prolific than our grass. Our little house and yard clean up quite nice and with low lights and candles anything can be magical.
My husband has been friends with the Hooks family for years and when their daughter Monica and her fiance Michael asked to have their wedding in our backyard no was not even an option. Planning any kind of event outdoors can be a risky venture. You learn to have back up plans that can range all the way from plan A to plans E and F and then some. Having been in the event planning industry for years, I have learned that the months October and November are relatively safe planning months for outdoor events in the Tampa Bay area. Monica and Michael were on a limited budget and she had done her research diligently and knew exactly the look and feel she wanted for her wedding. Like most brides, she wanted a low cost wedding that looked like a million bucks and so she brought all of her magazines and pictures of weddings, centerpieces and flowers that she had been cutting out and perusing for months and we put our heads together to plan the most incredible outdoor wedding extravaganza for an even more incredible low cost.
I had just come back from planning, decorating, cooking and attending my friend Woody Garcia’s 60th birthday party in Silva North Carolina, a sit down dinner for 40, family style, and decided that it is my new preferred way to seat guests. Since there is not a “guest of honor” table, everyone is sitting together and no one feels left out. Another trick I borrowed from that party was the Italian style lighting with the bare bulb lights strung crisscross tight across the seating area at approximately 9-10 feet off the ground which creates a “ceiling” and a more intimate space. We found the boxed light sets on sale at Target in their garden department for more than half off the price.
Hang light strands stretched tight (on wire) at approximately 9-10 feet high
Monica’s Mother, Pam Hooks, borrowed the 8′ tables for seating from the school where she works and we also rented a few small round cocktail tables along with the white wooden chairs, glass wear and cloth napkins. Her colors (which coordinated with the handcrafted wedding invitations she sent out) were a celadon green and chocolate brown. In order to save the cost of linen rentals which can be exorbitant, I ordered a roll of a natural linen fabric which was approximately 84″ wide.
The whole roll was plenty to cover the 8′ tables which sat 40 people on each side with enough left over to cut squares for the cafe tables, food tables and the bar. We set up a small intimate area down by the water to hold the ceremony using the chairs from the tables and then after the ceremony they were quickly assembled back to their seating table positions which saved the cost of renting additional chairs for a short ceremony. We also only used about 30 chairs for the ceremony for older guests who would be more comfortable sitting than standing.
To save money on the flowers, we set up an assembly line the day before the wedding and put together all the flowers for the wedding before hand. Just be sure you have a cool place to store the flowers until the wedding, especially the bridal party flowers which should be refrigerated. For the centerpieces, Monica chose to mix and match the vases and the flowers. We used assorted short round cylinder open vases lined on the inside with variegated tea leaves and filled them with a dozen beautiful red open roses teach (Roses are available at Nature’s Market for only 5.99 a dozen). The taller glass jar containers were also an assortment of different shapes and sizes which she found on sale at a variety of different garden shops around town. We filled the glass jar containers with a bit of orchid planting material on the bottom and then added a single small orchid plant, roots and all. We propped them up with a small branch of bamboo and tied a small bit of raffia around the orchid stem and branch. I happened to have a new hatching of lime green tree frogs in the yard and we added a few of the frogs inside the “terrarium” for a touch of whimsy; and yes we had the lids on.
Assorted containers used for the centerpieces
The dinner was planned as a buffet which is less costly than a sit down dinner and can be just as elegant by using the full dress of a proper table setting. I tend to coordinate the food tables to the dining tables by using the same type flower arrangements but on a much grander scale. The buffet style dining also reduces the number of serving personnel required and gives the party a more casual air conducive of good conversation and fun.
Another cost saving tip is to use your friends to help set up instead of hired hands. I generally have a few sisters and a few friends helping me put together a large event. We always share some laughs and it makes the set up go more quickly. Use a punch list and time line so every one knows what jobs need to be done and in which order.
My friend Allison lending a hand
Monica and Michael hired the catering company, Metro Chefs for Hire. They did a beautiful job with the food both before and after dinner. There wait staff were very professional and quick to see what needed to be picked up or replenished and the food was incredible.
Because there is little light pollution after dark out in Odessa, we created additional light and mood by hanging assorted sizes of large paper white lanterns all individually lit with twinkle lights wrapped on their wire skeletons (this requires a lot of extension cords so be sure to follow the safety instructions per cord).
Strands of bulb lights stretched tight across the tables
Monica chose to use some of their budget for a small band which we set up under the holly tree lit up with giant paper balls of light. The live music kept the festivities hopping well into the evening. They also had some I-pod music set up to play while the band took some breaks. Just make sure you have all the electrical requirements for the band and if it even looks like a small chance of rain they may require a cover of some sort so their equipment won’t get damaged.
The band and area for dancing was set up under the paper lanterns
A note for outdoor weddings and cakes…..
- It is generally best to keep the cake indoors or put it outside just before it is to be cut as you might end up with small flying bugs stuck in the icing (discovered by experience).
- Watch the weather and always have a back up plan just in case. When you plan an outdoor wedding near the water there is generally a possibility of heavier wind and sea breezes so your flower arrangements and such need to be weighted down or kept low to the table.
- Before the guests are due to arrive be sure you walk the party as if you were a guest to make sure every thing is in order and don’t forget to take some photographs of the party before the guests arrive while every thing is still “picture perfect”.
Much to the surprise of the groom’s mother….our little house and yard was transformed that night into a magical tropical romantic paradise; a perfect fit for one of the most beautiful brides, ever.
Monica Hooks Saldago
Tags: Add new tag, Flower containers, How to plan an outdoor wedding, Lakeside, Linen Fabric, Outdoor events, outdoor wedding, planning an outdoor wedding, Tropical Flower s, twinkle lights, water side weddings, Wedding, wedding planning, wedding tips
