Sustainable Wedding

Weddings are one of the greatest days of many people’s lives. They are also, arguably, the source of a lot of waste, from paper products to excess food and even (gasp!) left over flowers. Being eco-conscious was a concern for Rachel and Nikki. Their nature-inspired wedding at Temple Emanuel in Kensington, Maryland, took these issues to heart.

Sustainability was a central theme of their nuptials, as was to fill the day with warmth and love and a very personal vibe. The traditional Jewish wedding ceremony was infused with adaptations for their progressive values and the fact that they were two women. The processional to the chuppah was led by their 97- and 87-year-old grandmothers (respectively) walking down the aisle hand-in-hand. You can imagine that there was not a dry eye in the house from that moment on. The temple itself is filled with lots of natural light, a nature-inspired feeling, and a tree-of-life themed bimah designed using reclaimed wood. The ladies were both walked down the aisle by their parents, so decided to forego bouquets. They were married in an amazing temple beneath a birch pole chuppah.

Rachel and Nikki chose bamboo, orchids, bonsai trees and succulents planted in driftwood for their sustainable wedding centerpieces. The designs were created to allow guests to take these home following the wedding. Nikki and Rachel have both commented on how they still see the plants in people’s homes on visits to family and friends following the wedding.

Photo by Michael Temchine

Featured in Smashing the Glass Blog

Ceremony & Reception: Temple Emanuel

Catering: Festive Foods

Photography: Michael Temchine

Florist: Petal’s Edge Floral Design

Entertainment: Mark Novak Band

No inspiration photos. No flower list. No detailed design brief. Just a color palette and the freedom to run with it.

We took fuchsia, purple, and blue and turned them into layers of saturated color, unexpected textures, and flowers that made the whole room feel alive.

There’s something pretty magical about a client giving us a direction and then getting out of the way. They know their brand. We know flowers. And this is what happens when everyone trusts each other to do what they do best.

Give us the colors. We’ll take it from there. 🌸

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The bouquet is often the first place a couple’s floral vision comes to life. It is the piece everyone notices up close, and it quietly sets the tone for the entire wedding design.⁣
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For Mandana & Jan’s St. Francis Hall wedding, Mandana carried a cascading bouquet of white anemone, burgundy hanging amaranthus, roses and spray roses in shades of burgundy and cream, and burgundy protea accented with eucalyptus and jasmine vine. The shapes were bold and sculptural, which gave the bouquet a modern feeling while still feeling elegant against the historic backdrop of the hall. When a bouquet reflects the personality of the couple, it becomes more than just flowers. It becomes part of the story of the day.⁣
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📍@stfrancishall⁣
📷 @sotenderishumanity⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc

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There’s something really special about designing flowers for a venue that already feels immersed in the landscape around it.⁣
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At the Dockmaster Building, the water, sky, reflections, and light become part of the experience. The floor-to-ceiling glass and panoramic waterfront views create a setting that feels airy, modern, and completely different from the more traditional DC wedding venues we work in so often.⁣
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We loved leaning into that atmosphere for Claire & Sean`s wedding with flowers that felt organic, textural, and romantic without competing with the architecture or the view.⁣
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📍 Dockmaster`s Building @thewharfdc⁣
📷 @kir2ben⁣
🍽 @maineventcaterersdc⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
🍰 @fluffythoughts⁣
💄 @makeupbyanab⁣
📋 @idaroseevents