We’ve been reflecting on the last couple of years of weddings and what hills we’ve had to overcome to make these weddings perfection. Liz & Ryan’s planning started with the idea of having an elevated dinner party with dancing at Bar Lurcat but what they ended up with was a beautiful fall tent wedding all because of, you guessed it, COVID. What they really wanted was a warm, relaxed and celebratory atmosphere with personal touches, so the change still checked all the boxes, and more.

The couple wanted the antithesis of the typical wedding, though they should have been careful what they wished for! It took three tries, but their dreams for their celebration came together beautifully on a crisp September evening as their favorite people dined and danced under the stars in luxurious tents filled with gorgeous florals, rich textures and cozy comforts. When mandates made indoor gatherings too restrictive, Liz and Ryan decided to take the party outdoors with tents - but where to put them? Fortunately, Liz’s Great Aunt stepped in and sponsored the couple on the grounds of Woodhill Country Club in front of the barn. But, Liz did not envision a barn wedding. To minimize a barn wedding esthetic, we draped the entire back wall of the tent in ivory sheer to soften the space and mask the barn. Because the barn could be seen if you looked up through the clearspan tent, we coordinated the décor to the colors of the surrounding barn and fall landscape without the literal trappings of autumnal, rustic décor. The lush beige velvet linens and the substantial Louis cane back chairs provided the elegant, luxurious, neutral palette Liz wanted. To provide a focal point away from the barn, we all agreed to bring some color into the tent. Gorgeous florals in warms tones with pops of bright fuchsia kept all eyes off the barn.

Friends toasted the couple’s endurance to plan a wedding three times and the couple shared how emotional it was to be surrounded by their very closest friends and family which made for an incredibly intimate night. A DJ, accompanied by a sax, provided the ambiance between dinner remarks. Once dinner service wrapped, the couple invited guests to follow them back to the other tent where they danced the night away to a DJ accompanied by sax, trumpet, and drums. The energy as literally all 42 guests danced was amazing!

This wedding was one of our first COVID restricted weddings. Liz & Ryan really stuck to their original goals and the ultimate prize - being married. Although a fall chill and a small drizzle was in the forecast, that didn’t stop this from becoming a beautifully celebratory event!