Secret Garden Wedding at the Ritz-Carlton
It may be cold outside, but this butterfly filled, floral wonderland will warm your heart! Rachel & Matt’s Ballroom wedding at The Ritz-Carlton was one of this years must-attend soirees. With the expertise of Decorum Events, and Cosmopolitan Events, we successfully turned the halls of The Ritz into a secret-garden inspired wonderland complete with hidden pathways, picturesque trees and scenic gazebos. Get ready to OOOOHH and AAAAHH because I know this wedding will give you all the happy feels.
One thing I loved about working with Rachel and Matt was they incorporated very purposeful elements into each of their design choices. They selected a rockstar team of vendors, and gave them the vision and autonomy to produce their best work. For example, the couple worked closely with On Three Designs to create a wedding stationary with unique features that would be mirrored throughout the wedding day. The stationary is complete with the couples crest, lavender butterflies and similar blooms to those that we used in the floral arrangements- so neat! Each distinguishing feature was selected to create a unique and singular experience for their guests. The crest which was also featured on the couple’s dance floor and two cocktail bars shows a koala and wolf representing Rachel’s U.S. heritage and Matt’s Australian heritage.
Rachel’s wedding dress was also a delight with embroidered flowers on the bodice and tiered skirt. We couldn’t get enough!!
….and neither could her bridesmaids - their reactions are priceless!
It’s not every day that a Belli Fiori Bride struts down the aisle in chucks, but that is exactly what our girl, Rachel, did. She was all about the comfort and danceability of her shoes with these white monogrammed high tops. The purple stitching was a delightful way to set the tone for dancing the night away to the performance band, Party on the Moon.
Speaking of setting the tone, I want to pause for a moment and brag about what a delight it was to celebrate with this thoughtful and fun-loving family! They had such an exquisite vision for Rachel and Matt’s wedding day with floral moments throughout the ceremony and reception. They made it so fun to do our job- even the family dog was an instant heart-throb!
Remember the beautiful blooms Rachel and Matt chose for their stationary? Sandra designed Rachel’s bridal bouquet with all of her floral favorites including; White Peonies, English Lavender, purple Lisianthus, mauve roses, and Dusty Miller. Seeded Eucalyptus accented the bouquet perfectly. Doesn’t Rachel’s smile say it all?
The couple declared their love for one another in front of a moongate of lavender and ivory roses at The Ritz-Carlton in the Solarium. They had two glorious arrangements framing the beginning of the aisle. I love the way these arrangements radiate out from the center like flowery rays of sunshine!
Awaiting guests on their way to Rachel & Matt’s cocktail hour was a massive flowering hedge complete with a functioning gate and cobblestone walkway! As guest’s entered the secret garden, they were greeted by an idyllic English Garden complete with cascading wisteria, feathery ferns, and urns full of budding blooms.
It was quite the opening spectacle. One particularly astute detail was Rachel and Matt’s signature cocktails displayed for guests at the end of the cobblestone pathway. This encouraged guests to grab a drink and take in the amazing cocktail area instead of immediately hurrying to the bar.
At the center of the cocktail room was this glorious four-sided escort wall, complete with one of a kind 3-D floral arrangements on two sides of the wall.
Rachel and Matt’s head table was an exciting challenge to design and execute. With four massive hand-made trees as the backdrop, we designated a whole team of people just to construct these magnificent Manzanitas. The head table was 30-feet long, and we had a blast using candelabras, flowers, feather butterflies, and votives to craft a magical tablescape.
Also did you check out the dance floor? There’s their crest again- love it!
Rachel and Matt chose the quintessential trifecta of tall, medium and low centerpieces for their guest tables. We got to add a lot of charm with beautiful little butterflies and candlelight galore. The tall centerpiece might be my favorite, because we added adorable little moss balls surrounding the tall arrangement. Just a little cup of cuteness- eiee!
Throughout the night, there were so many amazing details to take in. Decorum Events constructed the stunning gazebos (that you see pictured) as a tribute to Matt’s career as a geologist. Each gazebo housed an element: Earth, wind, and water. The votives with each table centerpiece represented fire. The cake was designed by The Ritz-Carlton Pastry Chef to resemble a geode. The tree of butterflies represented air, and the fountain- of course- represented water! The whole spectacle was grounding- hehe see what I did there!
Performance Band: Party on the Moon
Overall Rachel & Matt’s wedding goes down in our book as one of the most fun and thoughtful weddings we have ever designed. There was a stellar team of vendors to work with, and the family was an absolute delight!
To Rachel & Matt, thank you for letting us be a part of your glorious wedding celebration. We were so honored to get to know you and your amazing family.
Vendor Love
Planning: Cosmopolitan Events | Photography & Videography: Switzer Film | Ceremony & Reception: The Ritz-Carlton | Hair & Makeup: Danielle Style | Ceremony Music: Landolfi String Quartet & Ensemble | Reception Music: Party on the Moon | Music Agency: EastCoast Entertainment| Stationary: On Three Design | Lighting & Décor: Décorum Events | Cake: Ritz-Carlton | Linens: BBJ La Tavola Linens | Live Artist: Cindy Scott Artistry
Post by Sydney Gunderson