Decorating for an outdoor wedding can be overwhelming.  Often times the beauty of the outdoors is overlooked in wedding planning and we get caught up in building arches and focal points with flowers, candles and fabric.  There are so many different ways to decorate an outdoor space that it can easily be overdone; but it’s important to find a balance and decorate in a way that enhances the natural beauty of the land and lets the view speak for itself. While the ceremony and the reception sites are the main areas to focus on for décor  there are often opportunities to add a little elegance where the guests will naturally congregate throughout the property.  One area where people can add subtle décor is in a water feature. Whether it’s a pool, pond or fountain that exists at your outdoor wedding site, look for ways to add some unique décor that enhances the evening ambiance. Floating candles and lanterns are a great way to set the mood and add some romance and elegance to your affair.  Flowers are beautiful too, but often costly because they are pre-arranged.

Two products that we’re excited to decorate with are Floating White Blossom Lights (available at Target) and Floating Wish Lanterns. Not only are they affordable, but they also blend in naturally with the water and come off as sophisticated pool décor. When doing a search for pool lights you’ll find a number of products that are tacky, crazy expensive and a bunch that are just plain unappealing.  After doing a lot of research I can honestly say these are the best options for a bride on a budget.  Floating orbs/ball lanterns are pretty cool, but they’ll cost you a pretty penny. Remember, in the end, water feature décor should be subtle and it should seem fitting for the occasion–so set a small budget for it and enjoy the atmosphere it creates!

Cupcakes have become a popular alternative to wedding cake in the last few years. There are a lot of reasons why brides choose them over cake (they are more affordable, they add a bit of whimsy to your reception, you can choose more cake flavors, etc.). Regardless of people’s preference, cupcakes are holding strong and proving to be more than just a fad. Whether its a cake, cupcakes or a slew of pies, wedding desserts deserve a beautiful, unique display.  Our wedding is following a “rustic” theme, so I zeroed in on wanting a rustic wood tree stand immediately.  I’ve been quite reasonable in my wedding purchases, but I’ll admit I splurged a tiny bit on this stand. It’s truly stunning and will surely be one of the most talked about things at our reception.  The important thing is to choose a dessert display that’s unique and showcases your delicious food. Though some stands are a bit more than you may have budgeted, remember you can sell the stand after your event to recoup some of the cost (if it’s in good condition).  If you’re looking for a unique cupcake stand, I recommend doing a search on Etsy to see the various styles you can choose from.

For those looking for a similar stand to ours shown above, we worked with Postscripts on Etsy to design our gorgeous piece.