1. Real Weddings

An Outdoor Wedding in Lancaster, PA

At first, Yoko wasn’t attracted to Sean when they met while both studying jewelry and metals at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. It took Se

At first, Yoko wasn’t attracted to Sean when they met while both studying jewelry and metals at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. It took Sean a while to work up the courage to start a conversation with Yoko; but once he did, minutes of talking turned into hours and soon Yoko was hooked. The two became inseparable. The Bride Yoko Tazaki, 26, a bench jeweler The Groom Sean McMullen, 29, a blacksmith The Date August 30 For their four-year anniversary, Sean took Yoko to the Japanese restaurant they often go for special occasions. When dinner arrived, Yoko spotted a tiny box on the sushi tray. The ring inside had been custom-made by the professor Yoko admires the most. Yoko immediately started crying as Sean knelt down on one knee and proposed.

Yoko carried a mix of all of the girls’ flowers: monarch orchids, roses, spider mums, calla lilies, cymbidium orchids, Asiatic lilies, and pincushion proteas. Black baccara roses added a deep pop against the soft yellow.
Yoko and Sean gave out chopsticks as escort cards. They printed guests’ names, table numbers and entrée choice on lime green and ivory paisley paper to make sleeves for the chopsticks, which guests then used to eat dinner and took home as a favors.
In lieu of a traditional guest book, Yoko and Sean asked guests to leave them notes and hang them on a “wishing tree,” which their florist provided.
To mix things up, each of Yoko’s seven bridesmaids carried a different yellow flower to match her own personality. The colors paired well with their sage green dresses.
The couple designed and made their own wedding bands and their ring bearer, Jack, carried them in a bronze box -- also made by Sean, with a smaller, stainless-steel case inside for the rings.
Yoko and Sean’s wedding invitations inspired the design on their three-tiered cake. A light mint-colored buttercream frosting covered the top and bottom layers, and a green paisley design decorated the middle one.
Sean and his groomsmen wore boutonnieres inspired by Sean’s love for beer. They included pieces of barley with hops and hypericum berries.
Yoko and Sean got married outside, in front of a huge maple tree near a creek. Scattered yellow rose petals decorated the aisle.
With the table numbers, Yoko and Sean displayed pictures of themselves taken at the corresponding ages.
Yoko and Sean love the simplicity of Japanese flower arrangements (called ikebana) so they asked their florist to use them for inspiration. The result? Different arrangements for each table stuffed with used orchids, roses, hydrangeas, lilies, proteas, bamboo shoots, branches, and, of course, chrysanthemums.
Yoko and Sean decided at the last minute to put the dance floor beneath twinkling white lights inside their venue’s new pavilion. For their first dance, they chose “Lucky” by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat.
Sage napkins and bright centerpieces popped against the dark brown linens that covered the reception tables.