Rustic Rehearsal Dinner

I was delighted to be asked to do the rehearsal dinner for two dear friends of mine a few months back! Working with the mother of the groom, the hostess, was a dream. I’d been asked to do the wedding reception too, so I wanted to be sure the two events were distinctly different. The rehearsal dinner would be reminiscent of the groom’s love of the outdoors, while the reception would be more in line with our girly girl bride.

The hostess and I both gathered up what rustic containers we already had which made for a fun mix. She designed these amazing table numbers too by having her husband cut small logs for the base and using real moss from their farm. They were perfect for our rustic look!

The venue space is a mix of metals and wood with a painted concrete floor all under gorgeous art deco lanterns hung from the ceiling. I concentrated on a palette of mostly greens – green cymbidium orchids, potted ferns, white hydrangea, green alstroemeria, seeded eucalyptus, all with dried pods and feathers tucked in. 
My super mom and I spent the Thursday before the event designing and constructing arrangements and compositions. On a rainy Friday afternoon in Atlanta, we headed to Piedmont Park’s Magnolia Hall to deliver and set up a car-full of gorgeous flowers. My sister Abbye is tucked in on the right – under the orchids. 🙂 She was such a help too!

I was so very happy with the way everything turned out! Really, the most fun mix of plants…and many that can be potted and kept for some time! They were all so lovely, I had to share every one with you all…

The coffee bar

I used moss runners on the place card table – love! 
And brought the lanterns from my front porch to use too
!

The cocktail tables had smaller compositions on them. These Anthropologie containers were used at my own wedding a few years ago, and made the perfect complement to the potted ferns we used here. 

The hors d’oeuvres table with rustic elements

And the buffet stunner – mounds of green cymbidium orchids! They’re just so gorgeous! 

And the final look of the space

It was an honor to do this for the happy couple, and my husband and I loved being guests as well! 
I was so appreciative of the opportunity to make the evening special for the bride and groom, for the hosting groom’s parents, and for their guests.
More on the wedding reception soon! 
xoxo