Kristina and Matthew came to me wanting a romantic destination wedding with a gorgeous garden setting. With this in mind, I knew to recommend Franciscan Gardens in Orange County.

We toured Franciscan Gardens with Kristina’s mom and she fell in LOVE. She knew it would be perfect for Matthew & Kristina. The cool November day happened to land on the bride’s birthday, making the day even more special. Kristina and Matthew are both a part of the Naval Academy, so it was important to them that Matthew sported his uniform for their wedding.

Details

The couple chose emerald green to accent their autumn wedding which perfectly complemented the venue’s various hues of green. Other neutral colors of the day such as white and creams allowed the emerald accents to stand out beautifully.

Ceremony

The ceremony was a simple blend of wooden chairs and large white floral arrangements. The couple opted for ground florals as opposed to an arch. This helped keep the beautiful background of lush greenery in focus. They also wanted to bring in elements of a church so we added a a wooden podium which was the perfect touch.

Reception

When talking about dreamy receptions, I can’t help but think of this one as the first one to come to mind. I love to recommend Franciscan Gardens to couples who want that enchanted forest feel. During the reception, the couple and guests were surrounded by dim-lit chandeliers and beautiful scenery.

I kept the design consistent by tying in the wooden accents to help keep the natural feel. The differently toned chairs, table, and chargers complemented each other for dimension. Gold flatware also embellished the tables as a pop of color against the white linens.

The night continued with lots of dancing, fun entrances, and speeches. The couple cut the rustic cake with Matthew’s sword, an ode to their connection to the Navy that they are both a part of.

The fun-filled night wrapped up with thanking their loved ones for making it to their destination wedding. I had such a fun time working with this sweet couple and helping them create their dream day. Big thank you to the amazing vendor team who helped put together this Franciscan Garden getaway!

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