A Modern Fall Wedding at the Roger Williams Botanical Garden and Greenhouse in Providence, Rhode Island

For their November wedding, Shanna Isaac (27 and a talent acquisition specialist) and Deshaun Ferguson (26 and a branch manager at the Boys and Girls Club) planned a modern, autumnal affair that was anything but ordinary. Right from the get-go the couple knew they wanted to gather their closest family members and friends in Providence, RI, where their love story truly began. They were instantly taken by the uniqueness of the greenhouse at Roger Williams Botanical Gardens and the endless possibilities it offered in terms of personalization and design. With a late fall wedding date settled, Shanna and Deshaun decided to play up the beauty of the season with an autumnal theme and enlisted the help of M&M Elite Events to help turn their vision into reality. The couple decided to take an elegant cocktail party approach to the evening, ditching the traditional sit-down for an appetizer-heavy reception in order to create a laid-back environment that encouraged guests to mix, mingle and dance the night away. While the burnt orange and midnight blue color palette, vibrant seasonal blooms and details like a handcrafted wooden ceremony arch decked out with cascading leaves perfectly captured the essence of the fall season, Shanna and Deshaun forwent the standard rustic design elements often associated with autumnally inspired affairs, opting instead for sleek lounge furniture, bold bell jar centerpieces and cool mood lighting to achieve the elegant lounge-inspired vibe they were after. After exchanging vows in an intimate ceremony under the stars, the couple visited with their guests, while sipping on warm apple cider and sampling an array of delectable savory bites like mini beef wellington puffs, toasted ravioli, coconut shrimp, sesame chicken and more. DJ Rukiz of MusicFeen got the party started with an upbeat mix of ‘80s and ‘90s R&B and hip-hop classics and kept the dance floor packed all night long. A tip for the taking from Shanna: “Although it is important to think of your guests during the planning process, remember that this day is a chance for you and your partner to celebrate what you two have built and that celebration should be exactly as you envision it. We had so much fun on our wedding day because we did exactly what we wanted to do and how we wanted to do it and everyone had an awesome time.”