Floral-filled Wedding at The Mansion on Forsyth Park

EMILY & JONATHAN

A Mansion on Forsyth Park Wedding

Savannah, Georgia

May 20, 2017

THE LOOK: Emily found her Temperley London gown while shopping with her mother at the brand’s flagship location in Notting Hill. The feminine design featured a delicate dotty tulle, figure-flattering silhouette, draped, off-the-shoulder sleeves and an ornately embroidered train for the perfect combination of whimsy and elegance. She wore her hair in a loose chignon that she accessorized with a floral-adorned headpiece and veil for the ceremony. Her bridesmaids each picked a white, knee-length dress of their choice which allowed their wildflower bouquets to pop. The men wore pale, blue-ish grey suits and ivory ties—a dapper choice for their May date. To round out their look, each sported an orange ranunculus boutonnière accented with a sprig of olive and a Guinea fowl feather. The feathers were collected from the famous flock of birds that troll Emily & Jono’s South of Broad neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina.

HOW THEY MET: Virginia natives, Emily Lawson & Jonathan “Jono” Dahl, both found themselves living in London when a mutual friend’s email suggested they connect. Curious to meet the woman from the email, Jono invited Emily to a house party her first week in the city and they’ve been inseparable ever since.

THE VENUE: When it came time to select a venue, the well-traveled couple turned to one of their favorite cities—Savannah, GA—to host their destination wedding. “Savannah’s such a lovely, historical and magical place that not everybody visits,” explains Emily, and they were excited to showcase the Georgia gem with their guests. They teed up Telfair Square, thanks to its moss-covered oaks and stunning architecture, for the ceremony site and booked The Mansion on Forsyth Park for the elegant, yet eclectic feel it would bring to their reception.

THE AESTHETIC: “The first thing we decided, very early on, was that we wanted beautiful flowers,” remembers Emily. The self-proclaimed flower enthusiasts decided on a diverse combo of color, texture, length, and size that they described as a “wild, yet elegant explosion of gorgeous flowers.” They combined the wide array of colors with an Italian villa vibe to create a refined, yet comfortable setting.

THE CEREMONY: The couple’s outdoor ceremony took place in Savannah’s historic Telfair Square where Harvey Designs introduced their floral-filled vision in grand style. To create the magical atmosphere, a pair of rustic French doors served as the entrance to the ceremony site where pink peonies, lilies, garden roses, and delphinium joyously hung overhead. The crowd of 230 found their seats in a mix of white church pews and wooden X-back chairs facing a vintage white mantle draped in a cheerful assortment of flowers, serving as the photo-worthy altar.

THE RECEPTION: The guests were transported to The Mansion on Forsyth Park by way of an open-air trolley, in hopes of making it easy for everyone to enjoy the festivities. They were escorted to The Marble Garden Courtyard for cocktail hour where Italian bruschetta and coconut shrimp made the rounds while the sounds of a live harpist played in the background. Inspired by the ornate chandeliers and gold detailing on display in The Viennese Ballroom, the couple turned to Tara Skinner Events to design a personalized reception with equal parts luxury and eclectic details. The end result combined bold blooms in antique silver vases, iridescent linens, and mercury glass details to create just the mood they had imagined. At the end of the evening, guests received “Bee’s Knees” cocktail sets which included London Gin—to represent the city where they met—Charleston flavored honey from Savannah Bee Company, as a nod to the city they lived in and the place they tied the knot, and Hubs Peanuts as an ode to their home state.

SAVANNAH WEDDING VENDORS

Ceremony Venue: Telfair Square ll Reception Venue: The Mansion on Forsyth Park ll Photographer: Izzy Hudgins Photography ll Event Planning: Tara Skinner Weddings & Events ll Floral Design: Harvey Designs ll Gown: Temperley London ll Bridesmaids Dresses: Assorted Designers ll Hair Stylist: ROBS at Drayton Tower ll Headpiece: Cleo Wade ll Cake: Savannah’s Hall of Cakes ll Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals & Design, Savannah Vintage Rentals ll Invitations: Dahlhouse Paper Co. ll Linens: BBJ Linen ll Transportation: Old Savannah Tours ll Ceremony Music: New Arts Ensemble ll Band: Emerald Empire

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