Location

If you are having a small wedding, it is nice to have it at home. Living rooms and gardens are good spots, depending on the weather. If your own home isn't suitable, the home of a family member or friend is also appropriate. A local park is also a good choice, and often is free. Check with your local park department, however, as you may need to get a group use permit for a small fee.

We had our first wedding ceremony in an ancient redwood forest near our home. After the ceremony, we led our guests on a beautiful walk through the forest, serenaded by two flutes. Then we had the reception on the patio at our home. This time, we had the ceremony in our garden, followed by the reception in the living room. Instead of spending money on a rented space we used those funds on improving the garden area of the 1940 house we are renovating, which will provide long-term enjoyment and improve our property value.

We rented wooden folding chairs for a nominal fee and set them up on a patch of lawn under our oak and citrus trees.

For the ceremony, we stood beneath living two trees, whose trunks we joined with a wooden arch made out of a piece of reclaimed wood. The only other decorations were ivory and green bows made from a super-sized spool of ribbon (one of only two disposable items in the whole wedding).

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