An English Garden-Inspired Wedding with Mexican Flare

July 29, 2019

Amanda Olivia Photography, Athens, Georgia Founder's Garden Wedding, Style Me Pretty Wedding, Bride and Groom

Krista and Pedro’s wedding day has been one of my favorite days to date and I think you can see why between all the intention and detail Krista put into her wedding day and how this couple prioritized their family and relationships every step of the way.

Here’s a beautiful piece Krista wrote about her wedding day for her Style Me Pretty feature:

Pedro and I married on May 18 in Athens, Georgia. Our entire celebration took part in a small garden that’s a stone’s-throw away from where I attended art school. We just loved how cozy and tucked away it felt. When I told my parents we were considering the garden as our venue, they shared that they’d actually dated there. So the decision was made!

Incorporating Ancestry and Personal Roots

When I imagined our day, I considered our personal stories, families, and ancestries. Pedro was born in California with extended family and ancestry rooted in Mexico. I was born in Georgia with predominantly British ancestry. In communicating to vendors, I often summarized the aesthetic as: “An English garden with Mexican details and a romantic color palette”.

Ceremony Space

Our ceremony took place in the upper garden. Decor built on design elements already in the space, including cement textures and black accents. We chose to purchase, rather than rent, the planters used for the altar, because I loved the idea of incorporating them into our home as a tangible reminder of the day. One of my favorite memories is from my last moments in hiding when our string trio played “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”—an homage to the city where we met. I definitely teared up, and I’ve been told I’m not the only one! We were married by my childhood pastor. The friend who originally introduced us was one of our readers and he was followed by Pedro’s father who wrote a poem for us.

Cocktail Hour

Cocktail hour was in a courtyard between the ceremony and reception spaces. Guests had their choice of peach sangria as well as a variety of beer and wine from our home states. We had a great mariachi band who played a mixture of traditional songs and pop covers. We had a great time dancing to the mariachi band and Pedro’s dad even stepped in to serenade us for one of the songs.

Reception

The reception space was our highest priority since we’d spend most of our time there. We placed it in our favorite part of the property: a sunken garden accessed by a pair of ivy-covered staircases. It’s shaded by magnolia trees and has a small lily pond at the far end. The tables were laid out banquet style, dressed in velvet linens, and filled with lush florals, fruit, and candles. We hung custom papel picado over the dance areas. Guests indulged in Southern comfort food while we did our formal dances. Our first dance was to Carla Morrison’s “Eres Tú”. Parent dances followed, and we had our siblings cut in halfway through to add a personal touch. – Krista, the bride

Now get ready to see all things beautiful below!