I’m so excited to be able to finally share this gorgeous garden wedding we did for our former intern, Carleton. She married at her parents home in Birmingham, Alabama which featured the ceremony on the front lawn, and an alfresco style dinner overlooking the back. You know how much I love a home wedding. Carleton is also the niece of Flower Magazine founder, Margot Shaw, who has always been such a great supporter of Soiree. See more of the gorgeous details over on Over the Moon. All photos courtesy of A Bryan Photo. 
Lettered Olive worked closely with our client to make sure the simple and chic feel she wanted was delivered. 
Carleton chose the Greenhouse gown by another favorite friend, Lela Rose. For her it was the perfect mix of modern and classic…
While, the groom, Gael, wore a custom made Ralph Lauren tuxedo, the ladies were asked to chose their own dress within a color palette…. The look was so curated and worked perfectly with the “gathered greens” bouquet we did for each of the ladies.
The scenery, weather, etc was just so perfect for this garden ceremony. A simple arbor waited at the end of a blanketed aisle of rose petals. Greens attached to chairs acted as “pew markers”. Mini jute totes placed on each chair included blank note cards and pens asking guests to leave well wishes for the couple- in lieu of a traditional guest book. 
After a cocktail hour throughout the house and garden, guests make their way to the back lawn for dinner featuring family style tables and open air scenery.
Keeping in line with the simple at home feel, we wanted to do something different instead of an escort card display. Hatch Cove Designs and Lettered Olive worked together to create a watercolor illustration of the home and tables with the guests names in their places. This also became a lovely piece of artwork for the couple’s new home.
The tablescapes married the French and Southern influences seen throughout the wedding. Sweet garden roses and ranunculus were dotted with greens and fresh lavender peppered throughout. Handwritten and hand tied menus sat atop French lace patterened plates and 100 percent linen tablecloths.
After dinner guests enjoyed a lounge, bars, and dance tent with seating areas hidden throughout trees and secret spots. 
To keep the intimate feel to the day, wedding cake was served inside the home’s dining room in petit comité. Before all guests finished their dinner, the couple gathered with their families in the dining room and cut the cake while a pianist played “La Vie en Rose,” a nod to the Groom’s French heritage. I think it’s so important for the couple to steal a few moments away from the larger crowds to soak in bits and pieces of the day here and there. 
After the cake cutting, a horn line (as a nod to the Southern heritage) came and lead the couple through the dining area to get guests up and out of their seats, and got them to the dance floor. The first dance song, Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You by Frankie Valli was the perfect way to kick off the dancing.
The couple was sent off by biodegradable confetti and French “jut married” sign…
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!
