If you’re planning any kind of outdoor event at home or away, do what wedding professionals do: “dress the set. “  Specifically challenging can be gates and fences. Whether the barrier you’re facing is industrial chain link, cement blocks, charming wooden posts or white-painted pickets, we’ve got some fresh ideas pulled from the best weddings for putting your look together. Create the back drop of your dreams!

Starting with the tough stuff first, what are the newest DIY ways to dress a chain link fence? You may be having a backyard ceremony, reception or any kind of outdoor home-style blow-out. Perhaps you’ve chosen a fenced location that needs a little dressing up. There are two ways you can approach the subject: one way is to try and hide or disguise the chain link (or any other less-than-pleasing background) or you can embrace the look and thereby enhance it.

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It’s a well known fact that the eye stops on whatever is closest in sight, so hanging draperies in any kind of fabric is going to improve your view. Remember, your fabric additions don’t have to cover the entire breadth and width of a venue… just the parts you’ll be working in and around. Hanging drapes behind the wedding party dais, for instance, can create a delightful sense of intimacy in a large space, adding color and drama in the process.

Another technique, the opposite of hiding the fence, is to use it to your advantage. Chain link and other types of fencing are ideal for hanging all kinds of things including banners and photographs. There’s a real charm about including pictures as your background and it’s a hot DIY trend in the wedding and party planning arena… this works well for birthdays and anniversaries, too. Virtually any situation in which you’d like your guests of honor to actually be honored calls for a photographic display and fences or gates are a perfect place to do it. For a seamless look, try to pull in other elements of a similar nature, like big galvanized buckets that work really well as ice chests for drinks, and smaller ones for candy.

Did you know that paper lanterns are like balloons for grown-ups? You can use paper lanterns by grouping them in bunches (odd numbers make the best look) and attaching them to your fence railing. Paper lanterns are super great: affordable and even romantic when you want them to be. They come in lots of cool festive colors… and are a little classier than balloons. Unlike balloons, they won’t melt in the heat. It’s really sad when balloons are sagging before the party’s over! Not an issue with paper lanterns.

Maybe you don’t have a “problem” background that needs dressing up, instead you just want to bring some color and pizzazz to the setting. Try this tip: mason jars, simply but carefully wired to fence posts, filled with water and flowers and tied with pretty ribbons that blow in the breeze. For extra fun, add a few drops of food coloring to the water (do a test first so the color doesn’t color your flowers!).

The next time you’re planning an outdoor wedding or any outdoor event, think about the party perimeter and try some of these fun suggestions to “dress your set.” With very little trouble and expense, you’ll add an entirely new dimension to your event… and you’ll be glad you did!

Susanna Miles, from (kisswedding.com) and real wedding blog (kisswedding.com/blog) is a place for brides to go for simple wedding ideas that make planning a wedding on a budget a heck of a lot easier.  The Guide, the Workbook and now the eCourse however help brides de-stress by de-mystifying the wedding industry, simplifying planning, and uncovering alot of the myths surrounding inexpensive wedding ideas.

All of the elements of the K.i.s.s. brand are based on keeping it simple & special – the very things that kept me sane while planning my own wedding and thousands since

For more outdoor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Many couples want to be married during the summer months while others opt for a winter white wedding during the holidays.  Often these times of year are chosen because of the ease with which friends and family can attend (kids are out of school, adults can get time off work, etc.), although there are probably other reasons why summer and winter weddings are the most popular.  In any case, should you choose to stray from the beaten path by opting for an autumnal wedding, you still have plenty of options for suitable decor.  And you can really get into the spirit of the season if you further elect to have an outdoor wedding in the privacy of your backyard.  Here are just a few decorating tips that may hit the mark.

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Opt for seasonal colors

The colors of fall are gorgeous and you shouldn’t hesitate to represent them in your wedding decor.  The fiery hues of red, orange, and yellow that adorn deciduous trees should be mirrored in your decorations, from the bridesmaid dresses to the bouquet to the embellishments on the cake.  Of course, you don’t have to go overboard by making everything matchy-matchy; white tablecloths will stand out brilliantly against the backdrop of fall colors on natural display in your yard.  But going against the grain by choosing pastels that are more suited to a spring or summer wedding will make for a whole that is inharmonious.

Use the landscape

Instead of spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on floral arrangements, you can use the landscaping of a yard to your advantage.  Most couples give themselves a year or more to plan a wedding, which means you have plenty of time to get on top of planting schedules so that your yard will be in full bloom for your wedding the following year.  Especially important to plant ASAP are trees, bushes, or low-lying brush, which will need some time to fill out.

Consider a seasonal theme

There are many holidays that occur during the fall months, and all could provide a theme for your wedding.  For example, if you are enamored with Halloween or Dia de Los Muertos, you could decide to incorporate elements associated with these holidays into your wedding.  Thanksgiving is another possibility, as is Oktoberfest.  And harvest festivals are also fairly common for this time of year.

Don’t neglect the details

You don’t have to do everything in reds and oranges with leaf patterns, but a few well-planned touches could make your fall wedding spectacular.  Colorful napkins are a good place to start, while place cards could be cut in the shape of a leaf.  These types of accents will complement your seasonal aesthetic without going over the top.

Plan for inclement weather

Depending on the actual date and location you choose, you could be dealing with either blazing hot sun or wind, rain, and even snow.  If you’re looking at potential wedding sites in San Diego (at your home or that of a family member or friend), then you probably don’t have to worry too much about the weather.  But if you’re getting married in Michigan or upstate New York, you could have a real problem.  So if you’re set on an outdoor wedding, prepare for potential weather problems by renting a tent to cover the reception area, and including fans for hot weather or heat lamps for cold.

For more wedding ideas on Stagetecture, click here.