I really love the idea of a small shabby chic wedding reception.  If your guest list and wedding budget are a little on the small side, you can't get better than a garden party reception.  If you want to bypass heart stopping venue and catering fees (and you have amazing family and friends!), find someone with a beautiful garden and get everyone to pitch in with decorating and food.  This feature on countryliving.com has some nice decorating ideas:

I did want an English country wedding but this country you can't always rely on the weather!  Think summer roses, mismatched crockery, flowers planted in old tin buckets and watering cans and afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes.

 Idyllic Days, Country Living, Ages Past, Pretty Vintage

Loving this collage from Signature Weddings:

Yummy pink champagne displayed in metal buckets, low budget (the buckets, that is!) but very stylish:

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