Understated Elegance Was the Theme for This Vibrant Garden Wedding
The invisible string theory was in full effect for Pennsylvania sweethearts, Avery and John. The duo officially met in their anthropology class in college, but after chatting with one another, they soon realized they’ve always (almost) been in each other’s lives. Noy only did they grow up only 30 minutes apart, but they also went to some of the same concerts. Their connection continued to grow after graduation, and resulted in John proposing to Avery. Right before Christmas and on Addison Street, one of the most picturesque places in Philadelphia, Avery agreed to marry him while surrounded by twinkling lights.
When it was time to plan their nuptials, one of the easiest decisions was finalizing their wedding location. “Avery grew up going down the Jersey shore her whole life and always envisioned getting married there. Plus, both of our parents had beach houses in Cape May, New Jersey, so it was a no-brainer,” John says. They then focused on showcasing their theme of “understated elegance” for the wedding weekend. “We wanted things to be fun, colorful and relaxed, so we leaned into the beach destination with garden-party vibes,” Avery says.
Some of the ways the couple embraced the aesthetic was by having an intimate, alfresco rehearsal dinner on a farm, hiring an oyster shucker for the cocktail hour, using their own bikes as whimsical decor at the reception and incorporating a summer-forward color palette of blue, butter yellow, pink and orange throughout. Among the numerous beautiful details at their September celebration, what stood out the most was how they included their loved ones in the flowers and stationery.
“My aunt helped with the flowers for my wedding and has been the go-to florist for all of her cousins' weddings. Since she worked with Mark, from Mark Kintzel Design, countless times, hiring him was an easy decision,” Avery says. She continues: “One of our favorite moments was showing up to the tent on the wedding day and seeing Mark’s vision come to life for the first time. Looking at Mark and my aunt overcome with emotion when they saw John and I’s reactions to everything was priceless!” Avery’s aunt even picked some of the dahlias, one of the main flowers at the wedding, at local farms.
The illustrated table numbers and seating chart display were also a personal touch, made by their close friend, Claire. “Each watercolor drawing represented a place or item that was special to us and our families. We intentionally seated guests at a table number that was unique to them. For example, Avery’s cousins sat at a table with a drawing of a mug from their favorite breakfast place,” John says.