• Real Weddings

Is there anything prettier than a pastel color palette? And this wedding in particular knocked it out of the park. With voluminous pastel floral arrangements everywhere you look, this wedding is a feast for the eyes and must have smelled as incredible as it looked! We also love how this couple committed to lavender for their main color, giving their reception a distinct pop that would have been lost had they opted for neutral linens. 

Viva L'Event had a bunch of obstacles thrown in their way when it came to planning this wedding, from date changes to vendor cancellations, but we're here to say, it still turned out AMAZING! Meristem Floral created these epic floral arrangements that really brought the garden party vibe to life. While Carolina Grove may not have been the original venue the couple selected, we can't imagine a more picture-perfect spot for this romantic outdoor wedding! Mikkel Paige Photography captured every pretty pastel detail from the velvet ring box and floral embellished shoes to the ornate tablescapes. Keep reading to hear more from Mikkel Paige Photography about how this couple and their team overcame every challenge and make sure to check out the full gallery for even more inspiration!

A FEW (MAJOR) CHANGES

Meaghan and Alex met at the wedding of one of Meaghan's friends and bridesmaids. They were supposed to have the wedding of their dreams in 2020, but, because of the pandemic, had a low-key courthouse wedding in Austin, Texas, where they live. They had to postpone once...then twice. They even endured a venue change and a switch up of a few of their original vendors because of date conflicts. But the third time was a charm and their garden party wedding, with European touches, was worth the wait. Thankfully, Viva L'Event was there to facilitate any date changes and design upgrades, and Mikkel Paige Photography and Thomas Blake Films were there to capture it all at Carolina Grove. They celebrated with 150+ guests in North Carolina, on the one-year anniversary of their courthouse wedding in Austin.

DESIGNING THEIR WEDDING CREST

They had their dog, Rudy, attend the wedding for photos and their ceremony. Meaghan grew up with miniature Schnauzers, and their own "fur son" had to be there, so he traveled with them to the party, from Texas to North Carolina. Rudy is also on their wedding crest, which appeared on their stationery, reappeared on their bar, and also on Meaghan's custom ring box. The wedding crest had an elephant on it as well, a seemingly unusual animal to have on a wedding crest, but its meaning was significant: elephants were a big part of the groom's mother's upbringing. It is a spiritual symbol in Korean culture, and Alex grew up with a lot of elephant sculptures and elephant art in their home. Elephants symbolize longevity and wisdom. They bring prosperity and good luck. Lastly, the elephant is a nod to the mascot of the University of Alabama, a school that Alex's family has always been big fans of. Their crest and stationery had bluebell flowers and violets in their design, an ode to Texas and NJ (where they currently live and the bride's home state, respectively). 

GOING ALL OUT

The blue cafe umbrellas in their outdoor lounge were wrapped in greenery, adding to the garden party theme. Plates had a striking floral edge border and multi-leveled floral arrangements drenched the reception in color and a sweet aroma. As a special surprise and to make their 2021 wedding party stand out even more from their 2020 ceremony, Alex gifted Meaghan her dream wedding band as an addition to her ring set for their one-year anniversary. He placed it on her finger during their "affirmation of vows" ceremony.

TIPS FROM THE PRO

• Accessories & Lingerie: Reem Acra
• Band: The Legacy Band
• Bridesmaid Dresses: The Dessy Group
• Cakes & Catering: Sugar Euphoria
• Cakes & Catering: Hl Catering
• Ceremony Music: Elegant Ensembles
• Event Planning & Design: Viva L'Event
• Flowers: Meristem Floral
• Hair, Makeup & Beauty: Makeup By Ashley Mooney
• Paper Goods & Calligraphy: Oaks & Gray Paper
• Rentals: Cottage Luxe
• Rentals: American Party Rentals
• Rentals: Party Reflections
• Venues: Carolina Grove
• Wedding DJ: Ultra Mix Events
• Wedding Films: Thomas Blake Films
• Wedding Photographers: Mikkel Paige Photography