Simple Ways to Decorate for an Outdoor Wedding

Planning an outdoor wedding can be both exciting and overwhelming. The allure of celebrating amidst natural beauty is undeniable, but the task of decorating such an open space can seem daunting. By focusing on a few key elements, you can create an enchanting atmosphere without breaking your budget. Here are some simple yet effective ways to decorate your outdoor wedding venue.

Use Natural Features

A great way to start is by incorporating natural elements into your wedding venue decor. Featuring local flowers and greenery can enhance the natural charm of your outdoor setting. Consider using potted plants, which can be moved and arranged easily to fit any space. Not only do they add beauty, but they can also be repurposed or gifted after the event, adding an eco-friendly touch to your wedding.

Opt for Gentle Lighting

Lighting is another critical aspect that can dramatically transform your space. String lights, lanterns, and candles create a warm, inviting ambiance as the sun sets. Simple string lights can be draped across trees or along pathways to guide guests and add a magical glow to your celebration. Given that the average budget for just the wedding ceremony and reception is $28,385, according to The Frisky, opting for affordable lighting options can help you stay within budget while still achieving a dreamy look.

Think Outside the Box for Seating

When it comes to seating at your outdoor wedding venue, consider unconventional options that blend seamlessly with the outdoor setting. Instead of traditional chairs, you might use hay bales with cozy throws or picnic benches for a more relaxed, rustic feel. DIY decorations, such as hand-painted signs or personalized place cards, can add a unique touch and make your guests feel special. These personal touches not only enhance the decor but also create a more intimate and memorable experience for everyone.

Decorating for an outdoor wedding doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. By focusing on natural elements, effective lighting, and creative seating, you can create a beautiful and welcoming atmosphere for your special day. Remember, sometimes the simplest touches can have the most significant impact, making your outdoor wedding both unforgettable and budget-friendly. If you’re ready to start planning your wedding and are looking for a charming outdoor venue, contact Deerfield today. We look forward to helping you celebrate your special day!

How Can You Determine if a Wedding Venue Is the Right Fit?

Planning your wedding is incredibly exciting, but choosing the perfect venue can feel overwhelming. After all, the average budget for just the wedding ceremony and reception is $28,385, according to The Frisky. That’s a lot of money to spend on a venue that may not live up to your vision. So how can you determine if a wedding venue is the right fit before signing on the dotted line? Keep reading for a few tips.

Picture Yourself There

First, envision how you want your wedding to look and feel. What type of scenery do you want? Do you want a huge guest list, or would you prefer a more intimate gathering? Picturing your ideal wedding venue sets the stage for what you’re looking for. When touring potential wedding venues, close your eyes and visualize yourself celebrating there. Can you see your reception layout? The dance floor where you’ll have your first dance? If you can easily picture your wedding unfolding there, it’s likely a good contender.

Consider Logistics

As visions of your ceremony are dancing in your head, you’ll also need to think about logistics. Make sure the wedding venue can accommodate your estimated guest count. Know what’s included — does the venue provide tables, chairs, and linens? Do they provide catering, alcohol, or vendors? Also, consider accommodations. If many guests are traveling, does the wedding venue have lodging onsite or recommendations for nearby hotels? Is there adequate parking? Thinking through logistics will prevent unwelcome surprises after you book.

Trust Your Gut

Even if a wedding venue seems perfect on paper, it might not feel right. Don’t ignore your intuition! The vibe of a venue is important for such a personal day. When you tour potential wedding venues, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Let your instincts guide you. If a venue immediately feels special, that’s a good sign. If you find yourself wishing elements were different, it may not be the one.

Planning a wedding is hard work, so choose a venue you know you’ll love. Define your ideal aesthetic, hash out logistics, and trust your gut. Following this process will ensure your big day unfolds in a venue that perfectly fits your style and vision. With the right venue secured, you can focus on reminiscing about all the special memories made on your magical wedding day for years to come. If you’re searching for the perfect wedding venue for your big day, consider scheduling a tour at Deerfield. Reach out to us today to get started.

