There’s a big difference between a themed wedding and your wedding inspiration, but it can be a slippery slope. This team of vendors took inspiration from one of the bride’s favorite movies without being too overt about it. You’d never guess that the inspo for this romantic garden wedding with shades of blush, buttercream, sage, and sky blue tones was the classic movie, Dirty Dancing–and that’s how it should be! Your inspiration is simply the thread that holds all of the separate parts together and informs your decisions.
Keep scrolling for a visual Master Class on how to apply your inspiration to your own wedding design.
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the inspo
Inspired by the upcoming re-release of the blockbuster Dirty Dancing, sustainability, and locally sourced vendors, this wedding editorial designed by Emerson Fields, Wright Pro Weddings, and Kiley Ann Photography channeled a 1960s spring ethereal garden-inspired retreat. This wedding getaway will leave you craving your own.
Sarah and Ryan, a vibrant couple from St. Louis and Kansas City, wanted a retreat-like wedding weekend with all their favorite people. It was important to them that their wedding was sustainable and supported local businesses. They found Emerson Fields, a serene venue nestled between their hometowns, for their weekend wedding getaway. With a curated guest list, they created an intimate gathering for their loved ones. Inspired by the bride’s beloved movie, Dirty Dancing, they aimed to recreate a vacation-like atmosphere for everyone that would attend. The wedding weekend kicked off with a heartfelt welcome dinner at Emerson Fields on Friday evening. It was a joyous celebration with a lakeside cocktail hour, live musical entertainment, and line dancing all night.
a romantic garden ceremony
Their outdoor ceremony on Saturday celebrated their love and commitment and culminated with “I’ve Had The Time Of My Life” as their recessional song. The ceremony installation was a semi-circle floral design with tall trees/locally sourced branches with accents that would be found in a North Carolina resort garden space, such as limestone bricks, pottery planters, and locally sourced blooms, as well as garden roses designed in a bush-style design. The bridal bouquet was petite to highlight the blooms and minimal greenery. It includes garden roses, blush carnations, jasmine, ranunculus, butterfly ranunculus, and other blooms. Since Sarah and Ryan value family, Kailey, with BareRoots LLC, included a tree they could return to their home to plant. They intend to watch the tree grow, like their love, over the years.
the looks
Our original inspiration was a dress similar to the last scene of Dirty Dancing, where Baby soars into the arms of Patrick Swayze. And if you’re not familiar with the classic film, it’s a simple neckline with thick straps and minimal detail. However, Randy Fenoli’s dress, Francis, stopped us in our tracks, and we instantly knew it was the one. This dress is a white-tiered ballgown with a strapless v-neck. It’s a showstopper that could twirl. This dress fits the vision for a romantic, timeless, sustainable wedding with nods to Dirty Dancing. Our team decided on minimal accessories to keep the focus on its elegant beauty.
a thoughtful reception
Since Sarah and Ryan are from St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, our team sourced vintage postcards from a local antique store, highlighting both parts of the state. The couple wanted each of their guests to feel special, and a handwritten note was an excellent way to show their appreciation. Guests grabbed the postcard and took it to their table. Additionally, we decided to include personalized welcome bags, including a guide with a map of the city, the best places to eat around town, and the itinerary for the weekend. I included items from local vendors like local honey, wine, a candle and matches, pop-tarts, and a spiral notebook to jot down all those sweet memories. If your guests are coming from out of town, a welcome bag is a thoughtful way to help them feel more comfortable during your celebration. Since this storyline alludes to the 1960s, we thought handmade pies, pop-tarts, and sweets would pair wonderfully with the theme. The couple even ate a cherry pie during cocktail hour.
advice from the pros
With any wedding day, the best tip is to consider what is important to you. Sarah and Ryan valued family, sustainability, and locally sourced vendors. With that in mind, our vendor team considered each aspect when making design choices for this wedding inspiration. Defining your values can help you make decisions and avoid getting overwhelmed by wedding planning.
Check out the full gallery below to see even more of these stunning photos by Kiley Ann Photography.
