Behind the Scenes: It's a Wonderful (Outdoor) Life
Story Highlights
Every year, Outdoor Dreams celebrates the holiday season with a festive photoshoot to encourage people to incorporate their patios, decks, and outdoor living spaces into their holiday traditions. This year, we chose "It's a Wonderful Life" as our inspiration because its story and message seemed fitting for 2020.
In this article, we explain this choice further and provide a deep dive into all of the fun "It's a Wonderful Life" references scattered throughout the patio space. If you're a fan of the movie or planning an "It's a Wonderful Life" themed party, this article is for you!
Why?
"It's a Wonderful Life"
2020 has been a difficult year. For many people, this one year has featured as many downs and disappointments as George Bailey's entire life in the movie. Much like George's life, this year has featured a pandemic, untimely deaths, dreams crushed or put on hold, business failures, financial hardships, bitter fighting, and poor mental health.
Though difficult, "It's a Wonderful Life" reminds us that...
Life is our Greatest Gift
We chose "It's a Wonderful Life" as our inspiration because it reminds us that it's the darkest moments that make the most wonderful moments shine the brightest.
Though difficult and hard to endure at times, this year (like George's life) has also been full of love and friendship. We encourage everyone to use these difficult times as a spotlight on life's many blessings.
Can you spot all of the movie references?
Look closely to see if you can find the many "it's a wonderful life" references hidden throughout the patio space.
After looking through the photos, scroll down as we reveal all 14 references.
An Iconic Symbol that never happened
Movie Poster
The original movie poster shows an illustrated George holding Mary in the air. It's an iconic image that you immediately associate with the movie, BUT the scene that inspired it didn't make the final cut!
In our scene, we originally planned to move the poster around the patio for numerous shots. In the end, the poster found a perfect home next to the outdoor fireplace and never moved.
"What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down."
The plan was to also have a copy of Tom Sawyer on the table, but it got left behind. :-(
Thanks for the Wings!
"Remember no man is a failure who has friends."
- Clarence
We decided to include a glue stick as a subtle reference to Zuzu's plea to "paste it."
"Look Daddy...paste it."
We couldn't do an "It's a Wonderful Life" shoot without including a reference to Zuzu's petals.
"Bread, that this house may never know hunger. Salt, that life may always have flavor. And wine, that joy and prosperity may reign forever."
The Train Station
Inspiration for themed movie night snacks
At the train station scene, the characters eat a variety of snacks that fit perfectly with our movie night setup. Our snacks feature Uncle Billy's bag of peanuts as well as Ruth Dakin Bailey's bag of popcorn. Those, along with a few snacks discussed later, created a delicious spread for our movie night on the patio.
not pottersville
You are now in Bedford Falls
To set the scene, we absolutely had to include a replica of the Bedford Falls sign. Like the movie poster, our original plan was to move the sign around the patio for numerous shots. Ultimately though, we chose to set the sign behind the fire pit. The sign looked right at home near the entrance of the patio (of course) with a backdrop of lighted spruces.
"Mulled wine, heavy on the cinnamon and light on the cloves. Off with you, me lad, and be lively!"
For the window
The Merry Christmas Wreath
In the movie, the Merry Christmas wreath appears as things begin to fall apart for George. Despite the sad turn in the movie, the term "Merry Christmas Wreath" sticks with you because of the joy that radiates from the kids and Mary when they say it.
In the movie, the Merry Christmas wreath is meant "for the window," but we chose to hang ours from the pavilion's open gable. That's kind of like a window, right?
2 Cents of Laces & Chocolate Ice Cream with coconut
Drugstore Treats
To round out our patio movie-night snacks, we brought to life the treats enjoyed by young Violet Bick and Mary Hatch in the scene at Gower's Drugstore. Our patio scene includes Violet's "2 cents" of licorice laces and Mary's chocolate ice cream with George's shaved coconut.
"Say, Brainless, don’t you know where coconuts come from?"
"Only us explorers can get it. I've been nominated for membership in the National Geographic Society."
"That's a good man. I was just thinking of a flaming rum punch. No, it's not cold enough for that. Not nearly cold enough..."
Look Daddy, Teacher Says:
Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings
Much like the movie, every scene of our holiday photoshoot features bell references throughout the patio space. The most notable reference is the bell-themed Christmas tree decorated with a variety of bell ornaments, bell garland, and a bell topper.
To close out this post, I want to thank the Outdoor Dreams team, AGG Redesigns, and photographer Becky Rees for indulging me with this idea and helping to bring it to life so spectacularly. I am incredibly thankful that we were able to make this photoshoot happen and I truly hope it brings joy and inspiration to many during this difficult year. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
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