Tips for Dealing With Weather at an Outdoor Wedding

The arrival of summer means more wedding invitations. More people get married in June than any other month. If you’re planning an outdoor wedding this summer or any other time of year, you may be worried about changes in the weather. Here are tips for dealing with the weather at an outdoor wedding.

Maintain Flexibility

Even if you’re getting married in the middle of summer, the weather can change at any time. That’s why you must maintain flexibility in the space you have for your wedding. Your local country club is a perfect opportunity to have your event in a place that is beautiful indoors and outdoors. Create a plan to have the ceremony outside or inside if the weather changes.

Use a Place With Scenic Views Anywhere

Your local country club at Deerfield has the best views all over. Even if your event is rained out, moving the ceremony inside won’t prevent a beautiful view for photos. In other words, even if you have part or all of the ceremony indoors, you won’t feel like you’re missing out on anything. The backdrop will still be spectacular.

Create a Backup Plan

You can always plan to have your full wedding outside but have a contingency plan to quickly move things inside as needed. Between your wedding planner and the country club staff, you can run through a plan on what to expect during adverse weather conditions. That way, if rain or wind is predicted, the wedding team can set up a tent outside or keep everything inside.

Use Tents

Sometimes, the best way to ensure a foolproof outdoor wedding is by setting up a tent from the beginning. Tents can create a path for the bride and cover where guests sit for the ceremony. If it doesn’t look like rain will happen, you can always use the tents to provide shade from the hot sun instead of rain coverage.

According to statistics offered by Hudson Valley Weddings, 35% of nuptials take place outside. As your local country club, we can ensure your outdoor wedding is an event to remember. Contact us today at Deerfield to learn more about hosting your wedding at our venue. We’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

The Ultimate Outdoor Wedding Checklist for Brides

Your dream wedding is just around the corner! Planning an outdoor event requires extra coordination to go smoothly. Use this comprehensive checklist to keep your wedding on track.

Secure the Venue

First things first, book your ideal outdoor event venue as early as possible. Popular warm-weather venues get snatched up fast. Tour potential locations in person to check sight lines, power access, and lighting. Ensure your event venue can provide necessary rentals like chairs, tables, tents, and dance floors. Send out save-the-date notices once you have a location locked in.

Pick the Menu

Food is a huge part of the event. Taste test caterers to find fantastic dishes that also travel and serve well outdoors. Don’t forget about dietary restrictions. Lean towards finger foods, bite-sized appetizers, and easily carried plates. Make sure your caterer coordinates closely with your event venue on logistics like kitchen access and service setup.

Create a Rain Plan

Hope for sunshine but plan for showers by designating rain backup areas at your venue. Have tarps and towels on standby to wipe down wet chairs and surfaces. Choose hardy flowers and arrange a covered ceremony site. If possible, reserve a venue that has both an outdoor and indoor area as a contingency for the entire event.

Check Permits and Regulations

Research what permits are needed for tents, music, alcohol, and vendors. Designate reserved parking areas and handicapped access. Confirm your event venue allows or restricts smoking, amplified sound, open flames for candles, and more. Staying compliant prevents problems.

Refine the Style and Decor

Define your wedding style and color palette early on. DIY details like signage, centerpieces, and lawn games add personal flair. Rent lighting like twinkle lights and lanterns to provide a magical atmosphere at night. Be mindful of wind, sunlight, and other outdoor elements that can knock over fragile decor. Communicate your vision with all vendors and your event venue.

Planning an incredible outdoor wedding is possible with careful preparation and communication. Use this checklist to book your venue, nail down menus, create rain plans, check permits, and refine your decor. The average budget for just the wedding ceremony and reception is $28,385, according to The Frisky, a women’s entertainment and lifestyle magazine. With you and your event venue on the same page, get ready to have the stylish, fun-filled outdoor wedding of your dreams. If you’re searching for the perfect venue, visit us to tour our venue at Deerfield today.

What Should I Consider When Choosing a Country Club for My Wedding?

