1. Real Weddings

A Lush and Whimsical Wedding at John James Audubon Center in Audubon, Pennsylvania

Heather Hughes (31 and an art history doctoral candidate) and Robert Hoffman (30 and a philosophy professor) wed under a rustic, birchwood arch in the

Heather Hughes (31 and an art history doctoral candidate) and Robert Hoffman (30 and a philosophy professor) wed under a rustic, birchwood arch in the middle of an apple orchard. Both the ceremony and reception were at the John James Audubon Center in Audubon, Pennsylvania, 30 minutes from Philadelphia, where the couple met. The historic stone house on the property, Mill Grove, was once the home of naturalist and painter John James Audubon—the ideal spot for the couple’s interests in art and animals. Belovely Floral and Event Design of Ambler, Pennsylvania, provided sweetly romantic floral arrangements and wooden features like picture frames that held the table assignments and the large welcome sign that sat at entrance of the outdoor ceremony area. —Allie Volpe

Drawing inspiration from John James Audubon's early watercolor work, Heather and Robert's invitations featured delicate navy watercolor.
Navy Bridesmaid Dresses and Gray Groomsmen Suits
Pops of white blooms, like dahlias, filled the whimsical bridesmaid bouquets that offset the dark navy of their dresses.
Lush greenery lined the wooden welcome sign, provided by Belovely. Romantic white folding chairs were situated in an apple orchard for the ceremony.
The birchwood arch under which the couple were married was adorned with eucalyptus, rose, dahlia and greenery, inspired by Heather's experience in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where she lived for two years. "Floral arrangements in the Netherlands are often very textured and I wanted to bring that aesthetic to the wedding," she says.
Newlyweds' First Kiss Under Birch Wedding Arch
Cocktail Hour Appetizer Buffet
Table assignments were kept in spray-painted gold frames. The floral arrangements comrpised eucalyptus, rose, dahlia and greenery.
The couple's signature cocktails included Heather's, Dark 'n Spicy, a play on the dark and stormy but with Jamaican allspice flavoring, playing to her Jamaican heritage, and Robert's Old Fashioned and Manhattan combination.
Each of the wedding's 85 guests were treated to hand-packed gold containers of loose-leaf earl grey tea.
Inside the grounds' 19th-century stone barn, several large farm tables were arranged under romantic string lights. A number of floral arrangements featuring greenery and white roses lined each table.
During the cocktail hour, one of the National Audubon Society's rescued birds, a petite eastern screech owl named Samuel Adams, visited the couple.
First Dance Under Barn's String Lights
In addition to a traditional Jamaican wedding cake, baked by Heather's grandmother and aunt, guests could also feast on apple, pumpkin or pecan pies.