Today’s Real Love Story is a Cross-Continental Tearjerker

This garden wedding has the sweetest love story (and Scottish groom!) #gardenwedding #weddingdetails #weddingdesign see more: https://ruffledblog.com/real-love-story-tearjerker/

Prepare the tissues, ladies and gentlemen – this one is a tearjerker. It’s no secret that we’re suckers for beautiful weddings, but when there’s extraordinary purpose behind each detail, it takes it to a whole other level. There was great intention in the flower selection, the invitation materials, the cake recipe – everything down to the china pattern for each guest! Matthew and McKenzie put so much care into the experience for their guests, and in doing so created a day that reflected not only their story, but their loved ones’. Okay enough talking and more “oohing” over these photos from Betsy Blue!

From the photographer, Betsy Blue Photography: Since the beginning of time, humanity has told stories. Stories are what make us each unique….they are also what bridge us to other people and leave an intuitive legacy for generations to come. In order to truly experience someone’s story you have to live within in, breathe it, and enrapture it with every ounce of your soul. Matthew and McKenzie’s story began long before their Leach Botanical Garden wedding, but it was the solace, magic and beauty found in the gardens that brought their story to life.

From the bride: “I remember the first time we walked into the gardens…it felt like we were being transported to another realm..with each step there was magic that graced our feet and filled our lungs. We wanted this feeling for ourselves as we united as one and we wanted this feeling for our guests. My intention with the wedding was to lovingly curate a truly intimate gathering and a sacred space where friends and family could converge and feel how truly loved they were.”

Matthew is from England, born to a Scottish father and an English mother who loved gardens. It was the couple’s goal to implement small elements of his culture into their details. This began by handpicking each one of a kind piece of china that their family and friends would use for their dining experience as well as using family cutlery that had been passed down from generation to generation. So much thought and intimacy went into every detail…lovingly curated by the couple.

The color vision for the wedding was blush tones with accents of burgundy and gray for a light romantic feel with a touch of bohemian. For the florals, moody draping flowers, hints of protea, and elements of fall scattered throughout created the inevitable feeling of romance and mood. The bride, a true gypsy at heart, tied in elements emanating a sense of wandering throughout the decor…brass centerpieces, candle votives, & accented Moroccan lamps were tucked throughout the entire venue and tabletops.

The Scottish groom’s world-traveling life filled the aisles with friends from near and far… New Zealand, Ireland, France, Canada, UK, Scotland and beyond. Such a wonderful melody of accents and genuine laughter reverberated from every corner of the beautifully tended botanical gardens.

The talented bride hand-created every detail of the lovely invitation suite, which was printed on handmade cotton paper, wrapped in vellum and sealed with wax and hand-picked rosemary. The moody black ink botanicals combined with the light cotton paper and gold wax seal incorporated emotional elements that embodied the couples unique personalities.

The gluten-free naked cake, lovingly made by the bride’s mother, was adorned by Crowley House Flower Farm’s to reflect the jewel-toned, bohemian touches throughout all the florals. Trailing green vines, sprays of wheat, burgundy and blush glimpses…the florals spoke of true romantic abandon. The stunning wreath that hung so gracefully on the vintage white brick chimney, behind the couple during their ceremony, was draping with burgundy amaranthus and lush purple grapes portraying an other-worldly aesthetic.

Touches from the groom, like fine scotch and traditional Scottish wool kilts, made a rich, hearty backdrop to the delicate Moroccan-inspired lace Calla Blanche “Lydia” dress gracefully worn by the bride. His mother’s antique gold wedding ring was gifted to the groom before his mother passed away, and now adorns McKenzie’s ring finger with genuine honor. The bride and groom wrote the ceremony themselves in order to fully encapsulate each other’s own beliefs and to add even further intention and intimacy into a day that would be cherished forever.

Advice from the couple: “Pick three moments before the wedding that intrinsically must be remembered. Whether it be the moment you walk down the aisle and see his face, the first taste of cake shared, or seeing your beautiful ceremony come to fruition…if you pick those three moments ahead of time…you will remember to just breathe and take them in so that they will truly never be forgotten.”

This intimate, heartfelt affair, had all in its presence filled to the brim with joy to see this couple brought together, following years of long distance dating. What a joy and honor to capture such a bountiful union…and what a wonderful couple these two make!