If you’re planning a classy, sophisticated wedding celebration, hosting your reception at an elegant country club is a wonderful option. According to Hudson Valley Weddings, 35% of weddings are now outdoor occasions. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when selecting the perfect country club wedding venue.

Ambiance and Appearance

When choosing a country club for your wedding, consider the overall ambiance, architecture and manicured grounds. You want an atmosphere that aligns with your wedding style, whether that’s classic and formal or more casual and relaxed. Also, assess how photogenic the locations are for ceremony photos, reception snaps and wedding party portraits.

Guest Capacity

Determine if the country club can accommodate your estimated number of wedding guests comfortably. You want to ensure the reception space isn’t too cramped, with room for seating, dancing, mingling and entertainment. Ask about guest minimums and maximums for wedding packages. Also, find out if they can provide overflow seating for a post-ceremony cocktail hour.

Menu Options

Naturally, you’ll want outstanding cuisine and drinks at your country club wedding. Taste test potential catering menus and customize packages to suit your preferences. Inquire about options for appetizers, entrees, late-night snacks, desserts and bar service. Having delicious food your guests will rave about is a top priority.

In-House Services

The best country clubs for weddings offer comprehensive event services all under one beautiful roof. From floral arrangements to music to photography, consider venues that provide extensive in-house wedding planning and on-site execution. Ask for a list of preferred wedding vendors they partner with regularly. Streamlined service ensures flawless delivery.

Opportunity for Custom Design

While country clubs typically have existing reception halls to utilize, some allow for custom design. From specialized lighting to luxe furniture rentals to creative decor elements, discuss how much you can customize the country club wedding space to your dream vision. Bring magazine clippings or Pinterest boards to convey your ideal style.

Booking your country club wedding venue takes careful thought and planning. Weigh these key factors as you select the ideal country club to host your special day. With a gorgeous setting, delicious cuisine, and white-glove service, you’re sure to have a spectacular wedding your guests will never forget. As you plan your wedding, be sure to tour Deerfield to see if it may be a perfect fit for your big day.

How To Make Your Wedding Memorable

Your wedding should be a magical, memorable event for you and your partner. With close family and friends gathered to celebrate your love, you’ll want to create an unforgettable experience. Thoughtful planning and personal touches are key to pulling this off flawlessly.

Pick a Venue that Fits Your Vision

The venue you select forms the entire backdrop for exchanging your vows and hosting guests. Tour locations that fit the vision in your mind. According to Hudson Valley Weddings, 35% of weddings now take place outside, and you may also wish to consider an outdoor venue. Make sure the wedding venue’s style and architecture let you imagine your ideal ceremony and reception happening there. Beyond appearances, confirm your venue can accommodate your guest count and has the right facilities to meet everyone’s needs. Visiting the venue in person helps you picture everything coming together smoothly.

Infuse Personal Touches

While the venue provides the framework, infusing personal details makes your wedding meaningful. Display photos of your relationship journey or decorate tables with mementos from special dates. Work inside jokes into speeches and choose a menu with favorite foods. Select readings that resonate and songs with significance to your courtship. Design elements like the invitations, program fans, and signage to reflect your personalities. Adding personal touches makes your wedding more heartfelt and unforgettable.

Capture Lasting Memories

Be sure to hire a talented wedding photographer and videographer to document your celebration from start to finish. Meet with potential professionals to view examples of their work and make sure you click well together. You want someone who will blend into the background while skillfully capturing emotional moments: exchanging vows, first dances, speeches, candid interactions between guests, and more. Professional images and videos let you relive your unique, magical day while noticing moments you may have missed in the whirlwind itself.

With intentional, meaningful choices about the wedding venue, personalized details, and high-quality documentation, you can craft a one-of-a-kind wedding experience. Thoughtful planning ensures your celebration highlights what makes your relationship special in ways you’ll cherish always. The day flies by so quickly, but photographs, videos, and memories last forever. If you’re on the hunt for the perfect wedding venue, look no further than Deerfield. Contact us today to schedule a tour.

