Dramatic Entrance
Whether it’s your parents’ backyard or an aunt’s summer place, you’ll want to make it clear that something special is about to happen there. An oversize vase is stuffed with ivy. Large white vase, the Conran Shop, conran.com; stone spheres, Campo de Fiori, campodefiori.com. —Nancy Mattia
Clean-cut Cutlery
Let the house’s architectural elements influence your wedding decor. This gray and white clapboard home inspired the wedding’s cool, clean palette. The table linens, tent, programs, and cake are in natural and white tones; garden green works as an accent color. Pewter-rimmed plates and fork, Match, match1995.com. Embossed paper overlays, Hollis Hills Mill Company, 516-876-7373. Napkins and tablecloth, Party Rental Ltd, partyrentalltd.com. Champagne flutes, Libbey, libbey.com.
Step Right In
A welcoming wreath of fruits, herbs and flowers hangs on the front door, personalized with the wedding couple’s monogram. Wreath of poppy pods, hyacinth bean, green apples, silver brunea, passion vine, stephanotis, sedum, oregano and nigella, Christopher Bassett. Monogram transfer, Wonderful Graffiti, wonderfulgraffti.com.
The Great Outdoors
Turn the backyard into a lounge with Adirondack chairs, iron benches and chaises (spring for new cushions). Here, wood-and-metal chandeliers are hung from branches. A landscaper can help rig the lights. Chandeliers, John Derian Company, johnderian.com. Adirondack chairs, Smith and Hawken, smithandhawken.com; candles, Creative Candles, creativecandles.com.
Monogrammed Motif
Decorated with the couple's monogram, these personalized programs echo the house's clean, streamlined colors. Programs, Zoë Inc, zoeink.com.
Aisle Style
Decide on where to have an aisle; it should lead to a focal point, such as a gazebo or terrace suitable for the ceremony. Here, an alley of oaks leads to the "I do’s" near the pool. Got a plain lawn? Line up flowerpots or large stones to create an aisle that takes guests to the vows. Votive candle lanterns, Campo de Fiori, campodefiori.com.
Casual Dinning
Keep things cozy. The linear look of this long feasting table works nicely under an oblong tent. Bistro-style chairs (here, every other one was tied with ribbon) keep the look casual. Tables are draped in white cotton and topped with embossed-paper overlays; handcrafted plates complete the picture. Eight-foot canvas squares (available to rent) held up by bamboo poles provide both shade and style. Canopies, Kelly Scott Designs, kelllyscottdesigns.com. Chairs, tablecloth, and napkins, Party Rental Ltd, partyrentalltd.com. Ribbon, Midori, midoriribbon.com. Flutes, Libbey Inc, libbey.com. Bowls, Match, match1995.com. Bouquet (on chair) of helleborus, sage, stephanotis, gardenias, dusty miller, hydrangeas, passion flowers, veronica and amaranthus, Christopher Bassett.
Naturally Beautiful
Design a wedding cake that echoes the surroundings. This one, on a stone birdbath, features fondant petals, latticework and a stylized peony. (Avoid buttercream frosting during the warmer months.) Cake, Lovin Sullivan Cakes, cakepower.com; silver tray, Match, match1995.com; birdbath, Campo de Fiori, campodefiori.com.
All Boxed Up
Personalize favors. Small touches—a ribbon printed with your names, a thank-you tag done in calligraphy, and a fresh floral accent—make even the simplest favors seem extra special. Favor boxes (with added flower, tag, and ribbon), Signature by Crayon, signaturebycrayon.com; ribbon, Midori, midoriribbon.com; calligraphy, Nancy Howell, nancyhowell.com.
Mix and Match
You’ll likely have to rent chairs, tables, plates, flatware and glasses, so why not incorporate family pieces into your table settings for an individual look? Monogrammed cocktail napkins, Foryourparty.com, foryourparty.com; knife, Fishs Eddy, fishseddy.com.
Green Decor
In such an intimate locale, edible centerpieces served family style are a natural choice over flowers—gather french-fried string beans in a pretty container and no one will wonder where the tulips are. Vegetables, Creative Edge Parties, creativeedgeparties.com; porcelain can, John Derian Company, johnderian.com; plate, Match, match1995.com.
Spice It Up
Platters of colorful pesto paella give the table a delicious focus. Serving spoon, Match, match1995.com; paella, Creative Edge Parties, creativeedgeparties.com.
Party of Five
Have a kick-back cocktail hour— ours featured a mozzarella station with five varieties, including Scamorza, buffalo and smoked. Pot (with rosemary and lavender), Campo de Fiori, campodefiori.com; vintage lace overlays, Laura Fisher. Mozzarella bar, Creative Edge Parties, creativeedgeparties.com.
Pass It On
Passed hors d’oeuvres were handwritten on a slate tile for easy ID. Mini empanadas and pot pies, Creative Edge Parties, creativeedgeparties.com; slate tray, Ancient Grafitti, ancientgrafitti.com; calligraphy, Nancy Howell, nancyhowell.com.
DIY Drinks
An at-home wedding allows you to introduce personal touches that would be out of place in a more formal space. So include Mom’s chicken pot pie, or customized drink labels featuring a favorite photo or quote. Green apple soda (shown with customized labels), Jones Soda Company, jonessoda.com; ice bucket, Abigails, www.abigails.net.
A Bride's Best Friend
Allow Fido to precede you down the aisle (reward him with a special doggie cake). Go with what feels good inside—after all, home is where the heart is. Two-tier dog cake with yogurt coating, Foppers Cuddly Critters Pet Bakery, foppers.com; plate, Abigails, www.abigails.net; bow, Midori, midoriribbon.com.
