chicago botanic garden wedding

Held at the Chicago Botanic Garden, this wedding was all about growth and luxurious abandon. An ardent supporter of urban agriculture, our bride chose to work with us specifically because she wanted to support our urban flower farm. The previous summer she had been volunteering at a Slow Food Chicago event when she adopted one of our donated farm-fresh arrangements of tomato foliage and dahlias. One week later, when our dahlias were still fresh and little tomatoes had grown on the foliage she knew she had found her florist!

First, we brought all the romance of an overgrown English garden to the ceremonial space via a chuppah rooted in drifts of folkloric hollyhocks striking fetching silhouettes against lower, feathery masses of delphinium,  forget-me-nots, and fragrant lavender and mint. The structure was then embowered in coral charm peonies and David Austin garden roses arranged in asymmetrical swaths. Chic collections of velvet love seats and vintage chairs were styled into the ceremony seating, adding to the enchanted feeling of the day. The entry to the Pavilion was festooned with cascading water oak branches and berried wild smilax vines, while an encompassing canopy of greenery was suspended along with cafe lights adding romance. Farm fresh heirloom produce and succulents punctuated by opulent displays of clematis, peonies, and tweedia decorated the tables.  Bunches of early borage, leeks and the like added interest alongside vintage mismatched china. The traditional napkin blooms were replaced by miniature French breakfast radishes at each setting.

Additional Photography By: Kristin Lavoie Photography