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

Monday, March 09, 2009

A Juicy Spot! Host Your Outdoor Wedding in a Florida Orange Grove

While vacationing on Florida's West Coast last month, I stumbled upon a
lovely outdoor wedding setting during a visit to the store at Mixon Fruit Farms. This working orange grove in Bradenton, Florida, calls its wedding facility Mixon's in the Grove, and it's ideally set up for couples who are dreaming of hosting their wedding in an intriguing outdoor setting but also want to ensure they have a "plan B" in case of rain.

Pergola at Mixon Fruit Farm


It was actually cloudy and a bit drizzly when we arrived at Mixon Fruit
Farms, but these photos should still give you a sense of the property's many options for ceremony and photography locations. I loved this pergola's tropical landscaping!

Garden Oasis Wedding Site at Mixon's in the Grove


The Garden Oasis (pictured above) is one potential ceremony spot. The white fenced dock on the left juts out over this Koi pond with its rock waterfall and fountain.

Butterfly Garden Wedding Site


This flower-draped metal gazebo in the Butterfly Garden at Mixon's in the Grove is another potential site for an intimate wedding ceremony.

Gazebo for Weddings at Mixon Fruit Farms


This spacious gazebo is a third option, and it offers a bit of cover from the sun and the elements. As we explored the lush grounds, including an outdoor patio area with a backdrop of orange trees that would make a suitable cocktail hour setting, we noticed that we could hear quite a bit of highway noise. Couples who choose Mixon's for their outdoor wedding should probably consider using a sound system (ask your DJ about wireless mics) to ensure guests can hear their officiant and their exchange of vows. Once the party gets going, I wouldn't imagine the traffic would be a distraction.

Wedding Reception Pavilion at Mixon's in the Grove

The best feature of Mixon's in the Grove is this reception pavilion, located directly across from the gazebo. It can comfortably hold about 200 guests and offers shelter in the event of wind or showers. Mixon Fruit Farms also has an indoor banquet hall that can seat 75 for smaller receptions. To tour this Florida outdoor wedding site or request more information, call 941-748-5829, ext. 280 or email Events@mixon.com.

More Florida Outdoor Wedding Locations

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Monday, March 02, 2009

Win $4,000 Toward Your Perfect Start

Hallmark's Perfect Start Sweepstakes features a prize any couple in the throes of wedding planning could definitely use: $4,000 cash and a $1,000 Gold Crown Gift Card for a year's worth of Hallmark greeting cards. You can enter online once each day, but hurry! The deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on March 16, 2009. Good luck!

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