I recently received this letter from a local bride.

"Arina, I'm planning to have a wedding in April. Although we assumed that things would be blooming by now, they aren't. My outdoor reception is starting to worry me. I'm not as concerned about the weather as I am about the "look" outside. I wish I could make it more spring-y. My mom and sister will be doing the flowers for the tables. What are your suggestions for bringing a little spring to the somewhat barren scenery without breaking the bank?" -- Michelle (Springfield, MO)

Michelle, Spring's unpredictable weather can certainly make planning a wedding quite challenging. But what Spring symbolizes -- rebirth, freedom, and rejuvenation -- is what makes the season incredibly special, pure and romantic.

A great way to bring the feeling of freshness to a table is with crisp white linen, white china, and freshly cut flowers beautifully arranged in different kinds of vases. Use crystal or silver plated vases if you are planning a formal reception after 5pm. Ask your close friends and family to lend you vases for your wedding -- they will love seeing them filled with beautiful flowers on the day of the event and feel like they were involved in your planning. The benefits of freshly cut flower centerpieces is that you don't have to painstakingly arrange each one; the natural way each flower falls is the beauty behind the arrangement. Your mom can also prepare the flowers the night before so she can just set them out on the tables on the day of the event without giving them another thought.

An added and stunning touch for an evening reception are votives arranged around the cut crystal and silver. The candlelight reflection from the vases in the twilight hours will be absolutely gorgeous. As a unique wedding favor idea, give your guests individual garden hat cakes such as the ones pictured below (compliments of Julia Usher).

For a day-time reception, go for the rustic "garden" look by incorporating ceramic, terra cotta, buckets, glass bottles, or even wooden bases. Using flowers that symbolize Spring, such as tulips and daisies, or even topiary plants, can further evoke the beauty of the season. Instead of the traditional wedding favors, give your guests seeds for planting in their own garden contained in hand-made boxes or bags. Chances are, they will be able to plant them right away instead of waiting for next year.