If you are all about letting the outdoors in and taking inspiration from nature it is hard to get much prettier than an English Country Garden inspired wedding. This soft and romantic theme is simply stunning and celebrates all things natural. We've incorporated all sorts of elements such as fresh, organic florals and unique garden-themed props like metal buckets and watering cans. You'll love creating your very own secret garden for a DIY wedding reception.
Plant the Garden
To create the feeling an English garden, fill the room with classic country garden blooms. Bouquets or fresh plantings of lavender, sweet peas, daisies and roses were our flowers of choice. The relaxed nature of this theme means there are so many ways to showcase florals, from jars, pails and vases to watering cans.
Surround your guests with fragrance and create a sense of whimsy by attaching single blooms to an overhead Vintage Wood Chandelier. Tip: Place the blooms in small floral vials filled with water before attaching to the chandelier so they last the length of the reception.
Set the Table
A Lace Pattern Tulle Roll makes a beautiful table runner at this distinctly English affair.
At each end of the table I used a Small Clear Hurrican Candle Holder and a Clear Hobnail Glass Votive. The transparency of the glass makes the candlelight look like small garden fairy lights.
In the center of the table I placed a Garden Inspired Centerpiece and seed packet table number. Get the simple DIY steps HERE.
This centerpiece was filled with fresh blooms in a mix of sweet bud vases and bottles.
The pretty pastel palette for this wedding centers around an English country garden staple; lavender. I used the lilac color in key elements of the reception design, such as the DIY Ceramic Boot Planter in the centerpiece.
The Place Setting
I also used a Mini Lilac Favor Pail on each place setting. Inside these sweet pails I placed a small house plant that doubles as a favor each guest can take home with them. These plants sat on top of a pretty layered place setting. I started with a White Scalloped Charger, followed by a Premium Elegance Plastic Dinner Plate, a lavender plate and a White Elegance Premium Plastic Dessert Plate.
For a unique place card I broke up terracotta pots, wrote guests' names on them with chalk pen and placed them in front of the pots.
I used Premium Metallic Silver Cutlery at each setting on top of a Garden Party Dinner Napkin. I love the beautiful flowers on this napkin. Like the color lilac, it is incorporated throughout the wedding which creates a cohesive wedding design.
The Garden Party Cups also have this beautiful design. I paired them with Premium Clear Crystal Plastic Wine Glasses.
A Corner of the Garden
Each part of the reception is set up to evoke the feeling of discovering another corner of the garden. As guests make their way to find their seating assignments they walk past the cake sitting atop a wrought iron garden cart.
This set-up lets the beauty and simplicity of the cake shine. It is styled only with freshly picked blooms in a Large Galvanized Pitcher and small bulb vases.
Go Naked!
Naked cakes, with their natural and organic style, work seamlessly with this wedding theme. Place your cake on a pretty yet rustic White Ceramic Cake Stand and garnish with natural botanicals like lavender and roses or consider adding fresh fruit.
I topped the cake with a Personalized Monogram Round Cake Topper in a shade of purple to match the blooms on the cake.
A trio of Hydrangea Kissing Balls hung above the unique seating chart.
It's Party Thyme!
This unique live herb escort card display sits on top of a small table covered in a pretty Round White Lace Tablecloth. Get the simple DIY instructions to make your own live escort card display HERE. The smell is gorgeous and you'll have all the makings of an herb garden when you get home.
I always like to include a fun pun into a celebration if I can. There are so many choices with herbs - "I be-leaf your seat awaits?" "Find your seat, it's party thyme!" The list goes on....
Toss the Bouquet
On the brides seat you will see a gorgeous bouquet. The bride will love this beautiful classic English rose and peonies bouquet to carry down the aisle. It fits perfectly with the garden theme.
Celebrate New Beginnings
As guests leave your reception, have them pass the last corner of your garden; a favor table that is set up like a spring planting station. A table full of new blooms, bulbs and seeds represent your new life as a married couple.
I started with seed packets clipped onto a White Window Frame Decoration with mini clothespins.
On the table I placed trays of flowers, ready to plant and in the original nursery box. Other new household plants are in an assortment of Oval Galvanized Buckets, Galvanized Tall Pots, and Medium Galvanized Pots.
I used a Galvanized Metal Tray With Handles to hold of bulb favors.
The bulbs fit perfectly in Mini Mason Favor Jars and are tied with a Personalized Garden Wedding Favor Tag.
Next to the bulbs, Mini Garden Party Treat Bags held sweet treats for the smaller guests.
To complete the planting themed favor station, I added kids' gardening tools, a pop of pink (a painted DIY Unfinished Wood Small Square Pot) and a watering can full of daisies.
Make sure to see the other DIY ideas that go with this wedding like an English Garden Wedding Centerpiece, Live Herb Seating Chart and a Hibiscus Lavender Cocktail recipe.
