There are many reasons people want to be married in a garden. For some it’s important to be outdoors…maybe it’s a “the sky’s the limit” kind of thing. Others want to be surrounded by plants and flowers because it’s beautiful and, perhaps, a symbol of a commitment to growth. For many families the choice of a garden is personal. You might want to be married near the peonies your grandmother planted, for example.
Finally, some choose a garden because it conveys the atmosphere of a particular location. The plants that grow in one area don’t necessarily thrive in other locales, so most gardens automatically convey a sense of place.
When a particular location is important to the bride and groom, small touches can be added to that reinforce this significance. A mulch of local rocks on selected bare areas of the garden, a pile of pinecones in a basket, or a cluster of seashells or sea glass for example.
These local references don’t have to beat people over the head…it isn’t necessary to scream “You’re near the beach!” In fact, a sense of place is made even more effective and magical when it’s subtle.
One way to suggest a sense of place is by the use of appropriate containers for informal bouquets. Here a Cape Cod porch table holds a tin pail of flowers, surrounded by a scattering of seashells.