What happens when notes of high fashion mingle with a playful, bloom-filled dreamscape? A tableau that’s as unexpected as it is refined. And that’s exactly what Stacey Weant, senior lead planner and project coordinator at Portland’s Your Perfect Bridesmaid, had in mind. “We kept coming back to the phrase ‘Alice in Wonderland meets Vogue’—a balance of whimsy and romance with an editorial edge,” she says of this ceremony and reception design, photographed at the 82-acre Abbey Road Farm in Carlton.
The creative scene unfurled inside the venue’s Arena building, a former horse-riding arena transformed into a modern, yet rustic event space overlooking the grand lawn and the gently sloping hills of its vineyard. (Abbey Road Farm produces its own small-batch wines, which you can sample in its on-site tasting room.) Soft, airy draping anchored the altar, while sculptural arrangements of spring blooms, including hyacinth, hellebores and pieris were paired with more traditional orchids, roses and hydrangeas, all mirroring the palette of romantic mauve, earthy olive green and natural tones. “The ceremony was designed to feel immersive, with lush, meadow-inspired florals guiding a serpentine aisle to a dramatic floral altar,” Weant says.
We started with the idea of incorporating LACE into the paper goods, since textiles are set to be a major wedding trend. It adds a soft, ROMANTIC touch that gives guests a more tactile and multi-dimensional experience.
–Megan Watson, Script on This
Together, shades of soft mauve, olive green and burgundy, along with grounding neutral tones lend a romantic yet refined feel. “They’re earthy enough to be timeless but have just enough softness and depth to keep it visually interesting and elevated,” Weant says.
As for the reception, the team played with contrast, creating a circular tablescape with classic details and cascading florals, while another—a candlelit, draped, sweetheart table—dabbled in a kitschy, maximalist aesthetic. “Together, they created a layered, fashion-forward experience that felt both intentional and playful.”
Alice certainly would have savored a slice from this four-tiered, Lambeth-style cake, in which Tessa Webb of Portland’s TumTum leaned into playful texture, botanical elements and a perfectly blended, mauve-colored buttercream. “Maximalism with elegance was the end goal,” she notes.
I want couples to feel inspired—to see that BEAUTY and FUN aren’t mutually exclusive. Weddings don’t have to play it safe to be meaningful.
–Stacey Weant, Your Perfect Bridesmaid