6 Reasons to Get Married at a Golf Course

Selecting the ideal wedding venue is perfect for ensuring your wedding is memorable. A golf course is not a traditional wedding venue, but many golf courses are also country clubs. They have reception areas and event planners that can help ensure everything on your big day goes according to plan. Here are several reasons why you should consider one for your big day.

1. Beautiful Setting

Golf course greens are known for being meticulously maintained. When you opt to get married here, you can trust that the background will be heavenly. The gardens will be perfectly manicured. This makes it the perfect setting for your big day.

2. Wonderful Photos

Not only will the scene look beautiful on the day, but it will look breathtaking for years to come, thanks to the fantastic pictures. Golf course greens make a heavenly background. There are also little pavilions, trees, and other beautiful landscaping surrounding the course to ensure that you can take one fantastic picture after another.

3. Ample Space

Golf courses are used to cater to large numbers of people. You’ll have enough room to host a large wedding, especially if it’s an outdoor event. Brides will enjoy having ample space for flexible seating arrangements, and guests will appreciate having room to mingle.

4. Equipped Facilities

Golf courses are used to accommodate many people. You won’t have to worry about a line of people waiting to use the bathroom. Brides can enjoy an outdoor wedding without renting a porta-potty, too. Instead, golf courses will have plenty of tables, chairs, and bathroom space.

5. Privacy

Golf courses and country clubs understand the importance of privacy during a special event. They won’t double book event spaces, and brides won’t have to work around a corporate luncheon. Instead, you can enjoy your wedding being the intimate event it should be.

6. Recreational Fun

Couples that want a laid-back, intimate wedding can enjoy a few rounds of golf before or after the wedding. A day on the golf course greens can also replace a bachelor party. If you love the game, take the time to have fun at your wedding venue.

Golf courses became popular long before the 1900s. By 1900, there were over 1000 golf clubs nationwide. Now, golf clubs are used for various things. Some locations may have catering staff available or be able to recommend vendors to ensure you have everything you need. Contact us for more information today.

What Time of Year Is Best for a Wedding?

After you’ve basked in the glow and excitement of being engaged, you must now plan a wedding. If you dream of a romantic wedding, you need the right atmosphere, venue, and season of your choice. While there are twelve months and four seasons in the year, some dates are more popular than others for weddings.

June

It’s no surprise that most wedding invites have a June date; June marks the first official month of summer. However, the weather is still mild thanks to the transition from spring to summer. If you want an outdoor wedding without a high chance of spring rain or late summer heat, June is a perfect time. Not only can you beat bad weather, but your guests will likely have an open schedule thanks to summer break and vacation time.

September

September is another perfect transition month as the summer heat cools into early fall. Plus, there’s no more summer competition for wedding venues. In other words, it’s easier to get the wedding venue of your choice. According to Zola, September weddings symbolize luck and serenity for a newly wedded couple.

October

Fall colors are in full swing by this month, meaning you could incorporate autumn themes into your wedding decor. Your guests will also start to feel more festive, as your wedding will be on the brink of the holiday season. There’s even less competition on the calendar than in September for romantic wedding venues, since summer is over and the winter holidays haven’t hit. At this time, you also have more seasonal food options for your reception, such as pumpkin or butternut squash soups.

December

According to The Frisky, a leading online resource for women, the average budget for the wedding ceremony and reception is $28,385, and you can spend that in different ways based on the season. If you host your wedding in December, you could have a Christmas theme with an oversized Christmas tree and gift-wrapped party favors for guests. You could also include beautiful poinsettia table settings and spiked eggnog at the reception.

Getting married is a special time. There’s no set month or season to have your romantic wedding, so pick one that’s right for you. When you want the ideal venue for your special day, do your research and find the perfect spot for your wedding!

4 Elements to Add to Your Outdoor Wedding

Are you newly engaged and planning an outdoor wedding? You’re not the only one. According to Hudson Valley Weddings statistics, 35% of weddings are now outdoor celebrations. In light of this, it’s essential to consider factors that will take your outdoor wedding venue to the next level. We’ve highlighted four elements below. Review this list and consider which would incorporate best into your and your partner’s wedding day.

