A Garden Wedding

Homemade details like this wooden arch make for a rustic but romantic touch. Photo by C. L. Fornari

Setting the scene

When the eyesore is a group of meters, air conditioners, or other equipment, it’s not possible to haul them off or decorate them with lights or paper birds. These visual problems are usually best hidden by fences or folding screens, not plants. Screening can either be permanent, as in a fence that’s installed before the wedding and left in place, or it can be temporary.

In addition to equipment or other items that need hiding, you might notice places where the house itself needs attention. Chipped paint or rotten wood, for example, might suddenly stand out. It’s always possible to repair these areas before the wedding. But should you decide that a total fix up isn’t in the budget, know that you’ll see these things far more readily than anyone else will. A happy bride and groom in a pretty garden will have everyone’s attention. The guests will be unlikely to notice the flaking paint.

No amount of screening or visual distraction can cover up hazardous situations, however. You may be aware of that large patch of poison ivy next to the lawn and take care to avoid it, but you can be sure that this is exactly where a wedding guest will drop something or fall down. You may know to stay away from the rotted wood on the well cover, or the really wobbly fence, but your guests can’t be expected to either know or remember such perilous locations. These unsafe conditions should be fixed well in advance of the wedding.