Comments on: Phyllis Fletcher's backyard wedding http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/bride-profile-phyllis-fletcher Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:08:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Phyllis http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/bride-profile-phyllis-fletcher/comment-page-1#comment-59675 Phyllis Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:06:13 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/test-bridal-profile#comment-59675 Hi Jessica! Good for you for envisioning the wedding you want and going for it. I'm glad you found this post! I asked Josh if he remembered the answer to your question. He says our friend Val made an announcement that we'd be starting in a few minutes. She made the announcement from the back porch where we did the ceremony. Then, a few minutes later, we and the judge stepped out onto the porch through a set of french doors. Incidentally, the judge had us do the paperwork before the ceremony, so she wouldn't have to chase us down or interrupt the fun afterwards. That worked great, because Josh and I had a few minutes to ourselves, then we came back out into the yard and dove into that barbecue! We had such a beautiful day. I know you will too. :) I'm glad this post was helpful to you, Jessica! Hi Jessica! Good for you for envisioning the wedding you want and going for it. I'm glad you found this post! I asked Josh if he remembered the answer to your question. He says our friend Val made an announcement that we'd be starting in a few minutes. She made the announcement from the back porch where we did the ceremony. Then, a few minutes later, we and the judge stepped out onto the porch through a set of french doors. Incidentally, the judge had us do the paperwork before the ceremony, so she wouldn't have to chase us down or interrupt the fun afterwards. That worked great, because Josh and I had a few minutes to ourselves, then we came back out into the yard and dove into that barbecue!

We had such a beautiful day. I know you will too. :) I'm glad this post was helpful to you, Jessica!

]]> By: Phyllis http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/bride-profile-phyllis-fletcher/comment-page-1#comment-59508 Phyllis Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:02:22 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/test-bridal-profile#comment-59508 Hi Jessica! Good for you for envisioning the wedding you want and going for it. I'm glad you found this post! I asked Josh if he remembered the answer to your question. He says our friend Val made an announcement that we'd be starting in a few minutes. She made the announcement from the back porch where we did the ceremony. Then, a few minutes later, we and the judge stepped out onto the porch through a set of french doors. Incidentally, the judge had us do the paperwork before the ceremony, so she wouldn't have to chase us down or interrupt the fun afterwards. That worked great, because Josh and I had a few minutes to ourselves, then we came back out into the yard and dove into that barbecue! We had such a beautiful day. I know you will too. :) I'm glad this post was helpful to you, Jessica! Sorry the photos aren't up right now; Josh just switched web hosts and he'll be putting the pix back up any day now. Hi Jessica! Good for you for envisioning the wedding you want and going for it. I'm glad you found this post! I asked Josh if he remembered the answer to your question. He says our friend Val made an announcement that we'd be starting in a few minutes. She made the announcement from the back porch where we did the ceremony. Then, a few minutes later, we and the judge stepped out onto the porch through a set of french doors. Incidentally, the judge had us do the paperwork before the ceremony, so she wouldn't have to chase us down or interrupt the fun afterwards. That worked great, because Josh and I had a few minutes to ourselves, then we came back out into the yard and dove into that barbecue!

We had such a beautiful day. I know you will too. :) I'm glad this post was helpful to you, Jessica! Sorry the photos aren't up right now; Josh just switched web hosts and he'll be putting the pix back up any day now.

]]> By: Jessica http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/bride-profile-phyllis-fletcher/comment-page-1#comment-59478 Jessica Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:05:31 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/test-bridal-profile#comment-59478 I don't know if you are still checking up on this, it's been a while! I was just starting to get really discouraged because I cannot find anything (even on OBB) that remotely resembles what I'm looking for. Between not wanting any of "stuffiness" and not knowing what a "regular" wedding really looks like.. I'm sort of at a loss for where to start or where to go or what to do. But, your wedding... it's exactly what I want. I want people to have fun, mingle and it just be a celebration. How did you get people to realize it was time to go from your appetizers to the ceremony part? I think that is my biggest challenge right now, imagining how to get peoples attention for the few minutes of ceremony part. Thanks! I don't know if you are still checking up on this, it's been a while!

I was just starting to get really discouraged because I cannot find anything (even on OBB) that remotely resembles what I'm looking for. Between not wanting any of "stuffiness" and not knowing what a "regular" wedding really looks like.. I'm sort of at a loss for where to start or where to go or what to do. But, your wedding… it's exactly what I want. I want people to have fun, mingle and it just be a celebration.

