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  4. This English Garden-Inspired Wedding in North Carolina Was Influenced by Matisse
Martha Stewart Weddings

This English Garden-Inspired Wedding in North Carolina Was Influenced by Matisse

Sara Dickinson, Freelance Writer
By Sara Dickinson August 06, 2019
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ashley scott wedding couple on steps
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

With under five months to plan their big day, this couple pulled off a vibrant spring event at the bride's family home for just 35 guests.

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ashley scott wedding couple on steps
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

Ashley and Scott shared a whirlwind romance after an online dating website brought them together in late January 2016. "We had our first date on February 1st—we stayed up until 3 a.m. watching movies at home—and shared our first kiss two days later. Within a week, we were calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend," Ashley recalls. In June 2018, the pair began talking about getting married—and Scott took the opportunity to pop the question over a casual breakfast on the pair's patio.

The couple initially had a courthouse wedding on Scott's birthday about a month after their engagement. "We kind of thought that would be it," Ashley says. "But after some health scares in Scott's family and some pushing from my mom who deeply loves a party, we finally decided to have a very small backyard wedding." At their soirée, which spanned just a few hours in the evening, guests were asked to adhere to a "party cocktail" dress code, which suited the celebration that was "bursting at the seams with color and laughter," says the bride.

Ashley took on most of the planning and coordinating herself, and with just four-and-a-half months to plan, she pulled off a vibrant, fun, and nontraditional wedding—an appropriate event style for the bride, an operations manager at Anthropologie—in her mother and stepfather's English-inspired garden in Charlotte, North Carolina ("My stepfather's biggest passion project is his garden, and it made the most exquisite backdrop for our celebration," she adds). Even though it rained twice on the big day (which fell on May 4, 2019), the couple loved how the weather brought their 35 guests together and made for an even more memorable milestone.

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The Engagement Ring

ashley scott wedding engagement ring in yellow box
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

Ashley's engagement ring originally belonged to her great-great-grandmother. The center stone is a three-carat European cut diamond surrounded by blue sapphires, more diamonds, and milgrain detailing. "The ring is nearly 100 years old and has never been altered from its original form—it still has my great-great-grandmother's initials engraved on the inside of the band," Ashley shares.

  • Everything There Is to Know About Old Mine and Old European Cut Engagement Rings

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You're Invited

ashley scott colorful blue and pink wedding invitations
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

The invitations, which the bride created with the help of Paper Source, featured artwork by Anugraha Design. They set the tone for the celebration to come thanks to a bold color scheme of teals, pinks, yellows, and blues.

  • How to Choose Your Wedding Invitations Based on Your Color Palette

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The Bride's Look

ashley scott wedding bride in fluffy dress
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

Expecting to feel overwhelmed by the wedding-dress shopping process, Ashley decided to limit her options to BHLDN so that she could try on gowns in the privacy of her mom's home. She stepped into a few dresses before falling in love with the "Hearst" number, which features a deep V-neckline, open back, A-line skirt, and floral appliqué detailing. "I opted to add some fluttery tulle pieces at the shoulder to make it a little more ridiculously fun!" Ashley says.

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A Regal Touch

ashley scott wedding bride's crown on bust
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

Instead of a veil, Ashley decided to wear a gold crown by AMAROQ on her wedding day.

  • More Crowns That Will Make Any Bride Feel Like Royalty

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A Crowned Bride

ashley scott wedding bride wearing golden crown
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

"It felt like the perfect blend of Camelot-meets-Game-of-Thrones," the bride says. She decided against jewelry so that the crown would be the highlight of her bridal look.

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Colorful Kicks

ashley scott wedding bride's shoes on ornate dresser
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

Considering her job at Anthropologie, Ashley found it hard to resist pairing her bridal gown with Jeffrey Campbell's colorful "Purdy" heel; the pink-and-navy open-toed sandals also featured a chunky heel, which came in handy during the bride's walk down the grassy aisle.

  • More Nontraditional Wedding Shoe Ideas from Stylish Brides

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A Bouquet of Favorites

ashley scott colorful wedding bouquet on antique chair
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

Flowers were incredibly important to this bride, so she went the DIY route; she asked a wholesale florist to execute her overarching floral vision with preserved banksia, coral charm peonies, yellow pincushion protea, and snapdragons. As for her bouquet? "I used ranunculus, poppies, pink hypericum berries, anemones, tulips, and peony tulips as 'fillers;' the greenery was a mix of lemon leaf, huck, and plumose," Ashley explains.

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Groom in Navy

ashley scott wedding couple in garden
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

Scott donned a navy suit—which he paired with a pink shirt and blue woven tie—for the big day.

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A Floral Dress for the Flower Girl

ashley scott wedding flower girl blowing bubbles
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

Ashley's niece served as the couple's flower girl. She wore a dress from Boden with a flower pattern (that referenced the shapes in the ceremony backdrop!) in the wedding's color scheme: teal, pink, and yellow.

