1. Real Weddings

A Simple, Nature-Inspired Wedding at The Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio

This unity of love had the birds singing, literally. The sounds and sights of the natural surroundings outside at The Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Oh

This unity of love had the birds singing, literally. The sounds and sights of the natural surroundings outside at The Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio, created an ideal ambience for Christine Cassella (29 and a biologist/herbalist) and Mike Bennett's (34 and a nurse practitioner) simple, intimate wedding. “I have grown up going to Holden both with my family and by myself for picnics, hiking and communion with nature,” Christine says. “It's one of my favorite spots to see spring wildflowers and butterflies and embrace the beauty of nature.” The couple were married outside at a willow branch arbor, followed by the cocktail hour on the patio that overlooked the landscaped gardens and surrounding woodland, captured by Martello Photography. The indoor dinner reception was decorated in a simple color palette of sage, lavender and yellow, from the sage green calligraphy for table numbers to the yellow and lavender centerpieces filled with hydrangeas and roses, arranged by Avalon Gardens. Candles adorned the dining tables as well to create a warm, welcoming space for friends and family. We especially loved the bride’s choice of wedding attire for the day, which embodied the natural color palette in a simple style. Her strapless ivory wedding dress was accented with a sage green silk sash, and the yellow rose and baby’s breath flower crown was a nice touch to the overall look.

For the ceremony, Christine and Mike exchanged wedding rings made of wood that they had custom-designed. The rings were designed by Simply Wood Rings in Chicago, Illinois. This went along with their the other eco-friendly details seen throughout the wedding, such as Mike's suit, which was made entirely out of hemp fibers.
Christine wore a simple strapless dress on the day of the wedding, which was purchased from Brides by the Falls. Christine wore her dress with a sage green silk sash, which she wore to match Mike's sage green tie. To add a natural touch, Christine wore a flower crown of yellow roses mixed with baby's breath.
Christine and Mike stood at the altar shaped by the branch wedding arch and were married outside at The Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio, by their officiant. Christine wore a sage green sash with her ivory wedding dress, which matched Mike's tie. "I wanted something simple but elegant, and I wanted to bring in a little thematic color," Christine says. "I wore a sage green sash that matched my husband's tie and our wedding colors."
Christine held her lush ivory, green and purple bouquet that was filled with roses and lavender accented with leaves, which was arranged by Avalon Gardens. The bouquet matched Mike's boutonniere, which was made of purple and ivory roses accented with greenery. The couple matched in wedding attire through Christine's sage sash and Mike's sage tie.
The reception dinner was held inside the Lantern Court Arcade at The Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio. Round dining tables were dressed in white linens and set with antique dinnerware covered in paper. Yellow and purple flower centerpieces decorated the middle of the tables, which were made up of roses accented with eucalyptus and other greenery.
A single ivory candle was surrounded by purple and yellow roses accented with eucalyptus and greens. These pieces that embodied the natural wedding day color palette served as centerpieces for the dining tables. A table number was positioned at the front of the arrangements, which had sage green calligraphy written on ivory stationery. Smaller white candles were scattered around the centerpieces, creating a warm, welcoming glow inside the reception space.
Christine wore a flower crown made of yellow roses and baby's breath on her wedding day, which complemented the natural look of her ivory wedding dress accented with a sage green sash. For their first dance, Mike took off his black suit jacket and wore his white-collared dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up.