J + D – Omaha

To peak guests’ anticipation for the wedding celebration, we designed the traditional-style invitation with an unexpected color palette that incorporated cool water tones – soft blues, seafoam, deep blue-green – with warm tones to invoke an anticipation of Autumn – crimson, blush, and golden bronze. Our graphic designer created a floral pattern with delicate grout lines to mimic the intricate tile mosaics incorporated into many fountain designs. The pattern was utilized throughout the wedding design including the envelope liner of the invitation.

Guests were greeted with champagne and petite ceremony programs secured with handmade silk ribbon as they walked up Joslyn Art Museum’s grand staircase to the ceremony.

The fountain in the Storz Fountain Court at the Joslyn serves as the room’s centerpiece. Moravian floor tiles include symbols for literature, music, architecture, and painting – all passions of George Joslyn to whom the building is dedicated. Hand-crafted ceramic tiles and a thunderbird motif adorn the fountain.

To complete the ceremony design, we brought in warm fruitwood chairs, linen-like draping to soften the venue’s tile and marble, and a raised altar accented with floral. Jill and David’s entourage of flower girls and ring bearers tossed pennies and warm wishes for the bride and groom into the fountain as they processed up the aisle.

Lauritzen Gardens, the reception site, has several water features on display. The fountain, situated outside the front doors of the visitor center is a tribute to Helena Street who launched the idea to build the botanical gardens in 1982.

We created two main focal areas in the Gardens for cocktail hour. The lower level of The Floral Display Hall featured a 14 foot diameter custom round bar painted a deep Rocky River green and inset with custom wallpaper panels. The round bar shelf housed glassware and supported a dramatic floral arrangement. The far end of the Hall was anchored by the band’s stage built under a custom wooden pergola that was painted to match the bar. Fresh floral and green vines were arranged on the pergola to give it a natural, garden-like feel.

The opposite end of The Floral Display Hall featured a massive custom wall with shelving for the escort display. The shelves were inset with wallpaper to complement the bar. Intricate escort cards were embellished with handmade mini flower bouquets that added depth and delicacy to the calligraphy table assignments. Two soft seating areas were positioned in front of the escort display to create an intimate and cozy area for guests to converse and take a break from the dance floor. Chocolate pennies in an antique compote were placed on a side table as a whimsical nod to the fountain inspiration.

The dining tables were dressed in a light blue linen with embroidered flourishes that resembled water shooting out from a fountain. Formal place settings included gold accents, and velvet table numbers complemented the ornate shape of the presentation plates.

Guests returned to The Floral Display Hall for dancing. As an entertaining surprise for guests, hawking trays with embroidered ribbon straps were filled with mini pizzas packaged in letterpress boxes.