1. Decorative Rugs and Floor Mats

While the natural surroundings are a large part of an outdoor wedding celebration, implementing decorative rugs and floor mats in the appropriate areas can be beautiful. For example, recent couples have used oriental-style rugs down their ceremony’s aisle to emphasize the altar. Plus, decorative rugs are a great way to add some of your wedding themes and colors in an outdoor venue space. Additionally, floor mats might be most appropriate in high-traffic areas like the dance floor or bar area.

2. Natural Decorations

There is nothing quite like embracing your outdoor wedding area than incorporating natural decoration into the celebration. For some couples, this element might mean adding blooming flowers native to their wedding’s location. Having these flowers near the guests will help the wedding seem more outdoor-oriented. Couples can also use branches on their big day to be a part of their centerpieces and decorations.

3. Outdoor Lights

Include outdoor lighting in your wedding venue to create a stunning and romantic ambiance. If there are branches by the celebration, you can purchase string lights or lanterns to put on them. Another popular option for outdoor weddings is chandeliers. Hanging this lighting option close to the altar can be a focal point for the ceremony and help bring a sense of class and sophistication to the wedding day.

4. Functional Wedding Favors

If you’re hosting an outdoor wedding, chances are that there’s some wedding favor that would work perfectly for the occasion. For example, if your outdoor wedding is during chilly temperatures, you can plan and give out favors like hats, shawls, or blankets during the festivities. On the contrary, you could gift hand fans during the warmer months to ensure the guests stay cool.

An outdoor wedding is bound to be a beautiful and special celebration. To take your big day to the next level at your outdoor wedding venue, incorporate these elements from this list above. Get in touch with Deerfield today to learn more.

Important Things to Consider When Choosing a Wedding Day Location

There are a lot of things that go into planning a wedding. Besides all the fine details, there’s the crucial decision of where to host your country club wedding. Choosing the right location is vital to making everything flows smoothly.

Each country club is different and provides different amenities. You’ll also want to be sure to think beyond the amenities to ensure that your venue caters to your special moment. That said, here are some things that you will want to look for when picking the place for your big event.

The Actual Location of the Venue

Once you have a date for your wedding in mind, it’s essential that you start looking early at different venues. Consider the location of the venue itself and how far away or nearby it might be for both yourself and your guests. The location of your venue will have a direct impact on your guest list as well as catering options and more. Be sure to book your venue early, too. Wedding events book unique places quickly; it’s recommended that you book a venue nearly a year in advance.

Consider the Appearance of the Location

Your guests will need a place to park, so there must be enough parking spots to accommodate everyone. You’ll also want to ensure that the location has an overflow lot just in case there are more cars than spaces.

Guest Capacity Is Something to Watch

Another thing to consider is the number of guests that you’ll invite. Every location will have set capacity limits. The room size determines the number of people safely occupying a space. You could get into trouble with the local fire marshal if you have too many people in one spot. Make sure that you have an idea of the number of guests that you will be inviting to your wedding and keep that number in mind when you tour different venues.

Keep an Eye Out for Amenities

Each place will have its own unique amenities, but you’ll want to think about your wedding to ensure enough facilities and access points to serve all the people. When food is served, you’ll need a kitchen area for staging. According to The Knot Worldwide, brides typically spend an average of $1,184 on their rehearsal dinners alone, so you want to be sure that you have the right amenities you need both for the rehearsal and the wedding day.

Consider the Time

Depending on the size of your wedding, your celebrations may go on for more than one day. Consider how many days you’d want your wedding celebration to last and then keep an eye out for venues that allow you to book more than one day at a time. You’ll want to ensure enough time for the ceremony and social after the wedding.

If you’re looking to have a country club wedding and you’re looking for a quality venue, there’s no better place than Deerfield. Contact us today to learn more about our country club or to schedule a tour for your wedding venue!