Plan a home garden wedding

Look Ma, no grass stains!
Since home garden weddings tend to be casual, a short dress or even a pantsuit is a fashionable choice for brides. Gotta have a traditional gown? A train that bustles will allow you to mingle post-ceremony without worry. For the ceremony itself, a carpeted aisle can also save your dress. While a gravel or brick pathway is grass-free, resist the temptation to walk on these with a long train or veil. The rough surfaces can easily tear delicate fabric.

Any shoe fits
Flats, wedge heels or platforms will help ensure you don't sink into the grass. But if your dream shoe is a stiletto, you don't have to end up aerating the lawn on your wedding day. Instead, go online and meet your solemate. These plastic heel clips attach to almost any stiletto or kitten heel and distribute your weight to keep you on top of the grass. Since they are clear, no one will notice them. Even better, they won't damage your footwear and are reusable.

Stay cool
A sunburned nose and sweaty underarms don't make for pretty wedding photos. If you're getting married in the open air, pick a location for the ceremony where you'll be out of the direct sun. Since one of the advantages of a home garden wedding is you don't have to share the venue with anyone else, pick a time that suits your garden, not the bridal books. A mid-morning wedding followed by lunch, or a late afternoon ceremony followed by dinner, will ensure you and your guests don't overheat in the midday sun. Also, a water station will help you and your guests remain daisy fresh.

Charmian Christie is an avid gardener and home cook. When she's not digging in the dirt, she's charting her culinary adventures on her blog, Christie's Corner.

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