Today we are tossing it back a few years to this wedding we did in Athens, Georgia at the bride’s family home. Full of bright Spring florals and details, we built a tented reception for over 400 on the property that felt like an extension of the home. The family was so amazing, and we are always challenged with not imposing on their lives leading up to the big day while we’re constructing the event. This one was a beauty just like the bride, and thank you to Liz Banfield for the pretty snaps.
I love the images photographers are able to capture when a bride marries at home. Because of the bright palette for the wedding, bridesmaids wore a neutral metallic so that the flowers would pop. We also made two bouquets for this bride- one all white and one colorful and let her chose what she wanted to carry. Those coral charm peonies are near impossible to turn down, so colorful it was!
Since there was an amazing oak tree on the front lawn, we chose that as our ceremony “alter”. Lettered Olive also created a linking monogram of M and W (the two last initials), which along with the oak tree emblem was used throughout their printed materials and embroidered on their boat bag guest welcome totes.
The M and W monograms were used as floral decor throughout the wedding – here as the bride watches the guests arrive before her walk down the aisle.
Because the aisle blanketed with colorful rose petals made such a statement, we wanted to make sure it was preserved for the bride’s walk. We draped boughs of boxwood garlands accented with bouquets of coordinating blooms down the inner aisle. Wrought iron candle lanterns hung with boxwood greenery and adorned with lush bouquets of flowers created a spectacular alter.
Because of the large number of guests- we didn’t want the Southern guest book tradition to create a bottle neck. So, we placed bags with a card (featuring the bride’s favorite quote on love) and a pen for everyone to write their well wishes during the ceremony prelude. Guests then dropped them in a birdcage hanging on the way out of the ceremony.
Guests enjoyed cocktails in cabana tent surrounding the pool. Potted boxwoods were artfully placed throughout as a nod to the landscape design used on the property. Cocktail tables were lucite boxes with live plants underneath- one of our favorite details on this one!
Sylvia Weinstock’s cake was such a showpiece, it deserved it’s own conservatory.
With this bright color palette, the tent was so dreamy and glowing when the sun set. To dress up the restroom trailer, a flip flop and pashmina station was displayed for ladies to grab on their way out and back to to the party.
Custom birdseed packets were made for tossing at the send off. After a quick change into a traditional departure outfit, the couple left in the comfort of a Bentley for their two hour ride to Atlanta to depart for their honeymoon.
A palette of ombre punchy colors were balanced with varigated flowers were wrapped with seersucker fabric. The bride carried a bouquet with a bit more of a bridal feel, creams and whites with faint hints of pink.
The wedding ceremony was held in the property’s outdoor amphitheater overlooking the lake and valley.
After dinner, guests enjoyed dancing in the late hours in a glowing lounge tent. One of my favorite elements of this tent started as a problem we encountered during set up. A tent was growing in the footprint of the tenting, and obviously we couldn’t tear it down! So, we cut the flooring and it appeared as if a tree was just growing right in the tent. Hang some lanterns from it, and it’s a pretty design element we didn’t even plan for!
