“This was probably one of the most unique weddings I have ever designed,” says event designer Jess from Onyx & Redwood of Ashley + Matt’s authentic and enchanting green house garden party celebration.
“The most important thing for them aside from celebrating with their closest friends and family was to feel like they were celebrating in a wild, overgrown, forgotten garden. They have a love for vintage inspired decor and wanted to entwine that with their love for plant nurseries.”
Ashley + Matt knew that everyone would need to be bussed to Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm, their dreamy greenhouse venue tucked into the hills above the California coast, so they took that opportunity to create a whole whimsical wedding day world for their guests to discover.
The whole experience was an aesthetic representation of who Ashley + Matt are: “outdoor oriented, informal but upscale, and lovers of an environment conducive to irreverent, relaxed dress.” There were mindblowing immersive florals. There was charming and eclectic vintage decor. And the dress code was “prints required,” so get ready for some unparalleled guest fashion.
Thank goodness photographer Ali Beck was there snapping beautiful photos so we can take a closer look at this one-of-a-kind day that was, as the couple puts it, “a celebration of the imperfect and impeccable.”
Ashley’s red floral print wedding dress was a vintage find on Etsy! “I’m a long time collector of vintage dresses and knew I wanted a red wedding dress,” says Ashley. “After a quick search, I found it. A vintage Hawaiian wedding dress from the 1940s. Handmade of printed, floral cotton with a capelet and fishtail micro train tipped with ruffles. In my exact size. I bought it immediately and never looked back.”
Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding Before the wedding we hung out just the two of us at the house on the property. Relaxing and snacking and enjoying the day and the scenery and each other. It was serene and gloriously buzzy with love and nerves. Super grateful we had that time together!
The Ceremony
These stunning views come to you courtesy of the beautiful California coast line just north of Santa Barbara.
It’s amazing how much design impact your guest seating can have!! These mix-and-match chairs from Party Pleasers set an eclectic and free-spirited tone for the ceremony.
Let’s just take a second to gush about the unbelievable magic that The Boy Who Cried Flowers created with these wild and mossy floral installations! And this is just the beginning of the flower art they threaded throughout the day.
Another unique element of Ashley + Matt’s ceremony was that they had no officiant and spoke directly to each other!
Take a look through our guide to writing your own wedding vows if you need some help but like the idea of drafting your own special “I Do’s” like Ashley + Matt did.
Our Musical Choices Processional: "A Quiet Storm" by Smokey Robinson
Recessional: "I Can Hear Music" by The Beach Boys
First Dance: We didn’t do the first dance. Don’t do anything you don’t want to! : )
A Greenhouse Celebration
Mismatched chairs and a winding banquet from Theoni Collection were the funky foundation of Ashley + Matt’s greenhouse reception setup, and eclectic tabletop decor touches from Otis + Pearl brought it all to life.
Table linens in plaids of all sorts from BBJ La Tavola were juxtaposed perfectly with an assortment of floral napkins from Hostess Haven.
Cocktail Hour
Liquid Cult served delicious drinks from behind this perfectly rustic and quirky bar—such a great example of Ashley + Matt’s “informal but upscale” aesthetic.
These bar florals are an organic, sculptural masterpiece!!
Twilight Portraits
Look through our fave floral wedding dresses if you love the idea of playing with patterns for your bridal look like Ashley did.
Our Advice To Those Planning Now We got legally married a year before our wedding. It took a lot of stress away from the planning because we could essentially look at it as a huge party without the weight of a wedding. And doing the legal part just the two of you is a fun and special thing to share.
It also might be worth a peek at our list of 31 beautiful red wedding dresses we’re obsessed with if you’re into Ashley’s color choice as much as we are.
The Reception
The mossy earth-tone doorway florals with that rich sage green velvet drapery 😍
Lighting from Bella Vista Designs created the greenhouse’s multi-aesthetic chandelier-scape.
Ashley + Matt’s guests gathered together around the impeccably decorated tables to enjoy a wedding day feast from Woah Nelly Catering.
Congratulations, Ashley + Matt, on your dreamy and authentic greenhouse garden party wedding day!! Here’s to more couples leaning into their creativity and embracing a wedding day aesthetic that feels like them. All the very best from GWS!
photography: Ali beck // venue name: Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm, Santa Barbara, California, Usa // event design: Onyx and redwood // planning: Onyx and redwood // florals: The Boy Who Cried Flowers // wedding dress: Vintage Chinese // videography: Lola video // catering: Whoa Nelly // tabletop rentals: Otis and Pearl // furniture rentals: Theoni Collection // linen rentals: BBJ La Tavola // specialty rentals: Found Vintage Rentals (lounge furniture, staircase, rugs) // music: Dart Collective // lighting: Bella Vista Designs // cocktails: Liquid Cult // linens: Hostes Haven // specialty rentals: Party Pleasers