This Greenery-Filled Horticulture Center Wedding is a Modern Garden Fantasy

Photographs by Emily Wren Photography

The Fairmount Park Horticulture Center is one of Philly’s most well-known wedding venues, so we’re always delighted to come across a wedding that interprets the space in a fresh, exciting way. Sometimes, the freshest way is the simplest way — which is precisely why we love this streamlined, greenery-filled celebration. By pairing air plants with rustic tables and modern acrylic signage, this summer wedding takes the traditional garden decor theme and updates it for 2017. Take a look for yourself in the photos below by Emily Wren Photography.

Heidi Yun and Guirae Jang both moved to Philadelphia at the same time (2013) for the same reason (grad school), but they didn’t move together. Their paths first crossed on a weekend trip with mutual friends, and then again at orientation. “He had weird hair and talked too much,” remembers Heidi; Guirae’s most poignant memory of those early days is Heidi’s “cute smile.”

After a year of close friendship, a conversation about the possibility of two of their close friends dating morphed into a conversation that lead to the start of their own romantic relationship. Guirae was already regularly spending holidays with Heidi’s Mount Laurel-based family because his own was in California, so they informed Heidi’s parents of the change in their relationship status before even going on their first official date (which happened at Vedge one week later).

Two years later, the coffee-shop-loving couple was headed to Ox Coffee in Queen Village for a Saturday evening caffeine jolt. Upon arrival, Heidi noticed a sign that said the backyard was “closed for renovations,” but didn’t think much of it. Guirae excused himself to “use the restroom,” so one of the employees Heidi was friendly with suggested she go check out the progress that had been made in the backyard space. Heidi didn’t see the point, but her friend was insistent — especially because Guirae was taking an unusually long time to return. When Heidi stepped into the backyard, she found the space adorned with flowers — and Guirae waiting to ask her to be his wife. Heidi said yes, and cried “ugly tears” all the while — especially when her four best friends ran out from behind some trash cans to surprise her.

“We love Philadelphia, and wanted to have all of our vendors be local to Philadelphia,” says Heidi of their June wedding at Fairmount Park Horticulture Center. “But what’s more amazing is that [floral vendor] Love ’n Fresh Flowers grew all of the flowers she used in our wedding in the city!”

The modern garden vibe of the day was accented with on-trend acrylic signage and plenty of greenery. Heidi loves woodworking, so the couple made the standing seating chart, and Heidi calligraphed all their friends and family’s names herself. The groom’s favorite detail of the day was the sweetheart table — “We loved the charm and character of the pieces from Maggpie, and we felt so cozy being together but also amongst our family and friends,” he says — and the the most touching moment of the wedding for both the groom and bride was when, per Korean tradition, they bowed to both sets of parents after exchanging vows.

The couple danced to “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele for their first dance, and later cut into a champagne cake with vanilla buttercream. They honeymooned in Riviera Maya, Mexico, then returned home to their East Falls residence, where Guirae is in business development, and Heidi is a counselor.

VENDORS
Photography: Emily Wren Photography | Venue: Fairmount Park Horticulture Center | Floral Designer: Love ’n Fresh Flowers | Furniture Rentals: Maggpie Rentals | Catering: Starr Catering Group | Cake: Nutmeg Cake Design | Bride’s Gown: Carol Hannah from Lovely Bride | Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Hair & Makeup: The Jekyll & Hyde Co. | Groom’s Tux: Ralph Lauren Purple Label | Videographer: Overflow Studio | Invitations: Elijah Park (friend of the bride) | Favors: Weckerly’s ice cream sandwiches | Photo Booth: The Little Picture Photo Booth

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