At This Modern Garden Party Wedding, the Love Was in the Details

On May 15, 2021, nearly 13 years after they first crossed paths as freshmen at Indiana University, Liz Fernandez and Mack Shaughnessy said "I do" underneath a canopy of blooms at Jorgensen Farms Oak Grove in Westerville, Ohio, near Columbus. This Chicago couple began planning their wedding in November 2019, after Mack shocked and delighted Liz with a surprise proposal while walking over the Michigan Avenue Bridge, en route to the sushi restaurant where they had their first official date as just-graduated adults, new to the big city.

A few months into their 18-month-long engagement, while basking in their newly-engaged excitement, the pair had booked their venue and many of their vendors, but they had no idea what was waiting between them and their big day. As the lockdowns and anxiety of the pandemic unfolded, the couple made the difficult decision to cut their original guest list in half, but were fortunate enough to never have to give up their original wedding date. When May 15, 2021 arrived, they sent personalized bottles of Champagne to those who couldn't be there on the big day and celebrated with loved ones from afar via a livestream.

At Jorgensen Farms in Ohio, 75 of their closest friends and family joined them for a romantic, sophisticated, lush soirée. Meredith Diamond, the duo's event stylist and day-of coordinator from Auburn + Ivory Creative, dove into the details to create an experience guests wouldn't soon forget. Diamond says, "Liz and Mack are such stylish, but practical people and we wanted the design to reflect that. Liz takes pleasure in the details, and we intentionally strove to create those moments for her without compromising the intimate, laid-back vibe she craved." The final result was, in Diamond's words, "modern, but not without a little magic."

The couple set the stage for their "ethereal, modern garden party" from the minute guests received their invitations. A sustainable handmade suite from Lumaca Paper featured a soothing, earthy green envelope, blush letterpress, and a stunning floral liner; the set gave guests a preview of the classic romance awaiting them on May 15. Custom monogram wax seals and hand-dyed silk ribbons were the finishing touches.

Liz and Mack originally thought they'd get married in Chicago, but couldn't find their dream venue there. When a friend put Jorgensen Farms Oak Grove on their radar, they fell head over heels. Its blend of romance and modern touches fit their personal style perfectly, and the couple could envision their friends and family celebrating throughout the indoor and outdoor spaces. "The glass greenhouse and black barn were unlike anything I had seen before," says Liz.

Liz and Mack knew they didn't want the formality of a big wedding but, instead, wanted something that felt like the best dinner party they had ever been to. They wanted to be surrounded by their closest friends and family for a low-key, intimate celebration—which began in casual garb. Bridesmaids wore chic sweatshirts during their morning beauty session.

Liz's Alexandra Grecco silk crepe wedding dress and veil and Loeffler Randall shoes nodded to her attention to detail. The hand-embroidered trailing floral appliqués down the back of the gown echoed her surroundings, while the bows on her toes were the perfect sweet surprise. Her "something old" was a gold diamond ring, passed down by her great-grandfather, and her "something borrowed" was a tennis bracelet that belonged to Mack's grandmother.

Liz's bouquet by State & Arrow Design Co. captured the enchanting romance of a modern garden party. With tumbling garden roses, peonies, ranunculus, and sweet peas, the arrangement felt both sophisticated and organic. The shades of white, ivory, champagne, and soft blushes perfectly complemented a sumptuous silk ribbon in pale apricot.

The couple knew they wanted a moment away from the hubbub before the celebrations were underway, so they shared a first look in the greenhouse; they were full of happy tears. Reflecting on their first look, Liz says, "It was emotional—the realization that the biggest day of your life is finally here—and I'm glad we got to experience that in private."

With easy directions from Liz to choose their own midi or maxi dress in any hue of ivory, off-white, or champagne, her bridesmaids landed on several cohesive styles. Their bouquets were small, yet lush, and incorporated roses, peonies, and ranunculus.

Mack's groomsmen kept it easy in a timeless, tailored style from The Black Tux. 

Lumaca Paper created a custom monogram for the pair which appeared on everything from their save-the-dates to the big-day signage. "It really helped tie everything together," says Liz.

The pair wanted to "let the beauty of the greenhouse shine," says Meredith Diamond, the duo's event stylist and day-of coordinator from Auburn + Ivory Creative. "A floral installation covered the back row of chairs to define the space, and a beautiful cloud-like floral installation hung above the altar."

