tying ribbons in the sky

have you ever looked at a photo of an outdoor ceremony with lights and decorations that seem to have been strung up by fairies? From the beginning (meaning before I was even close to engaged) I wanted to do create a kind of magical garden - strings of lights hanging from trees, ribbons from branches, paper bags illuminating the walkway. It's such a dream. And the logistics seem nearly impossible. If you aren't able to hire someone to assist you with event design, how are you making the impossible possible?

Enter the dream team, or what most people call asking your friends that know a little something about lighting and/or set design. David knows lighting well so he's my number one in terms of making this picture something realized. He went through the rest of the party thinking of who will know how to help. We have a handful but its a historic building and the ceremony is not exactly close to the house. 100 foot extension cords is something that you don't see in the photos but they are there.

Then I had another thought - if only the ceremony and cocktails are on the grounds and we'll probably be inside before dark, how much lighting do we want outside? Do we want people wandering around outside? Well yes, there are four acres of grounds - why not? We still want the ceremony to look beautiful which will involve hanging lots of not lit decor.

If you are decorating for your ceremony and reception (ie ceremony is not in a church, temple etc. or it's not all under a tent), how far do you go with decorations? How do you make the impossible possible?

My very short list is:

1. Collect photos I've been saving and look for more that tie together.
2. Make a slideshow and forward to David
3. Do a walk through of the space with David
4. David ask venue specific questions pertaining to set up
5. Start researching where and when to buy, rent or borrow materials
6. Figure out how everything is getting to CT
7. Assigning people to help with set up

Can I state the obvious and say that planning your day is not easy work? No matter what is important to you - monogrammed light projections, out of season flowers, ribbons hanging from the sky - all is possible but all takes work and preparation. If you are as specific as me, start early and begin by looking at the first images you ever bookmarked. Your first instinct is always right. Go there. And follow the yellow brick road.