1. Real Weddings

A Glam, Space-Themed Wedding at Woodstock Inn & Resort in Woodstock, Vermont

Kellie Gerardi (26 and a space-industry professional) and Steven Baumruk (38 and managing director at Northwind Partners) planned a fun-filled fete wi

Kellie Gerardi (26 and a space-industry professional) and Steven Baumruk (38 and managing director at Northwind Partners) planned a fun-filled fete with quirky intergalactic elements and a palette of vibrant purple and glitzy silver hues for their early-September wedding in Woodstock, Vermont. “I work in the commercial spaceflight industry, and I’m quite passionate about space exploration, so we tried to incorporate that as much as possible,” Kellie says. “Included in our invitations was a mission patch custom-designed by NASA patch artist Tim Gagnon, so our guests were prepared for an adventure.” Kellie and Steven gathered their families and friends at Woodstock Inn & Resort for their personality-packed celebration, kicking off the festivities with an outdoor ceremony officiated by former NASA astronaut and International Space Station commander Michael Lopez-Alegria. Family and friends shared exploration-inspired readings, and the couple made their grand exit as a live string quartet played the "Star Wars" theme. “We surprised our guests by having a group of Storm Troopers escort us back up the aisle,” Kellie says. “They were kind enough to stick around and pose for formal pictures with us, which resulted in some amazing shots." The theme continued into the reception, where—with the help of Ford Flower—Kellie and Steven executed a showstopping starry-night theme. Shimmery silver linens graced the tables, calling to mind a clear night sky, while skyward-reaching arrangements of alliums, curly willows, snapdragons and orchids gave the tablescapes an out-of-this-world quality. Ghost chairs further achieved the ultramodern look Kellie and Steven were after, while the twinkling network of lights that hung from the ceiling of the reception tent gave the expansive space an air of whimsy and ambience. Guests sipped on cosmic cocktails before dinner and later struck a pose with playful "Star Wars"-inspired props at the couple’s photo booth. And a vibrant fireworks display brought the evening to a close. “I loved every one of wedding details,” Kellie says. “They reflected our playfulness, curiosity and sense of adventure.” —Libby MacCarthy

To ensure the day struck just the right balance of elegant and eclectically cool, Kellie went for a timeless bridal look, complete with a bouquet of full, cascading blooms. Ford Flower created a bountiful bundle of orchids, garden roses, silver brunia, dusty miller and green amaranth for the bride to carry down the aisle.
While the day was filled with fun, space-themed touches, the couple went classic on the fashion front, choosing traditional, timeless designs for their wedding party’s duds. Kellie’s bridesmaids donned floor-length chiffon gowns in a soft pink hue, which they paired with elegant updos and dainty jewelry.
The day started with a lighthearted outdoor ceremony at Woodstock Inn & Resort in Woodstock, Vermont. Vibrant red, coral, pink and white rose petals lined the aisle, infusing the space with eye-catching color, while large, white balloons were woven throughout, giving the decor a playful punch of panache.
As a nod to the wedding’s space theme, Kellie and Steven's ring bearer presented their wedding bands on a star-shaped ring pillow adorned with cascades of green amaranth, silver brunia and ivory roses.
While most of Kellie and Steven's ceremony decor had a traditional feel, a few quirky, space-themed details were a must. Ford Flower created spaceship-shaped arrangements for the ceremony entrance. Draped in delicate white flowers and cascades of ivy, they struck the ideal balance of elegant and eclectic.
While the aisles were lined by handcrafted tissue-paper florals, Kellie and Steven went all out for their wedding arch. They exchanged their own vows under a showstopping display of white, blush, pink and red flowers that created an eye-catching ombre effect. Twisting branches and statuesque stone urns brought an element of old-world elegance to the focal piece.
Cocktail hour seemed like the perfect place to tie in their intergalactic theme, with Kellie and Steven treating guests to two signature sips: the American Cosmonaut, a citrusy mix of lime, orange, cognac and vodka, and the Martian Sunrise, a blend of tequila, grenadine and orange juice.
“My mom was truly the MVP of our wedding, serving as wedding planner, guest coordinator and master crafter,” Kellie says. For the reception, she printed the name of each guest on star-shaped escort cards and hung them on a vine-draped display to tie into the evening’s space theme.
Even the stationery conveyed Kellie and Steven’s space theme. The pair called upon veteran NASA artist Tim Gagnon to create a custom mission patch for their wedding, which they enclosed in every invitation. A custom monogram with intergalactic flair was also woven throughout the reception, making an appearance on lanterns and in other details.
Kellie and Steven's centerpieces were out of this world, with tall glass vases filled with white roses and grasses bearing ornate displays of blue snapdragons, purple alliums, wispy curly willows and fuchsia orchids. White rose petals and additional alliums surrounded each arrangement, bringing an added layer of visual intrigue and drama to the tablescapes.
Silvery table linens gave the tablescapes a touch of sparkle and captured the essence of the night sky. “As I browsed decorations and sci-fi accents, I learned that there is a fine line between a wedding with elegant edginess and a child’s themed birthday party,” Kellie says. “Luckily, I had my mom’s help to preserve the elegance that the occasion required, while still maintaining some thematic, personal fun.”
“When looking for photo backdrop inspiration, I saw a number of beautiful flower walls online. As beautiful as they were, they seemed a bit wasteful,” Kellie says. “Instead, Bert of Ford Flower helped us create a one-of-a-kind doughnut wall—a giant pegged and painted wooden backdrop, where more than 500 hanging doughnuts spelled out our initials. It was much more economical, and a lot more delicious!” The newlyweds paired the decadent photo booth with on-theme props, like light sabers, space helmets, Storm Trooper masks and more.
“With a garden ceremony in the morning and a starry-night reception in the evening, I was struggling to find a dress that felt appropriate for both,” Kellie says. But Kellie struck gold when her mother came across a shimmery two-piece Zuhair Murad gown, complete with a crystal and bead-embellished bodice and a removable tulle skirt. “It was the ideal dress for my ceremony, and I was able to remove the full skirt to enjoy dancing during the reception,” Kellie says.