A Spring Garden Wedding at Vic's on the Water in Savannah, Georgia

Tara Pearsall (37 and a higher education administrator) and John Oviedo (37 and a physical therapist) fused the beauty of Savannah, Ga. in springtime with the natural allure of Miami’s breathtaking beaches with a garden soiree steeped in soft shades of blush pink and Tiffany blue.

In the middle of April, the Savannah Botanic Gardens, where Tara and John’s “I dos” took place, was in full bloom, providing a lush green backdrop for the couple’s vows. “I knew I wanted an outdoor ceremony and the garden was the perfect place. It’s small, intimate and offered a particularly special detail — a memorial garden that allows you to have a brick engraved in someone’s memory,” says Tara. “My mother passed away in 2010 and I knew I wanted to honor her in some special way. I was able to give her a permanent physical presence at the place we said our vows. The garden also allowed us the opportunity to do a butterfly release, which is another way we honored my mother’s memory.”

For the ceremony, the couple let the natural beauty of the setting take center stage. Gold sashes and elegant white coverings draped over the ceremony chairs lent the scene a sophisticated and refined feel, while mason jars filled with colorful florals tied in seamlessly with the surroundings.

After the couple was announced husband and wife, they joined their guests at Vic’s on the River for an evening of fun-filled festivities. “Our goal was to have the reception feel like a big family holiday dinner,” says Tara. Southern comfort foods like fried green tomatoes featured on the menu and burlap-wrapped mason jars filled with white and pink peonies added a pop of fresh color to the reception tables.

After dinner and dancing, the newlyweds kept the celebrations alive with an after-party at a favorite local night spot, where they danced the night away. “To make our guests feel special, we just tried to spend as much time as possible with everyone throughout the weekend. We also tried to make the event about spending quality time with family, not just about us,” says Tara. “With such small numbers, it was easy to enjoy the company of each and every guest.”