From the bride: Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of having my wedding in a garden. The Secret Garden was my favorite book and I loved the fantasy of Alice in Wonderland. I wanted our wedding to embody the whimsical spirit of nature mixed with a touch of mis-matched vintage and a bit of boho flair.
My first inspirations for our wedding celebration were ferns and wildflowers. I describe my aesthetic as "eclectic design from an eccentric soul." I lean toward bohemian, but I live for color, graphic patterns, attention to detail and the charm of the past. In a world where originality is hard to come by, I try my darnedest to be innovative and fresh.
The color green was always a key player in the design concept. As fate would have it, eight months into the planning process Pantone released "Greenery" as their color of the year. Knowing I didn't want to be just another greenery in the crowd, I turned up the wildflower factor and even grew a bunch of my own before the big day. My dad worked for months and months on curating a wildflower meadow bordering my parents' immaculately manicured lawn. He suggested putting the dance floor smack in the middle of the flowers, and I almost cried with glee! As a self-proclaimed forest fairy, I could not wait to dance amongst the wildflowers.
Speaking of flowers, I became my own florist with the help of Blooms By The Box and my own little garden. I had always said I wanted loose florals that appeared as though they were just hand picked, so I did just that. I created simple hand-tied bouquets for my maids and for me, each finished with a lace ribbon. Similarly, I assembled the boutonnières with bright buds and finished them off with lace. My ribbon, however, was a spur of the moment happy accident on the morning of the wedding. My mom assisted me in finishing up the bridesmaids' bouquets until we realized we ran out of white lace. Mom, always the resourceful crafter (I wonder where I get it from), brought down a box of antique ribbon passed down to her from her grandmother. Great-grandma had blessed us with a powder blue lace ribbon that was over 100 years old. Talk about old and blue!
After seeing wedding after wedding with champagne and blush bridesmaids, I knew I needed to liven up the palette a bit. The idea of the girls' dresses switched from shades of champagne to a deep peacock teal. The color choice turned out beautifully against the wildflower bouquets and the lush greens of the Jc backyard setting. I opted for the groomsmen to wear a complimentary color instead of matching the girls, so they wore raspberry pink ties. I chose a very special tie for my groom that shared colors with both the maids and the men and showcased a whimsical wildflower pattern.
Being an interior designer and former wedding planner, I started to collect (perhaps hoard?) vintage china from various consignment stores four years prior to the big day. It was one of the most fun elements to curate and definitely the most charming. Knowing that these mis-matched plates needed a visual balance against their busy patterns, I chose solid white vases as their table partners. Once again, I frequented hand-me-down shops for various glass containers and sprayed them all white. I loved the contrast of stark white vases against the bright wildflowers and the dark stained wood tabletops. A simple concept, but a beautiful outcome.
Like many weddings these days, ours incorporated many signs. I cannot tell you the multitude of chalkboards I have lettered; and don't get me wrong - I love them; but I insisted on hand-painting every sign instead of chalking. I didn't want the rustic, I wanted the pop! Through painting, I was able to tie in the colors of the day in a playful, fresh way.
The playfulness carried on throughout the space with yard games and seating arrangements with poufs, pillows, and outdoor rugs. It was down-home fun with a polished edge and personality to boot!
