A Dreamy Garden Wedding in Nashville, Tennessee

By Kimberly Krajicek
Cassidy Carson Photography

This couple mixed themes from their roots in the South with life on the West Coast.

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Margaret and Jonathan

Cassidy Carson Photography

Margaret Waltemath, owner of interior design firm Margaret Ash Design, and Jonathan Ash, an investment banker, met at a martini bar in San Francisco through mutual friends. "I was immediately caught by the figure of a woman across the room," he recalls. "I made it a point to introduce myself." At the end of the night, Jonathan walked Margaret home, and the two shared a kiss with promises to follow up with a date.

After two years of dating, Jonathan had plans to propose and enlisted the help of a photographer to capture the big moment. Jonathan convinced Margaret to go for a walk with him in a park before a dinner reservation. Upon completing a final loop around a pond, Jonathan got down on one knee and recited the lines he had been memorizing. Margaret said yes, and shortly after the two ventured up to Sonoma Valley for a celebratory trip, complete with a hot air balloon ride. 

With the help of event planner Linley Stokes, the pair tied the knot about a year later, over Memorial Day Weekend, on May 29, 2016. The third milestone to occur in May, between meeting, getting engaged, and tying the knot, in the same month but different years. "We were 'May-ed' to be together" says Jonathan. They celebrated with 188 guests at the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art in the bride's hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. Following the secret garden-like ceremony, there was an elegant reception at The Belle Meade Country Club, which combined themes of their Southern roots with their new life in California.

Watch Margaret and Jonathan's Wedding Film

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The Stationery Suite

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Protea Wedding Bouquets We Love

Margaret and Jonathan's wedding wax seal—poured by the bride's father—featured a protea flower that the bride designed herself. The couple fell in love with the flower—which is native to California. "The most notable characteristic of the protea is its ability to endure," says Margaret. The knotted ribbons on the flower's stem symbolize the union between husband and wife, and the green is a nod to the bride's favorite color. Hardink Calligraphy penned the pair's names for the invitation, and the bride's stepmother addressed the envelopes by hand using a soft gray ink.

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The Welcome Bags

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Welcome Bags from Real Weddings

A Signature Welcome created the welcome bags, which featured a water-colored map created by Martha Willis, popcorn, lavender soap handmade by the groom's brother, chocolates, and a remedy kit.

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The Location

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Beautiful Botanical Garden Wedding Venues

"I grew up taking summer art classes at The Cheekwood Botanical Garden Museum of Art and always dreamed of getting married in their gardens," says Margaret of the ceremony location.

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The Fashions

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Margaret wore a Monique Lhuillier lace gown with Badgley Mischka shoes. Her custom veil from Muna Couture incorporated the lace from her mother's wedding veil as her "something old". Margaret accessorized her look with an aquamarine ring belonging to her stepmother and diamond-and-pearl earrings, borrowed from her mom.

Jonathan wore a Hugo Boss suit and loafers, with Lego man cufflinks from Etsy vendor The Flaming Galah.

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The Bridal Bouquet

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The Best Spring Wedding Bouquets

Vintage Florals created the bride's romantic bouquet using peonies, roses, jasmine, and greenery. Gray silk ribbons held the arrangement together.

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The Bridal Party

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Nontraditional Wedding Party Ideas

Margaret's bridal party, which included friends from high school, college, and interior design colleagues, wore sea glass-colored gowns by Jenny Yoo. The couple opted out of selecting a single maid of honor or best man; instead, they referred to their attendants as the matrons of honor and the best men. The junior bridesmaids of the group wore Dessy dresses made of chiffon and palomino lace. The flower girl donned a dress handmade by the bride's mother decades earlier, which underwent some repair for the special occasion.

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The Family Portraits

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Creative Ways to Display Photos at Your Wedding

Margaret took portraits with her mother and grandmother, both of whom were all smiles.

Family was also honored and on display thanks to Jonathan, who came up with the idea of paying tribute to Memorial Day and the couple's four grandfathers who had served in the military. Notes about their service were framed alongside photos of each man.

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The First Look

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Priceless Grooms’ Reactions to Seeing Their Brides for the First Time

The bride and groom had their first look by the reflection pool and wisteria arbor of the mansion. They embraced as they shared the precious moments before the ceremony.

