Zen Garden Wedding

I think about this all the time, and I want to get it out of MY head. Put it out in the ether. Please, someone, do this wedding and send me pictures!

I had the vision (yes, a little movie in my head) at the wedding show many years ago. I pitched it to a local wedding magazine (an entire issue would be dedicated to EAST WEDS WEST) with lack-luster response (I am sure they thought I was crazy). I saw the cover of a bridal magazine with the idea of a Zen Garden Wedding. The bride was wearing a white Asian-inspired wedding dress. Her hair was slick and pulled back with a big red flower to the right. I was looking down as the bride standing on a flat rock, the pattern in the white sand of a Zen Garden surrounding her. High on my vision, and I explored the idea of the look of the wedding on the way home that day (and many days after that).

Many arboretums have Zen gardens. I was thinking they could accommodate a wedding party. Better yet, they could create a garden specifically for weddings. White patterned sand, with a path of flat rocks leading to a larger rock where the ceremony takes place. Behind the bride and groom is a red sheer silk curtain as a backdrop, moving slightly with the wind. Guests are seated all around the garden on big stone benches (okay, that is my wildest wish, they could just have chairs as well) on very lush grass surrounding the Zen Garden. It was all so vivid in my mind, I feel like I have been to this wedding.

And she is holding red flowers, peonies or chrysanthemum. Red lanterns with their names, initials or date of wedding silk-screened on them floating in air at the reception. Or you could make your own lanterns. There so many out there to choose from! Go square or round peony!

CHOPS for presents, or have them made for themselves with their names and the wedding date.

Give the guest Sandalwood folding fans with a natural subtle sandalwood scent or white parasols. On either of these you could add a little designed tag/paper hanging from them, with something printed, date, names?

Of course, participants would have to give money in the traditional red envelopes or maybe re-created the traditional red envelope as a part of the favors. Redesigning it, using it as an envelope for the ceremony information. More wedding favor ideas here.

If I were a guest, I would wear this or maybe a silk wraparound skirt with these shoes.