1. Real Weddings

Amy & Charles: A Garden Wedding in East Lansing, MI

Although they dated each other’s best friends in high school, Amy and Charles finally got it right and started dating each other after meeting up thre

Although they dated each other’s best friends in high school, Amy and Charles finally got it right and started dating each other after meeting up three years later. An at-home proposal soon followed while the two were enjoying their favorite champagne, appropriately named Wedding Celebration. The Bride Amy Wichman, 24, event coordinator The Groom Charles Ovalle, 25, landscaper The Date August 25 Amy and Charles planned a garden wedding at the Michigan State University Horticulture Gardens. “We wanted something very interactive and upbeat, but still pretty and chic,” Amy says. The bride, a seasoned event coordinator, chose fuchsia and tangerine for their summertime celebration.

Amy and Charles gave out bottles of blackberry cabernet and white peach chardonnay to all of their guests as favors. They created the wine flavors at a local winery and personalized the bottles with wedding labels.
Because a parking lot was visible from the ceremony space, Amy had her florist drape fuchsia fabric behind the unity candle table. Three hanging pomanders also decorated the area.
Each of Amy’s five bridesmaids wore strapless tea-length dresses in fuchsia by Bari Jay. Instead of using the original fuchsia belts, Amy found tangerine ones so that the girls perfectly matched her orange and pink color scheme. Charles groomsmen wore black Calvin Klein tuxes, with white shirts and fuchsia-and-white textured vests and matching long ties.
Charles’ cool boutonniere, a bright yellow orchid, added a splash of color to his black ensemble.
The ceremony took place at sunset in the Michigan State University Horticulture Gardens. Rows of white chairs, decorated with alternating fuchsia and tangerine sashes, were set up for guests. Amy and her bridal party walked down a white aisle runner splashed with orange, pink, and yellow rose petals and sidelined with shepherd’s hooks holding? hanging pomanders.
Charles stood out in black Calvin Klein tux with a black shirt with a cream vest and a matching long tie. Charles first picked out Amy’s future gown in a catalog. The next day while trying on dresses, Amy happened to put on the same gown he liked and fell in love with it as well.
Tables set with floor-length fuchsia and tangerine linens filled the greenhouse at the horticulture garden. Trees lit with white lights lined the greenhouse, and fuchsia chiffon and votives adorned the cake table.
The Couple