Capture the essence of a country orchard: Tags with guests' names on miniature fruit create unique place cards, by Rexford Holly Stationers, rexfordholly.com. Pin, from Evolution, theevolutionstore.com.
Planning & Budget
Naturally Inspired Wedding Style
Published on February 7, 2008
How to create a country garden look—without the country, or the garden.
Introduce the garden theme with a sage-hued invite featuring a rosemary motif, from On Paper, onpaper.net.
Herbs offer a clean, fresh look and a subtle, earthy scent. Decorate the aisle with miniature potted plants that evoke a garden path—and continue the idea with an oversize monogram made with rosemary leaves. Event design, by Matthew Robbins for Artfool, artfool.com. Aisle runner and chairs, from Party Rental Ltd., partyrentalltd.com.
Bring the garden indoors: Set large ceramic urns overflowing with rosemary plants at the altar. Event design, by Matthew Robbins for Artfool, artfool.com.
Welcome guests with terra-cotta flowerpots filled with herbed crackers, mustard, olive oil, and even a candle. Pot, from Jamali Garden Supply, jamaligarden.com. Food, from Garden of Eden, 866-222-0434. Votive candle, from Whole Foods Market, wholefoods.com.
Serving a special libation is a fun and stylish way to personalize your wedding. Choose a longtime nonalcoholic favorite or a cocktail that reflects your reception theme.
Because there's nothing more refreshing than sipping a tall glass of iced tea in a shaded garden, we incorporate this quintessential ritual of serving highballs filled with chilled herbal teas and sprigs of fresh mint on a round wicker tray. Glasses and tray, from Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com.
Small potted herbs, such as baby tears, euonymus, and rosemary, can be cleverly used as escort cards—that double as favors—by inserting plant markers with guests' names. Herbs by Artfool, artfool.com. Markers from Jamali Garden Supply, jamaligarden.com. Calligraphy, by Tommy for Coyle & Company, 212-818-1255. Green lattice, from Props for Today, propsfortoday.com.
Instead of marking tables with numbers, we use illustrated seed packets, created by Jack Meyers for Artfool, artfool.com. Pitchers, from Two's Company, twoscompany.com. Wood surface, from Props for Today, propsfortoday.com.
A small wreath of rosemary and fresh olives is a lovely alternative to the flower girl's basket.
Transport your guests with a table full of garden details. Start with a plaid tablecloth—an elegant take on a classic picnic blanket—and add white-on-white china subtly embossed with a vegetable motif, then finish the look with a fragrant herb-and-flower centerpiece. Here, event designer Matthew Robbins of Artfool combines rosemary, thyme, and mint with lilies of the valley, ranunculus, echeveria, sweet peas, and dusty miller. China, crystal, flatware, table, chairs, and linens, all from Party Rental Ltd., partyrentalltd.com.
Set apart the bride's and groom's chairs with fragrant garlands of ivy, rosemary, and fresh olives tied with sage silk ribbon, from Artfool, artfool.com. Chairs, from Party Rental Ltd., partyrentalltd.com.
Bunches of fresh mint leaves, sweet pea, and ranunculus give the bride's bouquet a fresh-picked feel. Bouquet, by Artfool, artfool.com. White table, from Props for Today, propsfortoday.com.
Think shady summer garden: Cover a table with a bed of cool, green moss. A handmade guest book adorned with a watering-can charm has outdoor appeal, from Nina M., 209-571-0587.
Instead of serving one wedding cake, present individual table cakes iced with fondant and decorated with sugar herbs (sage, rosemary, and basil shown here). Cake by Buddy Valastro for Carlo's Bakery, $300, serves 15, carlosbakery.com. Cake stands, from Two's Company, twoscompany.com.
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