How did you get people to realize it was time to go from your appetizers to the ceremony part? I think that is my biggest challenge right now, imagining how to get peoples attention for the few minutes of ceremony part.

Thanks!

]]> By: Phyllis http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/bride-profile-phyllis-fletcher/comment-page-1#comment-51642 Phyllis Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:07:18 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/test-bridal-profile#comment-51642 Karen, that's great! Satellite radio is a great idea. I have Sirius. I put it on '80s for my book club, and oldies for Thanksgiving. At my house the signal drops out sometimes, so that might be something to test with your dad's radio, if you haven't already. Or you can log on to his radio account with a computer online and hook up speakers to that. At any rate, satellite radio is a great solution, and you don't even have to plan it or pick songs--awesome. People will tell you for years that you had a great wedding--they'll remember the fun, and that you were happy and relaxed. It'll be a great day! Best wishes!! Karen, that's great! Satellite radio is a great idea. I have Sirius. I put it on '80s for my book club, and oldies for Thanksgiving. At my house the signal drops out sometimes, so that might be something to test with your dad's radio, if you haven't already. Or you can log on to his radio account with a computer online and hook up speakers to that. At any rate, satellite radio is a great solution, and you don't even have to plan it or pick songs–awesome. People will tell you for years that you had a great wedding–they'll remember the fun, and that you were happy and relaxed. It'll be a great day! Best wishes!!

]]> By: Phyllis http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/bride-profile-phyllis-fletcher/comment-page-1#comment-51643 Phyllis Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:07:18 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/test-bridal-profile#comment-51643 Karen, that's great! Satellite radio is a great idea. I have Sirius. I put it on '80s for my book club, and oldies for Thanksgiving. At my house the signal drops out sometimes, so that might be something to test with your dad's radio, if you haven't already. Or you can log on to his radio account with a computer online and hook up speakers to that. At any rate, satellite radio is a great solution, and you don't even have to plan it or pick songs--awesome. People will tell you for years that you had a great wedding--they'll remember the fun, and that you were happy and relaxed. It'll be a great day! Best wishes!! Karen, that's great! Satellite radio is a great idea. I have Sirius. I put it on '80s for my book club, and oldies for Thanksgiving. At my house the signal drops out sometimes, so that might be something to test with your dad's radio, if you haven't already. Or you can log on to his radio account with a computer online and hook up speakers to that. At any rate, satellite radio is a great solution, and you don't even have to plan it or pick songs–awesome. People will tell you for years that you had a great wedding–they'll remember the fun, and that you were happy and relaxed. It'll be a great day! Best wishes!!

]]> By: Karen http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/bride-profile-phyllis-fletcher/comment-page-1#comment-51491 Karen Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:16:41 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/test-bridal-profile#comment-51491 Phyllis, this is almost the exact vision for my wedding! I want people to come and go as they please, and to not have to freak out about having to buy a dress or shoes when they get my invitation. I want a laid back party for my friends and family. Wanna come in flip flops and capris? Go ahead! I'm not having a DJ; instead I'm having my dad bring his sattelite radio (it's commercial free!) and I'll tune into the 90s station. I want a catered BBQ, and I want Bud Light! No stuffiness here! Thanks for the inspiration; you've given me hope that people will still have fun at my wedding even if it is in my backyard and for under $x. Phyllis, this is almost the exact vision for my wedding! I want people to come and go as they please, and to not have to freak out about having to buy a dress or shoes when they get my invitation. I want a laid back party for my friends and family. Wanna come in flip flops and capris? Go ahead! I'm not having a DJ; instead I'm having my dad bring his sattelite radio (it's commercial free!) and I'll tune into the 90s station. I want a catered BBQ, and I want Bud Light! No stuffiness here! Thanks for the inspiration; you've given me hope that people will still have fun at my wedding even if it is in my backyard and for under $x.

