| If you have your heart set on the most romantic | | | | Turn everyone to face north and south. For a |
| wedding ever, you must approach the event with | | | | garden wedding, early afternoon works best, |
| cold-hearted pragmatism and realism. Spontaneity | | | | because the sun drenches the proceedings in |
| and improvisation live at the heart of romantic | | | | celestial light. In the spring and fall, the bridal party |
| dates, but cold calculation quickens the heart of | | | | and guests can hold-up under the mid-day sun; in |
| romantic weddings. Yes "natural" is synonymous | | | | the summer, not so much. Compromise: drench |
| with romantic, but there is almost nothing natural | | | | the wedding party in all the sun they can handle, |
| about working with Mother Nature to create a | | | | and put the guests under tents. Yes, sunglasses |
| heart-melting setting for your nuptials. As you plan | | | | will become a difficult wardrobe issue, but it's a |
| your tear-drenched romantic wedding, read | | | | small price to pay for so much romance. |
| everything Jane Austen ever wrote, and then | | | | Colors |
| consider... | | | | Pastels are the most romantic among the tints |
| Setting | | | | and hues. You especially achieve breathtakingly |
| Of course, outdoor settings create the most | | | | romantic effects when the flowers, decorations, |
| romance. Sadly, they frequently create the | | | | and bridesmaids' gowns all come from the same |
| greatest inconvenience. Beaches, for example, | | | | palette. Only two problems arise: First, a |
| seem wonderfully romantic settings for all kinds | | | | thoughtful bride never would stick her bridesmaids |
| of romantic events; but, in a beach wedding, the | | | | with gowns so frighteningly pastel they never |
| bride, bridesmaids, and female guests cannot walk | | | | could wear them again. "Seafoam" comes to mind |
| easily across the sand in high heels, and the | | | | as a terribly thoughtless choice. Second, the |
| person performing the wedding may not make | | | | groomsmen will fail in pastels; no boy can look |
| himself heard above the crashing waves. Similarly, | | | | good in seafoam. Adorn the bride with all the floral |
| a beautiful garden or thick forest glade seems like | | | | accents she can carry, and focus on elegance for |
| a perfectly romantic setting, provided no | | | | the rest of the bridal party. Liberally add flowers |
| mosquitoes accost the guests and the ring-bearer | | | | as needed. |
| does not get all grass-stained before the | | | | Music |
| ceremony. Naturally, overcoming the complications | | | | Just two words suffice: String quartet. Although a |
| adds to the romance, and the results are worth | | | | harpist would be lovely, no thoughtful bride would |
| the effort in planning and staging. | | | | make a harpist lug her instrument out onto the |
| Time of day and the lighting | | | | beach or into a forest glade. For a little extra |
| Summer sunset seems like the moment of | | | | oomph in the romantic music, though, you may |
| perfection in the romantic time zone, especially if | | | | perhaps add flute. |
| you are getting married on a west-facing beach. | | | | The ceremony itself |
| Here too, however, you must anticipate and cope | | | | If you plan to go with the traditional liturgy, ask |
| with the complications. If you imagined silhouetting | | | | the clergyman to go light on homily and heavy on |
| the bride and groom against the setting sun, then | | | | Psalms. If you plan to compose your own |
| you conveniently forgot the guests would gaze | | | | romantic vows, keep them simple, and follow the |
| directly into the fiery orb, seeing nothing; and | | | | real rules of poetry, remembering that iambic |
| photography would become almost impossible. Be | | | | pentameter imitates the rhythm of the heart. |
| reasonable, and let everyone enjoy the gloaming. | | | | |