A Charcoal-and-Pale-Blue Garden Wedding in North Carolina

In December 2010, Michael proposed to Abigail with a silver cuff engraved with the French words Epouse-moi fee Abilene. Translation? "Marry me fairy Abilene" (his nickname for her). Their nuptials at The Atrium, an urban garden in their hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina, was all about family. Michael's pastor-father officiated (and made the wine served at dinner), his brother played the keyboard, and halfway through the couple's first dance, Michael's daughter, Eve, 7, and son, Stephen Michael, 6, cut in.

The bride, in Watters, and groom, in Ralph Lauren.

Hemp twine held together clusters of white flowers and green foliage.

Abigail's new daughter, Eve, drew a picture of the couple on their wedding day -- it now hangs framed in the family's hallway.

Michael and his younger brother, a groomsman, and his officiant father chat before the ceremony.

The wedding bands were tied to a succulent with twine and placed in a nest.

The couple exchanged teary vows under vintage Edison light bulbs.

The couple hung old photographs of relatives to create a real-life family tree.

Wooden escort cards stuck out of fern boxes and supported the day's garden-party theme.

Atop tables covered in pale blue linen, the 80 guests dug into fried chicken, barbecued pork, corn bread, and pimento cheese before boogeying to a bluegrass band. Porcelain vases and ivory tapers in glass candlesticks sat on reclaimed-wood boards

Almond, coconut, and banana-nut cakes were iced with pastel fondant and topped with sugar flowers.

Key-lime crisps were pressed with the initial of the newlyweds' last name.

In lieu of a traditional guest book, the green-thumbed couple invited their friends and family to make colorful leaf rubbings.

Ring bearer Stephen Michael shows his sister, flower girl Eve, how to cut a rug.

Guests took home make-your-own packets of wildflower, sunflower, and garden vegetable seeds scooped from turquoise mason jars.

The bride, in Shoshanna, worked her bouquet into her getaway bike's basket.

Location: The Atrium

Event Design and Flowers: Salt Harbor Designs

Stationery: Minted

Catering: A Southern Thyme

Cakes and Cookies: Flower & Flour

Photography: Millie Holloman Photography

Videography: Life Stage Films

Officiant: Pastor Steve Mattis, Myrtle Grove Presbyterian Church (910-540-4447)

Music: Jordan K. McLamb

Rentals: Party Suppliers & Rentals and Harborside Event Rentals

Lighting: High Performance Lighting

Hair: Salon Fringe

Bride's veil: aMuse Artisanal Finery

Bride's wedding band: Perry's Emporium

Bridesmaid dresses: J.Crew

Flower-girl dress: Crewcuts

Ring-Bearer's attire: Izod