If you’ve been following along, you know we’re planning on having dinner on the Marriott’s lawn, near the pool. Our biggest hang-up though was a desire to create some intimacy in that space so we don’t feel like we’re having an expensive picnic – we didn’t want to feel ’so exposed’. While we know we can’t have privacy, we want to feel like the space is a little more ours.

What we really wanted was a bamboo canopy like the one pictured here, but the one available on the island was prohibitively expensive. We also weren’t liking what we were hearing about the company we would have to rent it from.

We had almost given up on this idea when our independent wedding planner decided she would invest in one for us! Unfortunately the bamboo structure was really expensive and presented potential problems with a lawn set-up so she choose another more versatile type of skeleton (I’m not sure what its made of – it’s simple and white).

No one was really excited by the picture she first showed us (the draping looked kind of hap-hazard and sloppy), but we could all see potential – that maybe all we need to do is tidy up the drapes. For weeks she has been trying to get over to the Marriott to do a test run (one any given day it seems either she has a function or they do). Finally yesterday she succeeded (after 6 hours of set-up) and sent us lots of photos. The verdict – I think the canopy is going to be awesome! The drapes are white and really sheer and so pretty. You still get the ‘island’ feel and somehow I know having this canopy over us will give us the intimacy we are looking for.

The entertainment company will see about providing some diffused ‘uplighting’ to create ambience. Our favorite lighting effect is the one shown here with lights shining up through some branches and casting a pattern on the top. Now that I’m thinking about it though, that effect might not work for us.  Our draping will be sheer, looser draping, not a tight opaque tent like in the photo. Also we’re thinking we’d like there to be openings in the drapes, so there is some draping above, bouncing light back down, but other spots where you can look up at the stars.

Finally, she has some silk organza chinese lanterns she can hang from the top (though they won’t be lit – chandeliers will be an investment for another day). There aren’t a lot of them (she just happened to have them around for a different project), but I think they’ll be nice. I did have a time where I really wanted hanging crystals but finally decided to not push my luck. And good thing because I’m suddenly pretty sure I will NOT have enough room to pack them!

In all, we’ll have the canopy, the hanging organza lanterns, simple white resin folding chairs, eclectic arrangements of flowers and the shiny contemporary nickel lanterns she invested in for us as well as the ‘mini’ lanterns we’re bringing with us. All of these are simple things that I think will give us a nice elegant space and intimate setting that doesn’t distract from the beautiful landscape around us. I can’t wait to share pictures! I might not turn out like I hope, but at least no one can say I didn’t try!