Easy Ways to Keep Everyone Cool at an Outdoor Summer Wedding

Planning an outdoor wedding in Tennessee sounds like a wonderful idea, but the heat can sometimes reach a point that makes being outside uncomfortable. There are plenty of ways to keep everyone cool at a mid-summer ceremony so that you can still have your dream wedding among the outdoor scenic, Smoky Mountain charm of Country Jewell. Here are a few easy ideas to add to your wedding plans.  

Fans
Both small handheld fans and large electric fans can be placed strategically around the wedding so that your guests don't feel like they are melting in the heat of a Tennessee summer day. There are lots of kits available so that you can turn handheld fans into wedding programs, allowing them to serve two purposes at once plus add a very nice touch to the overall look of your wedding. Larger fans can be rented to keep a refreshing breeze blowing for all to enjoy. Just make sure that you place them so that the wind is not too strong on any one particular area.  

Shade
If a large part of your wedding will be held outdoors, you may want to add a pretty canopy off to the side so that it is easy for guests to find some shade nearby if they want to get out of the sun. You could also find some lovely parasols to pass out to guests so that they can shade themselves, and these are a unique option to have the bridesmaids carry instead of bouquets. 

Luckily, here at our rustic wedding venue near Knoxville, there are already plenty of spots to find some shade around the venue. Your reception will most likely take place inside our spacious wedding barn so your guests won't have to be out in the sun for too long.    

Ice-Cold Drinks
It is extremely important to keep everyone at your wedding hydrated on a hot day. Make sure that there is water readily available at all times. You could set up a table with beverage dispensers off to the side, and you could even offer fruit-infused varieties of water for guests to enjoy. Another idea is to have coolers filled with ice and water bottles, and you pitchers or carafes of water placed on each reception table is a nice touch too. 

As for the other beverages that you will be serving, having bottles or cans available for guests to grab from some type of cooler helps to avoid anyone having to wait in a long line for a drink. Some drinks could also be placed inside self-serve drink dispensers on the table next to the water. Frozen fruit or reusable ice cubes will keep the containers cold without watering down the drinks inside. 

Iced Down Washcloths
This may sound strange, but the result is magical on a hot day! Fill a cooler full of ice water and then place washcloths inside of it. If you want to stay on-theme, use washcloths in your wedding colors. When anyone at your wedding feels overheated, they can place one of the washcloths on their neck and they will instantly feel refreshed. Your wedding party will especially appreciate this "cool" trick. 

Frozen Treats
Last, but certainly not least, plan to serve a few ice-cold treats along with the wedding cake for dessert. Ice cream pairs deliciously with cake, and you could even add to the fun of eating it by setting out toppings and letting guests build their own sundaes. You know those popsicles that start as a liquid in a plastic tube that you place in the freezer to set? They are inexpensive and can be placed in buckets of ice for guests to easily grab. Another fun cold dessert is sno-cones. Machines can be rented to make the ice, and you could even offer adult versions from the bar.   

Our scenic outdoor wedding venue near Knoxville is a beautiful place to say "I do" and if you use some of the ideas above, tying the knot on a hot day won't be a problem for you or your guests. Plus, with the shady areas and indoor options available to you at Country Jewell in Heiskell, there are plenty of ways to get out of the sun when you need to. Come by soon and see the place for yourself. You're going to love it! 

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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9 Of Our Favorite Summer Wedding Ideas

Summer is officially here next week, which means it's time for summer wedding season at our scenic wedding venue near Knoxville. We've seen quite a few creative couples tie the knot over the years at Country Jewell, and today we're sharing 10 of our favorite ideas for a summer wedding.  

Keeping Your Cool
The weather really starts heating up once summer is here, so keeping your guests cool is an important thing to plan for. Wedding programs printed on fans is an excellent way to keep them comfortable during an outdoor ceremony. They can provide a nice breeze for themselves while staying informed about important wedding details.   

Bringing the Outdoors Inside
When it really gets hot outside, you'll probably be spending a lot of time inside our air-conditioned wedding barn once the party gets started. Bring some of the outdoor beauty in with you by incorporating it into your centerpieces and other wedding decor. Vases filled with seasonal wildflowers are an easy way to do this. Another way is to use colors that seem to say "Summer is here!" 

