The countryside met couture for Lena + Ben's beautiful estate wedding. The Short family holds a special place in SHE's heart, as five years ago we were also part of Ben's older sister, Sarah's, wedding at their gem of a property. When our friend's greenSinner called saying that Ben + his fiancé, Lena, were in town from their now home in Denver + starting to plan their big day, we were so happy to jump in. The Short family residence is stunning + so personal to their family...I mean who else's dad built a barn on their property for each of his kids to get married in? GOALS! The design challenge for Lena + Ben's wedding was to create a classically unique + ultra-chic vibe that was different than Ben's older sibling's weddings. And if we do say so ourselves, SHE did just that! Oh...did we mention it was also planned in less than 6 months?! *puts magic wand back in our pocket*
Right from the start, the invitations set the tone of the wedding. We contracted LePenn Designs who understood the assignment + designed a super chic black, white + nude invitation with the perfect custom monogram. Take note of each insert shape as you might just see those shapes used later on in the design of the wedding! (We are detail snobs after all, tuh!)
One thing that is always so special about weddings on the Short property is that the bridal party gets ready onsite. Lena + her girls were at the main house where Marie Miclot Makeup + Ritual Hair Company provided the glam. While Ben + his guys enjoyed a morning dip in the pool + then put on their suits. Lena was effortlessly stunning!
The weather could not have cooperated more for Lena + Ben. It was a beautiful day as guests arrived to celebrate! We'll never get over the scenic, picture-perfect view! The ceremony was held in the paddock behind the barn + greenSinner created a field of dreams starting with a half-moon of decadent flowers in the firepit leading up to the floral lined ceremony aisle + stunning asymmetrical altar.
Once the ceremony ended, guests made their way to cocktail hour by the pool with the view in tow. Guests passed the seating chart which resembled the shapes of each insert in the invitation. The placement of the seating chart is also special, as it is placed near the family tree that has significance with Ben + his siblings.
It is tradition in Short family weddings for the couple to make their entrance into cocktail hour by car. Lena + Ben chose the Defender as their entrance vehicle to represent their life in Denver and love for the great outdoors + hiking. I mean...name a cooler way to make your first entrance as husband + wife to all of your guests!
Once guests stepped inside the reception they were in awe! It was unexpected to have modern vibes opposed to rustic details to the barn. The mix of round + rectangular tables coinciding with different types of chairs + linens created a dynamic visual, not to mention the towering baby's breath clouds that were on every other table. And can we take a moment for the breathtakingly beautiful candle-lined, baby's breath + rose explosion of a head table in the middle of the barn! Lena + Ben had so many family + friends at their wedding that we had to have a tent attached to the barn to seat more guests. This made our design eyes sparkle with glee, as we were essentially tasked with creating two spaces that were same-same but different. The dreaminess of baby's breath in the barn flowed into the modern ribbons of ruscus + white florals in the tent.
When nightfall hit, the glow of candles + bistro lights in the barn created a romantic + cozy atmosphere as guests danced all night to the sounds of Studio E Band! It was truly a pleasure working with Lena, Ben + the entire Short family again. SHE is always honored when clients choose to include us in not one but two of their children's big moments! We love our legacy clients. We wish Lena + Ben a lifetime of love + unforgettable moments together!
What are your favorite details from this wedding? Comment below and check out the all-star vendor team behind the magic.
Planning: Shayla Hawkins Events
Venue: Private Residence
Photographer: Linnea Marie Photography
Caterer: FarmerxBaker
Floral Design: greenSinner
Linens: Mosaic
Rentals: All Occasions Party Rental
Band: Studio E
Stationery: LePenn Designs
Seating Chart: Speedpro Pittsburgh North
Makeup: Marie Miclot Makeup
Hair: Ritual Hair Company
Dress: Sarah Seven
Suit: J Crew
XO,
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