OK let's get some of this down on "paper". When we were making wedding plans, we talked of what to have here in Eagle. Amber has been gone from here for eight years. She did not want any of us to spend a lot of money on the wedding. We wanted Tanner to meet people here and vice versa. We talked of sponsoring a large wedding shower, but that wouldn't include the men folk. A couple of years ago, when Morgan, Amber's friend in high school, got married, she had a barbeque in the backyard. Amber really liked it, so we decided that was the thing we should do. Amber called a friend's parents to ask them if we could have it in their backyard. They kindly consented. It would be held the weekend after the wedding (after the newlyweds honeymooned in Colorado). We invited old friends, high school friends and their parents, and neighbors. Fifty all told. We had 43 people attend. (In the above photo, the Brett man had changed into basketball shirt and shoes, leaving dress pants on. Previous to that he looked so great with a green shirt, black tie and dress shoes. Oh well, what's a mom to do? I had to let it go, it wasn't life threatening and wasn't morally threatening.)
We used the linens and table decorations from the Utah reception. I picked up fresh white mums, daisies, some greenery and we cut some white lilacs that day(stolen goods!). My good friend decorated the tables for us. We used some paper lanterns and pictures from the wedding, etc. for other decorations around the patio. We collected tables and chairs from the church.
Our menu was: Pulled Pork, Rolls from the bakery, Fresh Fruit, Sun Chips and Guaco Chips, a side salad and Key Lime Pie or Angel Lime Dessert. My blonde friend took care of the meat for us, my ever so cheerful friend cut up all the fruit and arranged it on two beautiful platters, my running friend made two desserts and the gal I work with ran the kitchen. To serve the dessert, we used various random green plates. When Amber requested Key Lime Pie for dessert, this idea of serving it popped into my head, she liked it, so we went with it. We gathered plates from Good Will, D.I. and from friends and neighbors! Some of them were even green glass vintage. It was a fun little pursuit. Nancy will tell you of our Key Lime Pie dilemmas. The best recipe can be found with her. I will post the Pulled Pork recipe when I get it again, if you all are interested. It was good and easy. We had one spoonful left in the end. Everyone loved the guaco chips, the fresh fruit was sweet (it all came from Costco), the Key Lime Pies went fast. The side salad was a bit of a different way to do salad. We had it at the place settings to begin the picnic, that way people could start with salad as others were going to the serving tables. It was a fun little salad. We put a hand full of red and green 'greens' on the plate, then to the side a little bunch of craisins, cashews, small carrots, grape tomatoes and olives with a clump of clover sprouts top and center. I had some vintage tea cups with plates to put the dressings in. We just used Thousand Island and Brianna's Poppy Seed dressings. Because Brett loves Jones Soda and it is Tanner's last name, we served several flavors of Jones Soda for the drink. How easy was that! AND I found out that Tanner likes Jones Soda also. Tanner and Brett had four cans in one night!
This little event was very casual and fun. It came off with lots of help from dear daughter, family and friends. Doing something for the first time is always daunting for me, but after it's over I feel like I could 
do it again, no sweat..Sooo, now, anyone need an outdoor wedding picnic???? Let me entertain you~~~ (speaking of sweat~96 degrees here that day~that was the only bad part~I wilt in the heat~summer not my fav.)
A friend of the happy couple gave them HATS for their wedding gift!!! Novel. Looks like Amber might go cowgirl on us!
The evening reception was to be outside by the creek, but in the a.m. the decision was made to set it up indoors. It was still very nice. Tanner's parents and family did so much to make it happen! Thank You to the Jones family! We enjoyed seeing relatives and old friends at the reception, even tho' we don't live in Utah. Amber chose colors of black, white and various greens. This Saturday we are sponsoring a picnic/barbecue for Tanner and Amber here at home. Still lots to do...
