1. Real Weddings

A Garden Party Wedding at Chicago Botanic Garden in Chicago, Illinois

Hanging blooms, gemstone hues, flower crowns, folk music and margaritas created a whimsical atmosphere for Maggie Gelber (29 and a graduate student) a

Hanging blooms, gemstone hues, flower crowns, folk music and margaritas created a whimsical atmosphere for Maggie Gelber (29 and a graduate student) and Joseph Meador's (29 and a securities analyst) Independence Day affair. Focusing on sustainability, the couple included locally sourced ingredients on the menu and treated guests to a welcome bag full of farmers' market provisions. They printed the stationery on recycled papyrus and even exchanged recycled yellow gold wedding bands. "We wanted the wedding to be as local, sustainable and eco-conscious as possible," Maggie says of the creative ways the couple kept their garden party environmentally friendly, including the hand-painted seed programs: Guests could take them home to plant them in their gardens. —Stephanie Cain

Maggie's dress was custom-made by a team of female artisans in Colombia, who hand-painted the blue flowers on her skirt. They also made a matching floral bow tie for Joe's custom blue suit.
Since white was the matching color to the bold blue, Maggie's bridesmaids wore white dresses with gold shoes and sapphire earrings. Each carried a vivid display of spring blooms in their bouquets, while Maggie kept it classic with all-white flowers and soft greenery.
A wrought-iron arch covered in seasonal blooms became the focal point of the rose garden at Chicago Botanic Garden for Maggie and Joe's vows. Guests sat in a semicircle of French country chairs and vintage wooden benches as Maggie walked in to a saxophone rendition of Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud," played by Joe's brother, Max.
Maggie and Joe's custom-designed invitation suite featured bold blooms to signify the day's garden party theme. Bold blues even coordinated with the couple's blue-hued garments they wore for the ceremony and reception. Plus, all the invitations were printed on recycled papyrus. "Everything she created was extraordinary," Maggie says of working with Liz Dixon at EJD Design on the paper goods. "Every email I received from her was like a tiny gift."
Maggie scored a pair of lace Oscar de la Renta heels to match the blue flowers on her skirt. She wore them for the ceremony, but changed into white Chantilly lace shoes for the reception.
Since Maggie loves flowers, vibrant blooms in red, orange, yellow and purple filled the bridesmaid bouquets, groomsmen boutonnieres and ceremony arch. Maggie and Joe even matched the blooms to the custom floral-print bench cushions where guests sat during the outdoor ceremony.
Maggie's sapphire engagement ring includes conflict-free diamonds, a fair-trade gemstone and a recycled yellow gold band. Maggie says it was important for her to have socially conscious jewelry, so Joe picked the rings at a local specialty jeweler.
Maggie added a flower crown to her look instead of a veil, and kept her beauty style looking natural, with light makeup and her hair held loosely half-up.
Instead of wearing matching boutonnieres, each of Joe's groomsmen donned a different flower used in the bouquets and on the ceremony arch. "We had gemstone colors incorporated everywhere," Maggie says.
Maggie and Joe printed their ceremony programs on seed paper, which guests could take home and plant in their gardens. "We wanted to reduce waste whenever possible," Maggie says of the eco-friendly paper goods.
Since their first date involved "too many margaritas," cocktail hour featured a margarita bar with summer-worthy flavors like jalapeno and watermelon, alongside shucked oysters and crab push-pops served on hemstitch napkins.
Before the ceremony, the couple served fruit-infused beverages to guests to keep them cool in the summer sun.
More than 14,000 stems of white wisteria hung from the ceiling of the dinner tent the Chicago Botanic Garden; white and gold chairs glammed up the reclaimed-wood feasting tables.
Guests found a blue-accented, illustrated menu at their seats at the reception at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Chicago, Illinois. The menu, printed on recycled paper, featured the locally sourced dishes the guests would have to eat, including Lake Superior whitefish and Slagel Farms's sustainable meat.
Vintage lace table runners, cut-glass goblets and eco-friendly paper goods greeted guests at the dinner tables. Candles created a dinner party atmosphere, while seasonal blooms flowed from low vases.
Although the couple opted for cookies from their favorite cafe, Reno, they did present three floral-topped cakes to their parents as a wedding day thank-you. One was even hand-painted with the floral design from the couple's invitation suite.
Maggie and Joe sat at a reclaimed-wood sweetheart table, draped in a garland of seasonal blooms.
Maggie and Joe made their grand entrance alongside their bridal party in a massive, choreographed dance to "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars.