Here we go…my first blog for Mae & Maple!

When deciding what to write about, I thought what better topic, than to start with something that has proven really popular at my weddings this year…

Picnics and Outdoor Wedding Breakfasts!

Outdoor picnic using sustainable props from Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire at The Old Milking Parlour at Cavokay House

Outside dining has featured at several of my couples’ weddings through Mae & Maple and also when co-ordinating weddings as Tasha Mae. Seeing couples and their guests dine al fresco has such a nice feel to it and in my opinion makes for a really relaxed and chilled vibe.

OK, OK, I know what you are thinking. We live in the UK and the weather can be unpredictable…and yes, you would be right in every sense!

So, I hear you ask. How can anyone plan to eat their wedding breakfast in the great British outdoors? Well, of course you need to have a contingency plan in place, just in case the heavens open. However, stay optimistic and hopefully the weather will be on your side, so your picnic vision can go ahead.

The next question is…how will you style your wedding breakfast picnic?

Well, let me help you by giving you some ideas from a styled photoshoot I planned and co-ordinated back in the spring. I teamed up with some fabulous local wedding suppliers at The Old Milking Parlour at Cavokay House in Henstridge, situated on the Dorset / Somerset border and the incredibly talented Kirsty Hardiman Photography who was our photographer for the day. The theme was outdoor dining with a blue and white Mediterranean vibe, which of course wouldn’t have been complete without lots of lemons!

Outside Dining table in woodland at The Old Milking Parlour at Cavokay House with Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

Firstly, you need to invite your guests to your ‘Al Fresco’ wedding, so, once you have decided on your venue and date, you can get on with organising your stationery. If you would like everything matching then Pretty Creative Stationery can certainly help you. Sonya designed this gorgeous stationery suite with lemon lined envelopes and citrus flower invitations with detail cards. Having a collection to match your theme will certainly give your guests a hint as to what type of styling they can expect on your wedding day.

Wedding Stationery Set - Citrus Style - With Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

Wedding Stationery Set - Invites & Details with Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

At the start of your wedding day it’s nice to welcome your guests, so we created a rustic welcome display using my rescued vintage ladder, handmade detachable shelf and antique mirror sign. Surrounded by floral meadow boxes arranged by Forest View Floristry and one of my rescued demi-john jars filled with foliage and floral stems, this is a beautiful way to welcome your guests.

Welcome to our Wedding Sign on a rustic ladder from Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire at The Old Milking Parlour at Cavokay House

Welcome to our Wedding Sign on a rustic ladder - hire from Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

Choosing a suitable position for our outdoor table set up, we decided that in between two apple trees would be best. It’s always a good idea to consider some shade when eating outside, as you never know you may be lucky enough to have high temperatures on your big day and you don’t want your guests melting!

Outdoor wedding dining table at The Old Milking Parlour at Cavokay House with Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

Creating our own table top using an old door, we made table legs out of milk churns. If you are lucky enough to have booked The Old Milking Parlour at Cavokay House for your wedding, then these are available for you to use, included in your hire.

Milk churns as table legs on an outdoor dining table for weddings - Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

To style our outdoor dining table we weaved a plain white runner in between my log chunks down the centre of the table. These gave us some height so we could play around with my blue and white tureens, which Forest View Floristry arranged some beautiful florals in. Not only that, but by using my log chunks it meant we could mix up what went on top of them, such as an alternative display for the canapes supplied by Victoria O’Brien Catering and the incredible blue and white tiled effect wedding cake made by Bonita Bakes Cakes. If your wedding is small and intimate, I say, why not have your cake as your centrepiece!

Overhead view of an outside wedding breakfast table set up - Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

Flower arrangement in a vintage flowerbowl hired from Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

The raffia placemats matched with gold cutlery supplied by Luxe Hire Co. made for a perfect outdoor place setting topped with the pretty citrus flower edged menus designed by Pretty Creative Stationery. We used our own blue and white plates and linen napkins which suited our styling perfectly and goes to show that you may actually have something in your cupboard which you can use.

Wedding Breakfast Place Setting mediterranean style - Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

Every guest needs a place setting, so Pretty Creative Stationery made these cute little bottles of Limoncello which doubled up as a name card and favour…the perfect Mediterranean citrus combo!

Mini bottle of limoncello with place name on - wedding favour at The Old Milking Parlour at Cavokay House with Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

For more intimate dining, I wanted to showcase how you could use my Treats Trolley as an additional serving area to sit alongside your table. We styled it using my upside down wine boxes, large and small log slices along with a few of my stoneware bud vases filled with matching floral stems. It was the perfect display for the delicious canapes supplied by Victoria O’Brien Catering.

Treats Trolley with canapes on hired from Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

Treats Trolley with canapes hired from Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

Keeping your guests hydrated is also really important, so my handcrafted Hydration Station made out of rescued and recycled cable drums is the ideal solution. This can be styled however you like, but we chose to match it with our citrus theme and filled the drinks dispensers with traditional lemonade and lime infused water. Adding the cute little drink signs designed by Pretty Creative Stationery into my gold frames and the ‘Hydration Station’ sign into my slotted log chunk, it made a beautiful display for guests to grab a drink from. Finished off with freshly cut lemons and a blue and white plate to match the table, it made the perfect finishing touch.

Hydration Statione made out of recycled cable drums - hired from Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

Hydration Station decor for a wedding - Mediterranean styling - hired from Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

Having just completed an unfinished pallet table project and wanting to try something different, I teamed it with a rescued rug and four rattan seating cushions, to create our own little picnic area for four people. Switching up the white runner with a pale blue one, changing the plates and positioning the pretty floral meadow boxes along one side of the table, this made for the cutest little picnic set up.

Picnic for four people on a handmade pallet table hired from Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

If you are planning a romantic proposal you could also use my pallet table as a ‘Picnic Proposal Table’ for two. Find a secluded spot, mix up the florals, add some savoury and sweet grazing platters, adorn the table with candles and your partner is bound to say YES!

Picnic for two people - proposal Picnic hired from Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

Picnic Table for two people - proposal table hired from Mae & Maple Prop & Decor Hire

Thinking outside the box, why not use my pallet table as a board games table to keep the children (and adults!) amused? Honestly, the possibilities are endless. I can’t wait to see what you do with my reclaimed pallet table and whether or not you choose to eat ‘al fresco’ for your wedding breakfast!