A Backyard Wedding and Barbecue for This Laid-Back Bride!

Summer in Canada is an ideal time and place for an outdoor wedding, and our Bride On The Brink for mid-July is making the most of it, with a ceremony and reception in her backyard, surrounded by sunflowers and serving “beef on a spit and salads.” Sounds like a wonderful wedding plan to me! Here’s […]

 

Summer in Canada is an ideal time and place for an outdoor wedding, and our Bride On The Brink for mid-July is making the most of it, with a ceremony and reception in her backyard, surrounded by sunflowers and serving “beef on a spit and salads.” Sounds like a wonderful wedding plan to me! Here’s Joan’s story…

NAME: Joan Watson

LOCATION: Kemptville, Ontario (CA)

DATE: August 22

THEME: Just Come As You Are

COLORS: TBD

GUESTS: About 150

Q. When did you start planning, and what’s the most important thing on your mind right now?

A. We started planning around January 2009; getting our yard in shape with flowers.

Q. How’s your anxiety level these days?

A. If I start thinking about what has to be done, I get stressed, so I only think about what is at hand.

Q. Are you dealing with anything unusual?

A. My girlfriend (maid of honor) is getting married two weeks before me, and I am also her maid of honor, so we’re trying to help each other out, but also plan our own. (That’s got to be nerve-wracking! Ed.) Plus, I guess the most stressful part is that my divorce is not final, so I am waiting on that. (Wow! Hang in there, Joan! Ed.)

Q. I have to ask—Is there anything you’d do differently if you had the chance?

A. I would have started my gardens last year, so they’d just have to have touch-ups this year, and I would have seen how they looked.

Q. What’s been the most rewarding part of your planning process?

A. The support from my family and his family.

Q. Did the economy have an impact on your wedding plans?

A. We were supposed to get married last year, but I couldn’t afford the divorce, so we thought we’d wait a year. We can’t afford a wedding planner…so this year we are keeping it small and very casual. The invitations will be photocopied and, we will probably deliver a lot by hand. We have had to cut out some people as we cannot invite everyone.

Q. Last minute details?

A. I still have to send out invitations, get my dress fitted, rings, and finish the garden. (NOTE: We received Joan’s questionnaire some time ago, so we’re hopeful the invitations have been sent, the dress fits, the divorce is final and the garden is in glorious, full bloom! Ed.)

Q. What have you learned from this experience that you can pass along to other brides?

A. I think having been through it before helps. It’s a lot of work, [and it’s easy to] get caught up in the moment. Don’t let it get out of hand. It’s over before you know it, and you can be left with a large bill at the end. Keep it simple. You can have elegance without the cost. Shop around. We just tell ourselves that the most important thing is that we get married and have a party with our family and friends.

Watch for the next edition of Brides On the Brink…30 Days and Counting! It’s for brides, it’s about brides, and most importantly, it’s by Brides On the Brink who are one month away from walking down the aisle.

Become One of our Brides On The Brink!

If you’re about one, two or three months from tying the knot and would like to be a featured bride, please click here to e-mail your contact information and wedding date. I’ll send you the questionnaire to fill out and return. For passing on your wedding wisdom, featured brides will receive a $25 gift certificate* for MyWeddingFavors.com, where you’ll find fabulous wedding favors, wedding accessories, bridesmaids’ gifts and so much more!

* For shipping only within the US and Canada.