Here’s a year’s worth of my favorite flowers from our last season. I loosely named each photo based on the month when you might find those flowers in the market. Drop me a line if you have any questions about any of them in particular–I can look up which Portland-area florist created that bouquet. Stay tuned for a future post on my favorite boutonnaires from 2008.

These photos are from an early spring wedding a few seasons back at the ViewPoint Inn. As you can see, the guest list was small and the framework was simple. When the time felt right, the couple and their assembled guests wandered to a shady spot on the lawn and gathered ’round for a very short ceremony. There was much laughter and celebrating during the meal (lunch, I think) that followed.

If your finances are constrained, consider what effect the time of day can play on stretching your budget. You can host a lavish lunch or brunch for a much smaller cost than you would pay for dinner and cocktails. And while a bit of wine or champagne is surely enjoyed during a mid day celebration, the bar bill will be a fraction of cost of a typical evening fete.

Here’s a second post on the financial aspects of planning your wedding. I’m a big advocate of the idea that there are scads of inexpensive ways to have a stylish and meaningful wedding. Consider Jennifer and Eric. Shortly before their wedding, they were able to purchase a wonderful home. Although it was a huge amount of work to finish renovations AND prepare for the wedding, they rolled it all into one grand effort. The end result was a sweet wedding in the backyard. Jennifer carried a simple hydrangea bouquet in pale pink and cream, while her b-maids carried bouquets in one shade of pale cream. The florist, Kevin Inouye, decorated the yard with hanging baskets of hydrangeas, gerberas and lilies, and edged the deck with pots of living plants in various shades of pink and white.

Of course, you’ll have to consider a few things. Do you have enough room for everyone to arrive, mingle, and eventually sit? Or do you want to do something even more informal by having everyone merely “gather round”, or is this too hard on elderly guests? You need to figure the cost of rentals: chairs, maybe an aisle runner or a chuppa. But these costs are often puny in relation to church fees to venue rentals.

Then consider whether your home is a good spot for a reception. Some couples discover that their home is perfect for the ceremony, then a nearby restaurant is ideal for the reception to follow. Given the economy, I’ll bet it is a terrific time  to collaborate with restaurants on an economical menu.