Sunny Colors
Bright, sunny, summery colors bring the same optimistic cheer to your wedding as a bright, sunny, summery day. Take inspiration from all of the beautiful plants in bloom outdoors, like the gorgeous greens of the trees and the rainbow of colors found on the flowers. The sun's yellow and orange shades make for a lovely color scheme, and those deep blue skies and fluffy white clouds decorating your view are another incredible place to borrow color ideas. 

Fruity Decor
Use some of the refreshing fruits that are in season this time of year to not only add flavor to your menu, but also to decorate your reception. A mason jar full of sliced lemons and limes bring lovely, fresh color to a table, and you can add sprigs of baby's breath coming out of the top for added flair. Centerpieces can also pull double duty if you make an arrangement of fruit for appetizers at the center of every table. It will look pretty, and your guests can have a snack while waiting for dinner to start.  

Outdoor Activities
Take advantage of the wonderful weather and offer a few activities for your guests to take part in outside. Lawn games are always lots of fun, and there's plenty of room at Country Jewell to set a few of these up. You can even find a spot on our grounds with some beautiful landscaping for a background and set up an area for guests to take fun photos.  

Refreshing Drinks
The beverages you serve for a summer wedding should be ice cold and refreshing. Containers filled with tea and lemonade where guests can help themselves is a great way to keep drinks available to them at all times. You can rent a frozen drink machine to serve icy, blended beverages. Add frozen chunks of fruit to punch bowls to keep them cold but not watered down. Last but not least, at a summer wedding is it very important that you make sure water is easily accessible to guests at all times.   

Naked Cakes
Keeping your cake inside our Tennessee wedding barn will keep any icing from melting in the heat. Another alternative to a cake covered in buttercream icing or fondant is to choose a "naked" wedding cake. Rather than frosting the outside, instead the baker only frosts between the cake layers and decorates the outside with flowers and fruits. It's a lighter dessert, and it is an especially wonderful look for a rustic wedding.  

Sundae Bars
Summer and ice cream go hand in hand. Offer your guests a cool dessert alternative by having a table full of sundae toppings and few of your favorite ice cream flavors. 

Sparkler Sendoffs
Another great outdoor activity that you can add to your wedding is an exciting sparkler exit. It's fun for the guests, it's a blast to run through that tunnel of light, and the pictures that your photographer will get from it are simply amazing. 

Summer is an amazing time for a wedding, especially at our breathtaking, scenic wedding venue near Knoxville. You've got the rolling landscapes and fresh Smoky Mountain air outside plus the rustic charm of our wedding chapel and event barn inside. If you are looking for the perfect place to get married, take a look at Country Jewell. We know you're going to love it here as much as we do! 

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

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Warm Weather Weddings - Spring & Summer Wedding Ideas

Spring officially begins next Monday, March 20, so today Country Jewell has decided to think warm thoughts and imagine a few fun ideas for all of the spring and summer weddings we have coming up this year. Our scenic wedding venue near Knoxville is beautiful in every season, but the warmer ones allow us to spend more time outdoors, enjoying the breathtaking scenery all around us.

Get Outside
Spring at Country Jewell is filled with fresh new greenery and beautiful blooms, and once summer rolls around, nature is at its beautiful best around here. Our event barn is an excellent reception spot to let everyone get out of the sun and heat, but planning to spend time outside too is pleasant for everyone. We have a couple of different areas that are perfect for an outdoor ceremony, including our lovely wedding gazebo. You can even bring some of the reception outdoors with fun lawn games. 

When you and your guests spend more time outdoors, there are a few things you can do to make sure everyone is comfortable. A small table with suntan lotion and bug spray for them to use if necessary is a nice addition. By mid-summer, it will be hot and sunny. You can give out favors like sunglasses or wedding programs that double as fans. 

Keep Cool
A great way to keep all of your wedding guests from getting too hot is to have ice cold drinks at the ready. Big jugs full of tea or lemonade allow everyone to help themselves, and adding slices of fruit to the beverages give them extra tasty flavor. Keep the drinks cold without watering them down by freezing cubes of the beverage to use in place of regular ice cubes. As they melt, the flavor won't change. 

