1. Real Weddings

Terra & Brett: A Theme Wedding in Mount Vernon, VA

Combining the 18th-century decor of the Mount Vernon Inn with an Alice in Wonderland flair Terra and Brett created a vibrant wedding with whimsical fl

Combining the 18th-century decor of the Mount Vernon Inn with an Alice in Wonderland flair Terra and Brett created a vibrant wedding with whimsical floral accents. The Bride Terra Deckert The Groom Thomas Clark (Brett) Liddell, IV The Date September 5 Terra and Thomas met in high school Spanish class. Terra had a crush right away, and they started to date later that year. One of their first major boyfriend-girlfriend occasions was the prom, after which they planned a day trip to Mount Vernon, a spot they later returned to often. Little did they realize then that years later -- including six spent long distance while Brett, a generator technician, was in the U.S. Navy -- they’d plan a wedding together to be held in nearly the same spot.

The reception truly showcased Terra’s handiwork, from the handmade flowers in the centerpieces to the menu cards, place cards, and table names to the favors.
Another key decision was the flowers. Terra wanted to do something truly unique that would fit with the theme. She happened to spot a paper-flower-making kit online and ordered one to try out -- and before she knew it, she was hand-crafting every last bloom, from the bridesmaids’ bouquets to the boutonnieres to the centerpieces. “I lived at the various paper stores around me for a long time, trying out many different variations of purple, pink, orange, and yellow,” she remembers. “In the end, I think they turned out amazing and really added the funky, distinctive touch I was looking for.”
Terra and Brett made their getaway -- to an evening barbecue with their families -- in a Rolls Royce.
The Boutonniere
For her own bouquet, Terra played with a few similar designs but wound up taking a totally different approach -- she carried a single, giant, white paper magnolia.
The Reception Decor
The Reception Decor
The Program
The ceremony unfolded in the sunken garden behind the inn’s restaurant. Pillars topped off with brightly colored mums (one of the few nonpaper floral touches) marked the altar where the couple stood. Terra and Brett recited vows they had written themselves, a task they found to be one of the most difficult aspects of the planning. “We really wanted to think about and customize what we were going to say to each other that day,” Terra says.
The vanilla Mad Hatter cake featured fresh strawberries and vanilla cream filling. The fondant had been dyed to perfectly match the wedding colors.
The Escort Cards