Real Wedding: An Elegant Garden Inspired Wedding

Fresh, romantic details with a formal feel blended flawlessly for Nicole + Daniel’s big day! From the beautiful chuppah to a dramatic confetti exit, the entire celebration was truly magical. The bride, Nicole, dishes on how everything came together for their contemporary Jewish wedding.

What inspired your wedding? How did you integrate these themes into your décor and favors?

From the beginning, we knew we wanted a formal wedding with understated elegance and a laid back feel. Sherry (of Gertie Mae’s Floral Design) understood my style perfectly and incorporated my favorite flowers and beautiful ribbon details in to the “garden picked” look I envisioned.

Planning Tip: The aisle decor can be incorporated into the reception, too! These ribbons were used to tie back the curtains when the ceremony space was opened up for the reception.

Did you have any DIYs?

Yes, we had a lot of DIYs! Our painted place card holders, guestbook, ring dish, and my garter were all handmade. My maid of honor designed a beautiful invitation and “logo”which we incorporated throughout the wedding with the programs, DIY coasters, pillows in a lounge area, and a decal on the dance floor. With the help of family and friends for these special DIY projects, and the incredible work of our talented vendors, all of the little details came together better than we ever could have imagined.

Get the Look: Create a cool, ombré look with frames that work great as place card holders and labels. Spray paint white baroque frames and black baroque frames with silver, pewter, and pearl spray paint to achieve the look!

What was your favorite moment during your wedding?

We incorporated Jewish wedding traditions into our wedding with some creative twists. One of my favorite moments was looking out over the dance floor as we were lifted up in chairs for the hora. My dad surprised us with a musician who joined the band playing my great grandfather’s violin that he restored for the occasion.

What were some traditions included in your celebration?

Of all the traditions included in our wedding, my favorite might have been this family tradition started by Daniel’s dad. When each of his children was born, he bought a bottle of scotch to be opened at their wedding. Right after the ceremony, he gathered his closest friends for a toast.

What’s your advice for other brides?

I so badly wanted to have a completely DIY wedding that I began to lose sight of what was most important – getting married! It’s very easy to get caught up in all the details involved in planning. My advice is to choose a few projects to take on yourself and enlist a team of vendors you can entrust with the rest so you can focus on your spouse and enjoy the big day.