This is What It Looks Like When You Marry an English Garden-Inspired Wedding with Mexican Flare

Krista and Pedro’s wedding celebration is the ultimate model of blending two heritages and the result is STUNNING, friends. Who knew that English garden wedding mashed up with Mexican flare could be so pretty? Whitewood Events and Amy Osaba made that happen with their design and floral genius, respectively; while Amanda Olivia Photography captured this collection of images for us to soak in. What’s your favorite detail from this day?

From the Bride… Pedro and I married on May 18 in Athens, Georgia. Our entire celebration took part in a small garden that’s a stone’s-throw away from where I attended art school. We just loved how cozy and tucked away it felt. When I told my parents we were considering the garden as our venue, they shared that they’d actually dated there. So the decision was made!

When I imagined our day, I considered our personal stories, families, and ancestries. Pedro was born in California with extended family and ancestry rooted in Mexico. I was born in Georgia with predominantly British ancestry. In communicating to vendors, I often summarized the aesthetic as: “An English garden with Mexican details and a romantic color palette”.

Our ceremony took place in the upper garden. Decor built on design elements already in the space, including cement textures and black accents. We chose to purchase, rather than rent, the planters used for the altar, because I loved the idea of incorporating them into our home as a tangible reminder of the day. One of my favorite memories is from my last moments in hiding when our string trio played “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”—an homage to the city where we met. I definitely teared up, and I’ve been told I’m not the only one! We were married by my childhood pastor. The friend who originally introduced us was one of our readers and he was followed by Pedro’s father who wrote a poem for us.

Cocktail hour was in a courtyard between the ceremony and reception spaces. Guests had their choice of peach sangria as well as a variety of beer and wine from our home states. We had a great mariachi band who played a mixture of traditional songs and pop covers. We had a great time dancing to the mariachi band and Pedro’s dad even stepped in to serenade us for one of the songs.

The reception space was our highest priority since we’d spend most of our time there. We placed it in our favorite part of the property: a sunken garden accessed by a pair of ivy-covered staircases. It’s shaded by magnolia trees and has a small lily pond at the far end. The tables were laid out banquet style, dressed in velvet linens, and filled with lush florals, fruit, and candles. We hung custom papel picado over the dance areas. Guests indulged in Southern comfort food while we did our formal dances. Our first dance was to Carla Morrison’s “Eres Tú”. Parent dances followed, and we had our siblings cut in halfway through to add a personal touch.

Photographer: Amanda Olivia Photography | Event Planning: Whitewood Events | Floral Design: Amy Osaba | Cake: Publix Bakery | Invitations: Shine Wedding Invitations | Ceremony Venue: The Founders Garden | Reception Venue: The Founders Garden | Rings: SR66 | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Entertainment: Judah Press Entertainment | Entertainment: Cutini Parrucchieri | Venue : The Founders Garden | Beauty: Vigilante Cosmetics | Bridal Gown: Jenny Yoo | Bridesmaid's Earings: Jemma Sands | Custom Viel: Sara Gabriel | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Food & Beverage: Home.Made From Scratch | Hair Accessories: 14 Quatorze | Painted Backdrop: JRD Artshop | Rentals and Decor: Peachtree Tents & Events | Rentals and Decor: Mayker Events