A DIY Botanical Wedding at State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens, Georgia

DIY details were a must for design-savvy duo Chena Stephens (33 and an art director) and David (Aaron) Stephenson (30 and a graphic designer), who worked together to create handmade stationery for their botanical bash. One year after Aaron popped the question in Madrid, the Brooklyn, New York–based couple returned to their home state of Georgia to wed in a light-filled greenhouse surrounded by fauna. “I wanted everything to feel airy and romantic,” Chena says of sticking with a sophisticated palette of champagne and peach. Chena’s ivory ball gown featured a silk bodice and full tulle skirt. “I could only pull off that look on my wedding day, so I went for it,” she says of the stunning design. Seasonal blooms and greenery formed Chena’s asymmetrical bouquet. Seven years after their first kiss at a college dance party, Chena and Aaron hired the same DJ who played that night to perform at their reception. But before the DJ kicked the celebration into high gear, guests fueled up for a night of dancing with braised short ribs, cornbread and macaroni and cheese.