Casual Al Fresco Wedding during Covid
2020 has been a weird year for weddings, and sometimes it seems like it’s not even worth talking about anymore. That’s exactly why I’m starting this blog series, because I want to celebrate our “Covid weddings” and, at the same time, inspire you with ideas on how you can make sure that Covid-19 doesn’t define your wedding!
This is the third instalment of the Covid Weddings series, and we’re flashing back to yet another super hot backyard wedding in St Clements. Read on for my reflections of their casual al fresco wedding and details from the bride herself!
MARGEAUX AND RYAN ~ JULY 25, 2020
Photos by Krista Hawryluk Photography
“For us, it was important to get married in 2020 as we had already been engaged for 18 months. We knew if we postponed to 2021 we would have decided not to have a reception at all and perhaps elope at a later date (not a desirable outcome — I just didn't see us waiting a whole other year for a party). Instead, we pushed the date up from the beginning of September to the end of July. Our wonderful wedding planner advised us to do so, to help ensure that the weather was nicer into the evening hours as another big plan change was moving the wedding to be an outdoor tent wedding instead of a predominantly indoor wedding at our prior wedding venue.
We got married and had the reception at my sister-in-law's property and reduced the guest count from about 140 to 55. The reduction in guests was two-fold 1) to adhere with the ever-changing gathering size regulations that seemed to be a moving target up until the wedding date, and 2) a lot of our original guest list was made up of out-of-towners who, because of Manitoba COVID regulations at the time, couldn't visit the province regardless.
Margeaux came to me with just a couple of inspiration photos (along with a full design board created by her planner, Alli Mae Events) and she really loved the bleached foliage look and dried flowers. I knew that toffee roses would be the perfect bit of warm colour for her, and while she didn’t want a lot of greenery, I was excited when she liked my idea to incorporate some cool toned foliage.
Bridal bouquet ingredients: toffee roses, dried and fresh ranunculus, strawflower, lisianthus, amaranthus, knifeblade acacia foliage, copper tinted plumosa, and bleached ruscus, ferns, and bunny tails.
We planned a few things to make our guests feel more comfortable and follow social distancing guidelines including, having hand sanitizer vials for each guest on all tables as a practical wedding favour, having a portable hand washing station for guests to wash with clean water and soap, reconfiguring the dinner table layout with only small tables that would fit the guests’ immediate bubble (no more than 4 people at each table) and each table was spaced out.
The plan was always to keep the wedding party’s florals simple — the girls were originally going to carry just a single rose! So it wasn’t a hard decision to cut those out with the Covid re-plans. We were very grateful for Alli (pictured below), the bride’s sister AND the woman behind Alli Mae Events! She led us all through the replan with grace and enthusiasm.
Margeaux and Ryan had a specific floral budget and they wanted to keep as close to that number as possible. Alli Mae Events wisely advised them to put the focus on Margeaux’s bouquet and on the ceremony installation, and keep the rest simple. We were able to keep the plan for the ceremony florals intact from the original wedding to the covid wedding, and I was so glad because I loved our plan!
I designed a ground-based semi-circle nest incorporating a lot of dried florals, bleached foliages, foraged items, and of course, toffee roses! I wanted it to be highly textural, warm, and unique.
This was made of 4 separate pieces, which were re-purposed to various reception spots.
The hardest decision to move forward with a wedding in 2020 was knowing that we wouldn't be able to have all of our out of town friends and family. I have a lot of out of town friends that I am very close with, and it was hard to make the decision that they wouldn't be able to celebrate with us. Once I got over that part, everything else came together and was just as beautiful and special as I could have ever imagined.
Luckily we were able to maintain all of our wedding vendors (everyone was available on that date) except our venue, so all the other planning elements (flowers, food, etc.) were exactly as we had originally discussed. In transitioning the plan, some things were easier and felt more casual and more "us," but there were also some aspects that made it more challenging. In moving to a backyard wedding, our family, bridal party and ourselves had a lot more setup work to do. We ran all over the city picking up equipment, tables and chairs, then dropping off all the rentals afterwards. It definitely felt like we had to "work" for the wedding day which wasn't exactly the most romantic thing.
The tent was actually situated in the front yard of the property, with the walls open and cocktail sized tables spaced 6 feet apart throughout. I thought this was such a great idea for seating — rather than renting the usual 8 person tables, they specifically designed the seating arrangements around family groupings and guests’s “bubbles.” Each table had just 2-4 seats at it.
We alternated the table centrepieces between a simple candle design and petite floral arrangements in the pottery bud vases I have in my rental inventory. I really like the mahogany folding chairs they chose — they’re both cost-effective and really clean lined, so they’re easy to design with without being a super boring white chair. They upgraded the place setting details with the Contessa plates and copper flatware from C&T Rentals.
The ceremony pieces were positioned around the cocktail area, marking the bases of the lighting poles, along with one piece marking the sweetheart table.
I had to include one photo of me working on that ceremony piece — sweaty as all get-out and showing a little too much bra. Sorry about that 😉
A word of advice for other couples up against COVID: just do it! Those who can't make your wedding will be supportive of your decision. No one knows what the future holds, so you have to do what's right for you in this moment. Make a list of your top 50 guests (I know, it's hard) and plan a predominantly outdoor ceremony if you want to have more than 10 guests. Don't compromise on anything else — have the food, flowers, dress and photographer that you've always wanted because it's still your special day regardless of the number of people physically present. Take time as a couple after the wedding, even if it's just a staycation and Netflix marathon, to stay present and celebrate your new marriage.
We had the best day. We absolutely loved our wedding, and looking back, I am so happy we had a more intimate celebration. It felt good being able to talk to every guest and spend time with everyone at the wedding.
Krista Hawryluk Photography ~ Allie Mae Events ~ Stone House Creative ~ C&T Rentals ~ Springfield Tent Rentals ~ Gotta Go ~ Chew ~ Something Borrowed ~ Pearl & Birch ~ Moores ~ Hair by Nadine ~ Mesmereyez’d Makeup
Need more Covid-style intimate wedding inspiration?
Check out this Birds Hill Park elopement (they’re planning their reception for 2021!), and this backyard Jewish wedding ceremony and dinner!.
LOOKING FOR A WEDDING FLORAL AND EVENT DESIGNER IN WINNIPEG?
2021 wedding dates are limited! Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!