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 5th instalment of the Covid Weddings series, and today I’m sharing a backyard wedding at the family home in La Broquerie.

NICOLE AND COLIN ~ JULY 4, 2020

Photos by Janice Wiebe Photography

Nicole and Colin’s backyard tent wedding was a really special one for me, because it was my first “full” wedding post-Covid. They were originally planning for 250+ guests at a large venue, but they were not interested in postponing. One month beforehand, they cut the guest list to about 35 people, and changed the plans to host both the ceremony and reception in Colin’s parents’ backyard in La Broquerie.

Nicole gave me total flexibility with the flowers, and basically just told me to surprise her. I decided on a palette of warm neutrals and was then surprised when I walked into the cooler at the wholesaler that week and found some eye-catching peach tones that I wanted to use — and I think they worked perfectly!

It’s a good thing momma was around, because she fixed the placement of that boutonniere 😂 For the record, boutonnieres are affixed to the lapel on the left side of your chest, and you shouldn’t see any pins once it’s pinned in properly. Traditionally, you wear either a boutonniere OR a pocket square, and not both.

Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: Sahara roses, beige/peach carnations, anemones, butterfly ranunculus, forget me nots, larkspur, bunny tail, and various eucalyptus foliages. I loved the way this bouquet was on the smaller side but still felt like it was spilling over.

Nicole’s dad made the arch, and I tossed around a few ideas for florals, including a heavy floral piece for the arch, or taller pedestal arrangements, some ground based florals, and in the end I decided on a slightly lighter application on the arch itself, with large arrangements on pedestals at the start of the aisle. I tucked a few extra peonies and larkspur stems into galvanized buckets near the pedestals and welcome sign.

You’d really have thought that this was the Plan A, considering how perfectly everything fit. This flagstone patio was ideal for the wedding ceremony, especially with the way the landscaping gives privacy. Going heavier on the florals with multiple pieces brings a sense of purpose to the space, too, which I think is really nice especially for a smaller wedding. I also just LOVE these cross-back chairs from Planned Perfectly. They’re so versatile and can go with a number of different styles.

The soft blue textured linen that Nicole chose from Planned Perfectly is one of my faves, and it pairs so well with those chairs, doesn’t it?

I chose to design 2 centrepiece styles for Nicole, but I wasn’t entirely sure what the floor plan was going to be in the tent or how much space we’d have.

This is one of those incidences where giving your vendors trust and flexibility ends up being the best — because Nicole had told me to do whatever I thought was best, I could change up the plan on the fly. Originally, I was going to place one large arrangement on each table, and flank them with stem vases. But, the guest tables were REALLY narrow (which isn’t terribly uncommon with banquet tables), but some of the tables were set for 4 people and some were for 6 people. The tables set for 4 were a little roomier, so I chose to place the larger floral arrangements there, and then I lined the centre of the 6 person tables with stem vases. The rest of the larger floral arrangements were placed on the U-shaped head table, along with a few extra stem vases, and the numbers were worked out perfectly — almost like we planned it 😉 The tall white candleholders are from Planned Perfectly!

Our original plans were to have a 275 person wedding at The Gates on Roblin. Due to uncertainties in May with gathering sizes, we chose to move our 50% deposit with them to a new date next year to celebrate our 1 year anniversary with family and friends (fingers crossed MB is still in the clear by then).

One month ago, we decided to shift everything over to my in-laws backyard outside of Winnipeg. We had to reduce our guest list to only parents, siblings, god parents, the wedding party and 4 friends. We had 27 people attend and it was still the best day of our lives. Seriously—you will not regret keeping your day.. at the end of the day, it’s all about the marriage, not the wedding.

My heart is with all of the couples that are juggling with the decision on whether they should move forward or not, but just know that whatever you choose is completely validated and nobody else’s business. We’re living through unprecedented times and all opinions outside of yours are just noise! Enjoy your relationship as a couple and know that everything will work itself out.

Janice wiebe photography ~ JP Media Works ~ Planned Perfectly ~ C&T Rentals ~ Tentation Tent Rentals ~ Chantal’s bridal ~ moore’s ~ Jeanna Lee Artistry

LOOKING FOR A WEDDING FLORAL AND EVENT DESIGNER IN WINNIPEG?

2021 wedding dates are limited and my 2022 wait list is now started! 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!