  • The Best-Dressed Flower Girls from Real Weddings

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The First Look

ashley scott wedding first look
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

Though Ashley and Scott didn't spend the eve of their wedding apart, they decided to have a first look anyway. Ashley managed to keep her wedding dress a secret so that she could surprise her groom pre-ceremony. "I loved the idea of having a first look—and [having the moment of] seeing each other all dolled up chronicled in photo form," the bride says.

  • How Should You Spend the Night Before Your Wedding?

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Into the Garden

ashley scott wedding ceremony stone entrance to garden pink flowers
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

The couple's secular ceremony took place in the backyard and was officiated by one of their closest friends, Nicole. Ashley's mom read Walt Whitman's "To a Stranger" before the couple exchanged vows. "Scott and I both wrote our own vows, but frankly, vow writing fell by the wayside and we both agreed to improvise once the time came," Ashley says. "Thank goodness the stakes were lower since we had already exchanged vows once before!"

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A Matisse-Inspired Backdrop

ashley scott wedding ceremony colorful backdrop wooden chairs
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

In addition to the garden's vibrant flowers, a patterned fabric backdrop offered a fun pop of color during the ceremony. "My mom and I worked together on the ceremony backdrop, which was inspired by Matisse's gouache cut-outs," Ashley says.

  • More Creative Wedding Backdrop Ideas to Consider for Your Own Ceremony

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Paper Poppies

ashley scott wedding ceremony flower
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

Regan Rutherford's paper poppies—which were staked into the grassy ground—lined the aisle, bringing a pop of whimsy to the already-lush space.

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You're My Best Friend

ashley scott wedding recessional confetti
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

Following their short-and-sweet nuptials, the newlyweds recessed back up the aisle to "You're My Best Friend" by Queen.

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Marigold Tabletops

ashley scott rustic wedding reception tables on lawn
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

The duo's reception took place in the backyard as well, where six farm tables were draped in marigold velvet runners.

  • Logistical Details You Need to Consider When Planning a Backyard Wedding

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The Place Setting Details

ashley scott wedding reception place setting
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

Each place setting was anchored by a navy linen napkin; two-toned flatware and blue, white, and gold-patterned plates contributed to the colorful tablescapes.

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BBQ Dinner

ashley scott outdoor reception tables on lawn
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

Ashley and Scott served a dinner that incorporated both of their backgrounds (he's from Texas, while she hails from South Carolina)—hence, their barbecue feast. Along with the expected meats, they served Israeli couscous with tomato, cucumber, feta, and toasted chickpeas, creamed corn, steamed veggies, coleslaw, and mac and cheese.

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A Multi-Flavored Cake

ashley scott wedding cake with flower bud decorations
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

The couple's three-tiered semi-naked confection by Suárez Bakery included two flavors—chocolate cake with vanilla filling and a vanilla cake with strawberry chiffon filling. The entire dessert was lightly frosted with vanilla buttercream.

Ashley and Scott sent their guests home with cookies from Milkbar and personalized matchboxes emblazoned with their first initials to thank them for joining in on their big day. The newlyweds chose Paris and Barcelona for their honeymoon—which also doubled as the groom's first trip to Europe.

  • 30 Naked Cakes for Your Wedding

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Sources

ashley scott wedding couple kiss in garden
Credit: Perry Vaile Photography

Photography, Perry Vaile Photography

Flowers, Flower Moxie

Catering, Midwood Smokehouse

Stationery, Paper Source, Anugraha Design

Place cards, Minted

Bride's gown, BHLDN

Alterations, Christie's Alterations

Bride's accessories, AMAROQ (crown), Jeffrey Campbell via Anthropologie (shoes)

Flower girl's dress, Boden

Rentals, Party Time Rentals

Cake, Suarez Bakery

Favors, Milkbar

Paper flowers, Regan Rutherford

Day-of paper goods, Paper Supply Station

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    1 of 20
    2 of 20 The Engagement Ring
    3 of 20 You're Invited
    4 of 20 The Bride's Look
    5 of 20 A Regal Touch
    6 of 20 A Crowned Bride
    7 of 20 Colorful Kicks
    8 of 20 A Bouquet of Favorites
    9 of 20 Groom in Navy
    10 of 20 A Floral Dress for the Flower Girl
    11 of 20 The First Look
    12 of 20 Into the Garden
    13 of 20 A Matisse-Inspired Backdrop
    14 of 20 Paper Poppies
    15 of 20 You're My Best Friend
    16 of 20 Marigold Tabletops
    17 of 20 The Place Setting Details
    18 of 20 BBQ Dinner
    19 of 20 A Multi-Flavored Cake
    20 of 20 Sources

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