]]> By: Phyllis http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/bride-profile-phyllis-fletcher/comment-page-1#comment-45021 Phyllis Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:12:42 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/test-bridal-profile#comment-45021 Rosy! I'm sorry I'm responding to this so late! Hi there. Congratulations on your wedding. I hope I'm not too late to be useful. (And that you happen to check this page again!) Our invitations gave no indication that anything we left out would be missing. It just said we would be getting married at 2PM on this date at this address. Some people were confused when they arrived--seeing food out and wondering if they could eat it. So, anticipating that, we asked our friend Val to tell people they could go ahead. Once the word spread, people seemed comfortable filling up on snacks and drinks, which was great to see in the photos. Any momentary confusion was soon alleviated, and people enjoyed our ceremony with plastic keg-cups in hand. To make sure of this, I should ask my guests, but: I think after the ceremony, things were even more clear. A professional barbecuer was cooking up a storm, and we were hidden away for just a few minutes of privacy. There was plenty of the earlier food and drink to keep people occupied in the meantime. And we had a sound system blasting music. We came out and were the first in the BBQ line, and everything after that was mostly just people doing what they do at a cookout. (Although our friend Val called for toasts, and people watched me & Josh eat the first cupcakes. And my aunt insisted that Josh & I slow dance just so she could get a photo of it, but otherwise, no forced dancing.) With no big-exit cue as to when to leave, our guests left on their own time. We were happy to enjoy as much of the day with them as possible, rather than choreograph an exit. We would have been happy to have more people stay longer, but folks have their own sense of when they're ready to go, and that's fine. (Ever been at a wedding where people were trying to get out before the cake cut or bouquet toss, and a bride or family member actually stopped them? "You can't leave! You haven't seen this thing you've already seen a thousand times!" Not our style. So whenever people wanted to leave was fine with us.) Rosy, whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a wonderful day! Rosy! I'm sorry I'm responding to this so late! Hi there. Congratulations on your wedding. I hope I'm not too late to be useful. (And that you happen to check this page again!)

Our invitations gave no indication that anything we left out would be missing. It just said we would be getting married at 2PM on this date at this address.

Some people were confused when they arrived–seeing food out and wondering if they could eat it. So, anticipating that, we asked our friend Val to tell people they could go ahead. Once the word spread, people seemed comfortable filling up on snacks and drinks, which was great to see in the photos. Any momentary confusion was soon alleviated, and people enjoyed our ceremony with plastic keg-cups in hand.

To make sure of this, I should ask my guests, but: I think after the ceremony, things were even more clear. A professional barbecuer was cooking up a storm, and we were hidden away for just a few minutes of privacy. There was plenty of the earlier food and drink to keep people occupied in the meantime. And we had a sound system blasting music. We came out and were the first in the BBQ line, and everything after that was mostly just people doing what they do at a cookout. (Although our friend Val called for toasts, and people watched me & Josh eat the first cupcakes. And my aunt insisted that Josh & I slow dance just so she could get a photo of it, but otherwise, no forced dancing.)

With no big-exit cue as to when to leave, our guests left on their own time. We were happy to enjoy as much of the day with them as possible, rather than choreograph an exit. We would have been happy to have more people stay longer, but folks have their own sense of when they're ready to go, and that's fine. (Ever been at a wedding where people were trying to get out before the cake cut or bouquet toss, and a bride or family member actually stopped them? "You can't leave! You haven't seen this thing you've already seen a thousand times!" Not our style. So whenever people wanted to leave was fine with us.)

Rosy, whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a wonderful day!

]]> By: Rosy http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/bride-profile-phyllis-fletcher/comment-page-1#comment-31753 Rosy Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:41:46 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/test-bridal-profile#comment-31753 What a great wedding! I'm going to do something similar at my own wedding. I'd like to ask a question: how were your invitations done? did you let the guests know on the invitation about the lack of traditional choreography? was anyone lingering, wondering what they were supposed to do? Thanks! What a great wedding!

I'm going to do something similar at my own wedding. I'd like to ask a question: how were your invitations done? did you let the guests know on the invitation about the lack of traditional choreography? was anyone lingering, wondering what they were supposed to do?

Thanks!

]]> By: Phyllis http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/bride-profile-phyllis-fletcher/comment-page-1#comment-21111 Phyllis Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:42:34 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/test-bridal-profile#comment-21111 Aww! Dashingdiva, thanks! I did cry. :) It was a beautiful day. Whatever phase of planning you're in, and whether it's for you or a friend, I hope your day is special. Aww! Dashingdiva, thanks! I did cry. :) It was a beautiful day. Whatever phase of planning you're in, and whether it's for you or a friend, I hope your day is special.

]]> By: Dashingdiva73 http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/bride-profile-phyllis-fletcher/comment-page-1#comment-17312 Dashingdiva73 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:13:06 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/2006/12/test-bridal-profile#comment-17312 this was so lovely it; makes me want to cry! this was so lovely it; makes me want to cry!

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