Outdoor Wedding Blog

Outdoor Wedding Blog: Ideas, news, tips and resources for brides and grooms planning outdoor weddings, from Kim Knox Beckius, author of "The Everything Outdoor Wedding Book." Visit Kim's Outdoor Wedding Web Site: outdoorweddingguide.com

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

A Unique Outdoor Wedding Keepsake

Joe Bagley Outdoor Wedding ArtFlorida-based paper cutting artist Joe Bagley contacted me recently to suggest that his original works of art--each created from a single sheet of black paper--would make a unique keepsake or cherished gift for the bride and groom who marry outdoors, and I agree! "All designs are custom made, and I work directly with the couples to create exactly what they want," Joe told me. Each design is painstakingly hand-cut with X-Acto blades, and Joe can even incorporate images of the couple or their special outdoor wedding location, along with such personal details as names and a date.

The image at right is of "the bridge in the park where my wife and I were married last [year]," Joe explained. For his first wedding anniversary in June, which tradition dictates is the "paper" anniversary, Joe created a larger papercut for his wife depicting the large pagoda tree they were married beneath. "It will hang over our bed so that we can sleep under the same tree every night," he said. These intricate yet simple black and white creations would also look fantastic hanging on an office wall, so they're an ideal gift for a hard-to-buy-for groom or new husband.

Joe Bagley Papercutting Art for WeddingsConsidering the time that goes into each papercut--from 20 to 100 hours--Joe's one-of-a-kind designs are affordably priced from $55 for an 8x10 profile and from $125 for an 8x10 location or other original design. Both can be ordered via Joe's Etsy shop, or contact the artist via email to discuss your ideas and commission a piece. Allow at least two weeks for creation of your one-of-a-kind outdoor wedding keepsake.

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Monday, July 14, 2008

Permits Required for Hawaii Beach Weddings

Island Television KITV reported last week that the state of Hawaii plans to get tough on commercial wedding companies that do not obtain the proper permit for a beach wedding on unencumbered state lands. The fee for a permit is 10 cents per square foot for the requested area, with a minimum of $20. Wedding companies need to apply for the required permit at least one week in advance.

According to KITV, "the permits are needed to protect Hawaii's natural resources, and to ensure Hawaii residents have free access to their beaches and parks." Although Hawaii has required permits and assessed fees for beach weddings on state lands since 2001, many wedding planners do not comply, according to the KITV report.

If you're working with a wedding company to facilitate your Hawaii beach wedding, it's a good idea to ask in advance about their intent to obtain the proper permit. It could be a potentially embarrassing experience to have your wedding ceremony interrupted by state officials or a last-minute nightmare to find out that your beach wedding cannot proceed as planned. It's also the right thing to do: Hawaii's beaches are a spectacular natural resource, and the permit fee helps to ensure they'll be a place where couples can celebrate their love for generations to come.

See also: Hawaii Outdoor Wedding Locations

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Monday, July 07, 2008

Kosher Outdoor Wedding Locations in New York

A father of the bride emailed me recently seeking suggestions for an "outdoor space for a kosher wedding in the New York area" with "water views." I responded:


Here are a few possibilities that your daughter might consider:

I believe that Abigail Kirsch offers kosher menus, and they cater weddings at a number of outdoor/waterview locations including:

Sinapi's Ceola Manor in Jefferson Valley, NY, can do a kosher menu, I believe.


Although it is not on the water, the Palm House in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a lovely outdoor wedding site, and the on-site caterer does offer kosher menus.


If you'd consider a wedding on the water, Long Island-based Nautical Cruise Lines works with Del-Mir Caterers for kosher weddings.


If traveling to Connecticut is a possibility, you might look into hosting the wedding at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center.

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Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Outdoor Wedding Blog in this Month's Smart Computing Magazine

I'm delighted that Joanna Safford included my Outdoor Wedding Blog in her "Find It Online" guide to "Summer Fun In The Outdoors" in this month's (July) issue of Smart Computing magazine, which I picked up last week at my local Barnes & Noble. Safford interviewed me for the piece, and I was pleased that she also mentioned that "Brides and grooms alike can use the helpful tips for making the most of an outdoor wedding."

If you're a Smart Computing reader who has just discovered this blog--welcome! Here are a few tips I've shared in previous blog posts that you may find helpful as you plan your outdoor wedding celebration:

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