Listen up, folks. We’ve seen a lot of weddings here at SMP – it’s been over a decade so you’d think we could safely say “we’ve seen it all”. Well, today’s wedding hit us with a big fat “nope!” as every inch of this day is truly unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. There are so many words we could use to explain this wedding planned by Kate Phillips Events with blooms by Photosynthesis – whimsical, enchanted, ethereal, floral-filled, animal obsessed… completely and utterly unique, but we figured it’d be best to see for yourself at the full gallery – taken by Shannon Moffit Photography!
From Shannon Moffit Photography… Emy and Jaime are an adventurous couple currently living in Los Angeles. The two share a love for travel, art, and hiking, so it was only fitting that they got engaged on the top of an Aspen Art Museum and planned to travel across the country for their wedding. Emy’s family owns a beautiful property in Virginia on the James River, a well-known wedding venue, Upper Shirley Vineyards. When it came time for Emy and Jamie to plan their own wedding, there was no question that the pair would host a destination wedding on the water in front of Emy’s childhood home.
Some of the most memorable moments of the day include the bride’s ceremony entrance on horseback, a quaint cocktail hour in a ceramic pottery decorated boxwood garden, and a miniature pony processional to the reception. Many guests gasped as they walked into the reception space that was transformed into an indoor garden. There were black and white plates and flatware set on green velvet tablecloths. In the center of each table were unique floral arrangements situated in large beds of moss. Also, a custom hanging installation of greenery drew eyes to the ceiling. Other unique details… Custom horse opener gifts, family style charcuterie boards, a hand painted cake that looked like a living Monet painting, and homemade donuts covered in edible flowers. There was definitely no shortage of flowers at this whimsical garden wedding.
From Kate Phillips Events…When I first spoke to Emy and Jamie, it became a priority to put together a wedding day design that would compliment their artistic and whimsical style. One of the first elements of inspiration came from a Dutch Master’s floral painting that hung in their home. We incorporated similar types of colorful, loose, and wild floral arrangements with contrasting black and white chargers and candles. Once it all came together, it felt very true to their whimsical garden vision with subtle glam accents. The invitation suite featured a custom illustration of the bride’s childhood home (also the location of the ceremony) and a custom watercolor crest by Empress Stationery. One of the highlights of the day was the couple’s waterfront ceremony, framed by a birch chuppah covered in colorful blooms by Photosynthesis Floral Design.
From the beginning, Emy wanted to incorporate her love of horses into her wedding, so we arranged for her to make a grand entrance on horseback. After the ceremony, guests were invited to enjoy cocktails in the boxwood garden, featuring the family’s heirloom blue and white vases. We added a touch of glam the the decor by incorporating beautiful embroidered linens from La Tavola Fine Linen. The garden theme was woven into every facet of the day, including the custom menu–Chef de Cuisine Ernie LaBrecque incorporated edible flowers into spring rolls and house-made rosé donuts. Mini horses led guests through the hidden garden to Upper Shirley Vineyards, and were greeted by the couple in a carriage pulled by a team of white horses.
For the reception, we wanted to transform the space into a wildflower garden. Greenery hung the length of the room, with accent candles to draw guest’s eyes up. Moss green velvet linens set the base of the table tops and textural moss and blooms ran down the center of the tables. We wanted it to feel as if the blooms were growing naturally. Gathering around the table, sharing a meal, and drinking wine evokes such a sense of togetherness, so for the first course we wanted to hone in on that feeling by offering a shared first course. Charcuterie boards were nestled into the centerpiece design, paired with the vineyard’s award winning wine. The cake, by Kadi Bakes, was an artistic site to behold. The custom flavor and design was inspired by the bride’s favorite wine and love of art. Infused with Upper Shirley Vineyards Sparkling Rosé, this was truly a one-of-a-kind wedding cake.
Photographer: Shannon Moffit Photography | Wedding Planner: Kate Phillips Events | Floral Design: Photosynthesis | Cake: Kadi Bakes | Invitations: Empress Stationery | Reception Venue: Upper Shirley Vineyards | Catering: Upper Shirley Vineyards | Linen: BBJ La Tavola | Makeup/Hair: Avenue 42