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BANQUETS, RECEPTIONS, SHOWERS & PARTIES
6 | SPRING 2018
CHICAGO WEDDING & PARTY RESOURCE
CHICAGOWEDDINGRESOURCE.COMGone Country
How to throw a fun party
in the country
Here, wedding experts share insight to help
you decide which setting is right for you.
Whether you’ve got your heart set on
saying your I do’s amid a field of flowers,
at a vineyard or in a barn, a key advantage
of having a country wedding is that there’s
already gorgeous scenery to serve as the
backdrop. Often big, open spaces make it
easy for you to create whatever atmosphere
you want: elegantly Old-World, woodsy
and sweet, a festive ranch hoedown, or a
glamorous garden party with bocce ball
and croquet. These settings typically have
a ton of natural character, minimizing the
need for extra embellishment. If there’s no
on-site catering, you also can save money
by bringing in your own alcohol, which is
a great way to showcase your favorite local
wineries, breweries and distilleries. And
you’ll likely have the ceremony and reception
in the same place, which means you won’t
have to pay for two venues or transportation
between sites.
But like any wedding, country destinations
also have their concerns. Unless your
location is an established wedding venue,
everything from the table and chair rentals
to creating a cooking space for the catering
team to furnishing generators, lighting
and portable bathrooms might be your
responsibility, not to mention all the cleanup
afterward. For this reason, even if you’re
having a very informal event, it’s a good
idea to hire a wedding planner or day-of
coordinator who can handle all the details,
plan for contingencies and ensure everything
runs smoothly.
Keep in mind that you’ll also have less local
vendors to choose from, or will have to pay
more for city-based vendors to travel or
make deliveries to your locale. If it’s very
remote, you’ll want to make sure there’s
enough lodging for friends and family
nearby, or organize transportation to get
guests safely to and from town in a timely
manner.
© CTW Features
A big city celebration
has modern
conveniences, while a
country setting offers
its own rustic chic
charm. One thing is
for sure, you want a
personal backdrop for
your big day.
By Anna Sachse, CTW Features