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The Ceremony

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Unexpected Wedding Ceremony Readings

Just before sunset, Margaret met Jonathan down by the perennial garden, in between two Grecian urns holding flowering arrangements. During the service, which was officiated by the bride's sister, Reverend Elizabeth Waltemath, a special poem was read by the bride's 93-year-old grandmother.

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The Recessional

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Recessional Songs to Close Your Ceremony on a High Note

The newlyweds recessed up the aisle together and shared a passionate kiss as husband and wife.

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The Cocktail Hour

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Cocktail Hour Ideas from Real Weddings

Guests kept cool under umbrellas as they made their way to the second location—The Belle Meade Country Club—for cocktail hour.

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The Lounge Area

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Using scraps from her interior design studio, the bride customized pillows (sewn together by her stepmother) to create a bespoke lounge area.

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The Reception

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Tent Decorating Ideas to Upgrade Your Wedding Reception

The bride worked with Linley Stokes to design the reception tent, which overlooked the club's golf course. Champagne-colored drapery and endless greenery created a lush feeling, meant to mimic moss that cascades from Southern trees. A large, crystal chandelier (the biggest Margaret could find in the area) was covered in greenery and moss from Vintage Florals.

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The Décor

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Candle Centerpieces That Will Light Up Your Reception

The table décor was kept neutral with greenery arranged along the cream linens. "The brass candlesticks were from my mother and grandmother," says the bride. "Each year we gift each other more at Christmas." Along with taller, gray candles were smaller white ones in mercury glass votive holders.

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The Place Setting

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Wedding Place Card Ideas

Each place card was calligraphed by Margaret's stepmom and featured the couple's gold wax seal. Gold-rimmed plates held delicately tied napkins.

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The Couple's Entrance

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The newlyweds entered their reception, hands intertwined and in the air, as their guests cheered.

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The Dinner

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Dinner included a pink grapefruit and avocado salad, roasted chicken with green beans, and smoked gouda grit cakes.

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The Kid's Table

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These Adorable Photos Will Convince You to Invite Kids to Your Wedding

The children at the celebrations were offered their own menu—complete with chicken fingers and tater tots—and colored pencils to draw with.

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The Live Painting

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Wedding Games to Keep Guests Busy

Margaret had a special gift for her groom—a painter who was commissioned to do a live painting of their celebrations. The piece currently hangs in Jonathan's 'winebrary' at the pair's home.

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The First Dance

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First Dance Songs From Real Weddings

The couple shared their first dance to Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody". "We picked a song that we knew all of our guests would enjoy and pulled them all onto the dance floor with us for the second half of the song," says the groom.

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The Cake

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White Wedding Cakes That Make the Case for Going Classic

Dessert Designs created the couple's white, four-tiered confection, with lemon, chocolate truffle, caramel, and sour cream pound cake flavors inside. "I wanted a simple cake, with cascading jasmine," says Margaret. The tasty dessert sat atop a bed of moss.

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The Getaway

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Wedding Getaway Car Ideas

Margaret and Jonathan hopped into a trolley for their getaway—symbolizing their love for their new home in San Francisco.

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Sources

Cassidy Carson Photography

Photography, Cassidy Carson Photography

Ceremony Location, Cheekwood

Reception Location and Catering, Belle Meade Country Club

Event planning, Linley Stokes

Flowers, Vintage Florals

Videography, Needle and Thread

Officiant, Reverend Elizabeth Waltemath

Stationery, Ink Nashville

Spot Calligraphy, Hardink Calligraphy

Cake, Dessert Designs

Music, Avery Bright; Atlanta Allstars

Rentals, Nashville Tent & Awning Co.; Quest Drape; Music City Tents & Events; Please Be Seated

Bride's gown, Monique Lhuillier

Bride's accessories, Muna Couture (veil); Badgley Mischka (shoes)

Hair and Makeup, Katie Russo Beauty; Michelle Clark of Clark & Co.

Bridesmaids' dresses, Jenny Yoo; Dessy

Groom's suit, Hugo Boss

Groom's cufflinks, The Flaming Galah

Lighting, Bright Events; Visual Elements

Transportation, Hello Trolley

Guest boxes, A Signature Welcome

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