This working orange grove in Bradenton, Florida, calls its wedding facility Mixon’s in the Grove, and it’s set up for couples who are dreaming of hsoting their wedding in a outdoor facility with the greenery and water elements…. The bonus to this place is there is a “Plan B.”
I love this pergola’s tropical greenery.
The Garden Oasis (pictured above) is one potential ceremony spot.
This flower-draped metal gazebo in the Butterfly Garden at Mixon’s in the Grove is another potential site for a small intimate wedding ceremony.
The gazebo is a third option, and it offers a great fola point and little shade from the sun during the heat of the day.
The best location of Mixon’s in the Grove is this pavilion, located directly across from the gazebo. It can comfortably hold about 200 guests and offers cover in the event of Florida afternoon thunderstorms. Mixon Fruit Farms also has an indoor banquet hall that can seat 75 for smaller receptions. To tour this wedding site or request more information, call 941-748-5829, ext. 280 or email Events@mixon.com.
The rose ceremony is a flexible, informal ceremony especially suited to an interfaith or non-religious wedding, not to mention a garden wedding! In the rose ceremony, bride and groom exchange a single rose as their first married gift to each other. They are asked to recall this symbol of their love during the more trying seasons of marriage.
her to view his hands as a gift, and says: “These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as together you laugh and cry, and together you share your innermost secrets and dreams.”
In the knot ceremony, the mothers of the bridal couple are given a cord, which the officiant later asks them to give to the bridal couple. The couple ties a lover’s knot, which they may save to look back on later.
is said to arise from Apache customs, and is popular in beach weddings. In each case, the bride and groom pour sand or liquid from two separate vials into one. In the wine ceremony, they drink the mixed wine.
The salt covenant is an ancient tradition, well-described in the Bible, and appearing regularly in Indian-national and Jewish weddings. Like the Jewish Huppah, the salt covenant (a mixing ceremony with ancient connotations of loyalty, protection and hospitality) is beginning to show up in non-Jewish weddings as well.
a raucous pre-wedding event) is a fascinating, solemn custom emphasizing the role of dual servitude in a marriage.
marriage with all of the basic dishes, linens, and home goods that are usually listed on a bridal registry. In many cases, the bride and groom may really prefer cash as a wedding gift. While traditional etiquette frowns on this, don’t immediately give in and register for items you don’t need.
likely to be close friends and family that you are able to be honest with. You should let them know why you prefer money if possible. In many cases this may be because you are saving for large purchases such as furniture, a new house, or a car.
them. They may be able to offer advice on setting up a special fund for this event and can give you specific instructions on how your guests should donate. Though this is still considered a monetary gift, it is a beautiful way to give back and use your wedding as a way to better the world.
Remember to keep careful track of all gifts received. It can be especially easy to lose track if you are collecting several checks. Dedicate a special notebook or spreadsheet to keeping careful track of this information. When it comes to gifts, keep in mind that your guests will appreciate knowing what you would really like. By providing this information in a tactful and polite manner, you will be able to get the type of gifts you want without upsetting etiquette and tradition – lastly, do not forget to send a thank you note to your guests
Head Table
and flower girl. If you choose to have children in the wedding, the best idea for the reception is to seat them either with their parents, or at a children’s table if you have one. If they are sitting with their parents you may seat them all at the same table so the children feel that they are still at an important table.
There is a difference between planners and coordinators, although most who claim to be either one are actually both. To start with, coordinators do just that, coordinate! She* may be there just for the day of your event, although you should meet with her a few times before the big day so that she understands your vision and has all the information she needs.
vendors to planning a detailed schedule for the big day. They are great to have around when you have random questions that need answers or wedding-related tasks that just do not fit on to your To Do list.
Even though you may meet with your planner a limited number of times, she does a lot more work than you might think. The average wedding takes about 80 hours to plan. Working with a wedding planner can cut several hours out of your planning process because your planner can do much of the busy work for you. Plus, she should know the best people to work with, allowing you to bypass the hours of combing through vendors to find one you think you can trust.
Association of Bridal Consultants
Equally important is that your wedding planner understands that she is there to serve you. After all, it is your wedding day and it is all about what you and your loved ones want. If your planner is not asking what she can do for you, then find someone new!
So, you have the weight of the wedding world on your shoulders, not to mention the expectations of family and friends, and best of all, the in-laws. One more delay in gown alterations, one more meeting with the caterer, one more critique of the wedding invitation, one more late vendor appointment. What is a bride (or groom) to do?
they think things will not be finished in time. Staying on top of your organizational game will help you to relax and reassure you that you have got a good grip on things. How do you stay organized? Let me count the ways! Surly you have some sort of wedding planning checklist. Create a special calendar with your tasks on it and write when they are due by. Then take yourself seriously. Do not think to yourself, Oh, the invitations can wait another week. If you need to have your invites ordered by the 7th of June, then make sure they are ordered by the 7th of June! Or if you already have a planner/organizer that contains your entire life (like me) get a special pen (try picking one that is one of the colors you are using in your wedding) and write in all the tasks with that pen. That way you can easily see wedding-related tasks and have less of a chance of skipping over them. In the end, do whatever you need to stay organized. We all have our different ways, do what works best for you!
process, here is the last one we will talk about today. Do not forget the reason all of this planning and excitement is taking place! You are getting married to the love of your life, the person you will spend the rest of your life with! That should not stress you out at all. If you are feeling weighed down by wedding things, take a day or two off to just relax with your future spouse. No wedding planning. No post-wedding plans. No work. Nothing stressful. Do something the two of you enjoy together and just let yourselves rest. The time together should help you stay attached and remember the reasons why you are getting married.
WEDDING DAY! It’s a big day, and many times, it sneaks up on you (I know, hard to believe). Even with all that planning and organizing, it’s very possible that one or two (or more) things might slip under your radar. Here is a little list of things that often get passed by or misplaced and how to remember or keep track of them!
How it happens: I can’t tell you HOW important this is – for EVERYONE! The bride, the groom, the bridal party, parents and grandparents, and even your vendors/wedding professionals. Once the day starts and emotions and excitement are running high, it’s easy to get distracted or just push eating aside.
the front few rows (or in all of the pews if you invited a ton of criers!). And for the bridal party, make sure everyone has a tissue tied into their bouquets or in a pocket for easy access. You never know when tears might start!
candles) and don’t have any method of lighting them, you’d have to skip over the ritual for lack of flame! *gasp*
might now know how your feet will react to being in them for such a long time.
overlooked.
them here. For example, Irish brides will often carry a small horseshoe pendant with them for good luck. Though no one will see the pendent, you could explain the history and meaning of this tradition in your program, as you explain the importance of your Irish heritage.
At the very least, you may want to mention the time and location. If it might be hard to find, you can provide additional directions here as well as a phone number for the venue. Keep in mind that this is something you will only want to add if all of your guests are invited to the reception.