Having a big tub filled with ice and bottled waters is also nice for your guests to have access to. If you'll be serving alcoholic drinks, now is the time to whip up Margaritas and Mojitos. Those are warm weather cocktails everyone seems to love. You can even offer a few frozen drinks to your guests with the rental of a frozen drink machine.  

Use Seasonal Inspiration
The easiest way to get a summery feeling at your wedding is to use the colors, scents, and natural beauty from outside in your decorating. Tulips and daisies are popular springtime flowers. The bright blue of the sky, rich green of the trees and landscape, and pastels that match all of the spring blooms on the trees are excellent choices to use for wedding colors. Pantone's color of the year for 2017 is "Greenery," and incorporating that throughout your decor will feel like you've brought a little bit of the outdoors indoors. 

Spring and summer offer opportunities that you just don't get in the winter and fall at our rustic wedding venue near Knoxville. Of course, those colder seasons do have some fantastic things about them that you don't get in the warm-weather months. In the end, as with all of your wedding decisions, do what makes you as a couple happy and it will be a great wedding!

When you get married at Country Jewell, no matter what the season, we will do our best to make sure the special day that you are dreaming of becomes a reality. We're happy to give you a tour of our event venue in Heiskell so that you can see for yourself what a glorious place this is to begin your happily ever after together. 

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

Like us on Facebook

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Refreshing Drink Ideas for a Summer Wedding

In last week's blog, we discussed the various packages that are available for your rustic Knoxville wedding, as well as the food options that go along with some of them. Today, we are moving on to the beverage portion of your reception and sharing a few great ideas for refreshing summer drinks that you can serve to your Country Jewell guests. 

Most of the beverages below can be made without the alcohol added. A couple of them, like the Sangria and Mojito, may need a bit of tweaking to maintain the original flavor, but it is possible. If you decide to serve both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at your wedding, make sure that they are clearly marked for your guests, especially the younger ones.  

Sangria

There are many variations on this fruity cocktail. Generally, it will consist of your favorite wine, red or white, plus some club soda, flavored brandy, and fruit juices. Cut up slices of fruit to add to the mix.   

Margaritas

This tequila classic is always a favorite at any gathering. It can be served over ice, but it's especially appealing at a summer wedding when served frozen. You can rent frozen drink machines that will take care of that for you. It's also easy to add your favorite summer flavors to the mix, like strawberry, melon, or peach.

Water, Tea, & Lemonade

These are summer wedding staples, and safe for every age to drink. You can jazz them up a bit by placing them in serving containers and infusing them with fresh fruits. Also, if you would like to turn them into cocktails, it's easy to add alcohol after they are poured. 

Mojitos

This fresh rum cocktail is perfect for a hot day. Mint muddled into white rum, sugar or simple syrup, sparkling water, and lime makes a delicious drink. You can even turn it into a wedding day "something blue" by adding blueberries, but any other fruit muddled with the mint will also flavor it wonderfully. 

Watermelon Punch

Take advantage of the entire fruit and use the rind as a punch bowl. Start by scooping out the insides and blending them with vodka, fresh lime juice, and club soda. Add mint and lime slices for additional flavor and garnish.

Keep it cold

On a particularly hot day, it can be difficult to keep the drinks cold. Instead of adding ice that will water them down, here are a few clever ideas to keep them both cool and tasty. 

• Frozen fruit - A great alternative to ice cubes that can be eaten when the drink is gone. 
• Drink cubes - Rather than freezing water to make ice, some beverages, like the watermelon punch above, can be frozen. These "drink cubes" won't change the beverage's flavor as they melt.
• Popsicles - These fruity, frozen treats look and taste great when placed inside a glass of wine or champagne. 

The drinks served at our Knoxville wedding venue for your wedding are a great way to add a little extra something special for your guests. Use your favorite flavors, and if you are feeling creative, name a signature cocktail after the bride and groom. The drink color can match your wedding colors or even fit into your theme in a special way. When you get married at Country Jewell, there are many wonderful and unique ways to personalize your day and make it one that your guests will love. 

A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding

& event venue.

6550 Hickory Valley Road

Heiskell, TN 37754

865-494-0552

Visit our website:  www.CountryJewell.com

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on LinkedIn

Follow us on Google+