To the thrums of a string quartet's rendition of "Make You Feel My Love," Liz made her aisle debut on the arm of her father.

Mack's brother officiated the duo's service, which "allowed us to focus on what was most important to us, and made the entire thing feel really personal," says the bride. Liz and Mack chose to write their own vows, which they first read to each other in private a few nights before the wedding.

A classic, custom tux from Nicholas Joseph was Mack's wedding-day look. He completed the ensemble with a Shinola watch that Liz gifted to him on the morning of their big day.

The giddy couple walked out to Ellie Goulding's "Anything Could Happen." Each row of guests had a leather valet case of dried blooms to toss as the newlyweds made their exit.

Mack and Liz spent about 15 minutes taking photos, but were able to enjoy most of the cocktail hour, which unfolded on a lawn outside of the greenhouse. "We were on such a high after the ceremony, it was nice to be able to celebrate and have a drink with family and friends," notes the bride, adding that the pair served two signature drinks (a grapefruit vodka press for her and and old fashioned for him) and offered a full bar and a myriad of passed apps.

The duo's wedding Champagne was iced in a floral bucket mold, which spoke to the garden theme of the day.

"We had the string quartet from our ceremony stay for cocktail hour. It was perfect," says Liz of the cocktail hour entertainment.

Bud vases served as both place cards and parting gifts. The pretty little touches, set against a chinoiserie wallpaper cubby, greeted guests as they made their way into the reception.

Guests' name and seating assignments were wrapped around each miniature vessel.

Liz has Scottish roots on her mother's side—and a talented bagpiper in the family. "My mom had the idea to have my uncle transition our guests from cocktail hour to the reception, and it was a huge hit," she says.

For the event's color palette, Diamond loosely drew inspiration from the Little Goat restaurant in Chicago, using soft green, caramel, and subtle pops of coral. The reception was Liz's favorite thing to put together: Guest tables were draped in sage green linens from La Tavola and settings featured a natural linen napkin. 

Lush florals adorned the tables, which were also set with green jardin flatware at the head table and lovely copper cutlery at the others. Station numbers were slabs of terra-cotta with a moss numeric overlay.

The neutral menus and place cards were created by Lumaca Paper.

The duo's wedding cake was a delicate two-tone, three-tiered cake from Miam Cake, which was as much a show-stopping piece of décor as it was a delicious dessert. It found its home in the same arch used for the escort bud vases, wallpapered by Diamond. The confection's cascading white sugar flowers mimicked the chinoiserie wallpaper, and, beneath its stunning exterior, was vanilla cake with fresh raspberries and raspberry filling.

A 10-piece band kept the crowd on the dance floor all night long with a mix of new, classic, and throwback songs. But, for their first dance, Mack and Liz chose "This Must Be the Place" by the Talking Heads. They debated for months over the perfect first tune, but the lyrics to this classic 80s hit won them over.

The couple's monogram made one more appearance at the reception in the form of a neon sign, which was secured to the base of the band's stage and surrounded by florals.

Looking back on their big day, Liz and Mack wouldn't change a thing. "We hadn't seen or hugged many of our guests in over a year, and having everyone together again—we were overwhelmed with love and gratitude. And people were ready to party!" says Liz. To other couples currently planning their celebration, Liz notes to only focus on what you can control, but to also have a backup plan, just in case.

Photography, Kismet Visuals
Venue and Catering, Jorgensen Farms Oak Grove
Wedding Coordination and Event Design and Styling, Meredith Diamond, Auburn + Ivory Creative
Flowers, State & Arrow Design Co.
Videography, Panda Films
Stationery, Lumaca
Cake, Miam Cake
Music, Columbus Musicians (quartet), The Avenue, Cleveland Music Group (reception)
Rentals, La Tavola (linens); TableMade Co. (flatware); Aiden and Grace (arches, soft seating, cake table); All Occasions (tabletop, stage, bar)
Bride's Gown and Veil, Alexandra Grecco
Bride's accessories, Ariel Gordon (earrings); Loeffler Randall (shoes)
Hair, Sarah W Hair
Makeup, Angie Warren Artistry
Groom's suit, Nicholas Joseph
Groom's accessories, Shinola (watch)
Menswear, The Black Tux
Transportation, Columbus Coach
Ribbons, The Lesser Bear (invitations, bouquet)