The Garden Cocktail Reception
Tara Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008 at 6:00AM When we envisioned our wedding day, we saw an intimate day where we would celebrate our promise of forever with those closest to us. We wanted to share the city that had become our home with our family. We wanted to be able to talk, rather just say hello, to everyone that was there to celebrate with us. We wanted the day to be comfortable and for there to be a natural ease to the atmosphere. This is what guided all of "major" decisions during planning such as where, which vendor, what colors, etc. Our theme became an intimate, understated summer garden party.
The venue, A New Leaf, played a significant role by being the gorgeous background...
We decided on a cocktail reception as we wanted there to be an abundance of both mingling and of flavors on the menu... people flowed between the garden and the storefront chit chatting and nibbling...
The little details in these photos: dear husband and I tied the cocktail stirrers while watching a movie, the overlays were made by me and my mom, the mints were made with my family and on a stand that my brother and dad made, the pink and white balls were Martha Stewart from Michaels, the ribbon to tie the highboys was from Paper Source, the restroom signs where made by the groom...
For the guest book we wanted a way to remember everyone who came to celebrate with us; a polaroid album gave us more than just signatures to look back at yet was still centered on the guests as being part of the day...
For our entrance into the reception, Makes Me Happy by Drake Bell played...
As we cut the cake, Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen played in the background...
Towards the end of the evening, the chest that had been the guest book station transitioned to hold the favors. The boxes that I made were wrapped with a strip of the paper used on the programs/quiz books and topped with a ribbon that held on the DIY double sided tag. We filled them with Girl Scout cookies; incorporating both supporting a great organization locally by purchasing from a girl scout in the neighborhood (I was a Girl Scout growing up) and our love for cookies (thin mints were my pick and dear husband picked the shortbread designated by the color of the ribbon)...
Up next I will post the other pieces of our reception, including the floral decor and the summer garden party menu.
Wedding Recap Posts:
- My Version of a Perfect Wedding
- A Stolen Moment During the Reception
- Eat Drink Be Merry
- The Garden Party Floral Decor
- The Garden Cocktail Reception
- The Ceremony
- The Time Before The Ceremony
- The Meeting
- Florals: The Personals
- Getting Ready: The Groom's Side of the Story
- Getting Ready: Dress and Accessories
- All About The Shoes
- Getting Ready: Hair & Makeup
- 300th Post A Wedding Photo
- Wedding Photos Are Arriving: Almost A Bride
Or all of the post on our wedding day can be found through the label My Wedding.
ITI: A Wedding, my wedding in Weddings
Reader Comments (12)
Ok so I love the favor wrappings and the tie to Girl Scouts.
But what I really want to know is where did you get your cupcake stand?! I have been trolling the internet for a nice one and yours looks wonderful. That is exactly the look I am going for special paper wrappers and all!
So I traced back everything and I see that your dad made your cupcake stand.
Hi Nicole, My dad and my brother did make the cupcake stand based on one I found on the site Cakes By Sam. The cupcake wrappers I purchased from Paper Orchid Stationery but I believe they are at several other places such as Fancy Fleurs. Hope that helps!
I love all of your details and that is so great that you used girl scout cookies as your favors!
loving all these photos!
Your pics are blowing me away! The candles, the colors-so, so gorgeous! I'm just itching to see more!
Hi!! I stumbled across your blog last week and have been having a great time going through all the previous posts - the photos from your wedding are stunning, it must have been an amazing day for you. Everything looks perfectly executed and FUN! the DIY projects have got me all inspired, everything is gorgeous!
Hi Tara -
I have been following your blog and am so happy that the wedding turned out so beautifully!
I am thinking about a similar garden reception wedding at New Leaf, but have some concerns about the number of guests the venue can accommodate. Can I ask how many guests you had, and what you think the maximum number would be for a cocktail reception at NL?
Thanks!
Christine
Hi Tara-
I love all the little details. Where did you find your bird cage for the cards?
Thank you for your sweet comments! And it was fun!
Lesley, The birdcage is from the website Save on crafts and is fairly inexpensive.
Christine, My wedding was pretty small. I believe ANL will work for around 150 people but you may want to check with Tina of With This Ring I Thee Obsess as she is planning a larger wedding there for October. GL!
I just came across your blog as I am in the midst of planning my own wedding. I love the photographs and DIY ideas you have posed (I am trying to do as much DIY I can to personalize our wedding and save on money). I found your blog from the Save On Crafts web site. I have been considering purchasing the birdcage that you used for your wedding. I am concerned about the size. They offer it in two sizes (17" and 13") - which one did you get? Also, was it big enough to have guests slide their cards in through the meteal or did they have to open it up? Thanks!
Hi Anna,
I ordered the 17" version and it was plenty large enough. People could slide cards through the top without needing to open it. That size leaves room for decorating as well... Really a slightly smaller one would work equally as well but some cards are quite wide so I leaned towards having a bit of extra room if needed. Good luck!