Elegant San Luis Obispo Garden Party Wedding
The moment I saw bride Georgia’s Grace Kelly-inspired wedding gown, I was hooked. Things just got better from there, with a garden party wedding reception full of color, hanging flowers, and tons of quality family time. This wedding from Alexandra Wallace, Paper Cake Events, and Noonan’s Designs will surely be one to remember!
From the bride, Georgia: The most important thing for us was finding a harmony between a traditional and modern wedding. We wanted core elements that were timeless and classic, but we also wanted to incorporate fun whimsical things we loved, like a sail cloth tent, such as hanging flowers, tissue paper flowers, a tee pee, a grooms cake etc. We did a traditional cake with my great grandparents’ cake topper, but we also did our own cake, then we did a traditional french wedding cake, a croquembouche, and a Harry Potter groom’s cake. We also did assigned seating and family style food. We worked for months to get the seating chart correct and we wanted everyone to have people they know and felt comfortable. I printed out the seating chart the morning of, so stressful, but so worth it. I also had an all family bridal party — I had my sister (my MOH), my two brothers, and my cousin, and I let my fiance have 11 groomsmen. We wanted it to be about us, not norms or expectations.
Flower recipe: Peonies. The bride and bridesmaids had white peonies as their bouquets, and my bridesmen had a pink peony for their boutonniere. They were in all of the arrangements as well. They have always been my favorite flower; we had the wedding in May specifically for the flowers. When Isiah and I were first dating, he bought me three different huge bouquets of peonies, and he still brings them to me when Trader Joe’s has them.
Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? Make it about you two. We didn’t really follow the rules; there were somethings that were important, but that was just because is showcased out relationship. Weddings are about love, their about two souls joining, and two families becoming one. Every aspect of your wedding should be inspired by that regardless of what the norms or trends are. We did everything our way and we had dozens of people recognize our personal touch. We did not even take pictures during the cocktail hour, we just enjoyed it the whole time. We had a whirlwind romance so a lot of people did not know us, my extended family had never even met Isiah. So we wanted to share it.
Wedding Music:
Processional: Pachelbel’s Canon in D
Recessional: Mendelssohn’s Wedding March
Wedding Party Reception Entrance: “Bring’m Out,” TI
Newlywed Entrance: Space Jame Theme Song
First Dance: “Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
Father/Daughter Dance: “Be Your Man,” Zac Brown Band
Then my parents shared a dance and invited all married couples to dance to their wedding song, “Long Line of Love” by Paul Overstreet.
From the photographer, Alexandra Wallace: Georgia and Isiah’s wedding kicked off with an elegant exchanging of vows at the historical San Luis Obispo mission, with friends and family in attendance. The celebration began at the groom’s ranch home, with spring colors in full swing. Katie of Noonan’s Designs created billowing table arrangements with pink peonies in full bloom, as well as a curtain of flowers to greet guests before sitting for dinner. The bride herself did calligraphy for each place setting, and created the signage around the property. Paper Cake Events created a dessert table that guests couldn’t stop taking photos of – everything from a wedding cake with the bride’s parents’ wedding cake topper, macarons, red velvet cupcakes, a croquembouche, and – a surprise Harry Potter groom’s cake.
Wedding Vendors
Photography: Alexandra Wallace
Floral Design: Noonan’s Designs
Ceremony Venue: Mission San Luis Obispo Del Tolosa
Reception Venue: Private residence
Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca
Wedding Shoes: Sam Edelman
Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung
Tuxedo: The Black Tux
Catering: Haute Skillet
Wedding Cake: Paper Cake Events
Bartending and Coordinating Services: Bottles and Ice
Entertainment: Sparrow Entertainment
Event Rentals: All About Events
Specialty Rentals: Botanica Events
Ring Box: The Mrs. Box
Wedding Invitations: Salt & Stag Creative