Similarly to planning a wedding, the design of this outdoor wedding space was treated with the same creativity, detail, and seriousness necessary to craft a special and sustainable garden setting for brides and grooms to make lasting wedding day memories for years to come.

The program required the need to accommodate 200 guests for outdoor weddings during spring through fall, with opportunities for other private events and corporate events.  After evaluating the existing site conditions, the design took shape around the most practical flat area for guests, an existing slope to create a pronounced upper ceremony space, and the perfectly convenient geometry of 5 existing, healthy shade trees.  The 3 existing oaks on the north of the property and on the upside of the existing slope create the backdrop for the upper ceremony terrace, which is balanced on the central oak.  Two existing oaks on the near and far sides of the property create an almost perfect triangle with the central oak on the upper slope.  At the center of the triangle, the design’s main feature is the long, grand wedding aisle.  All other elements in the design play off of this geometry.

At the terminus of the aisle, an arched stair way ascends the grade to the upper ceremony (paver) terrace.  The stairs and upper terrace are supported by 2 arched retaining walls with architectural pillars.  The hardscape lower terrace patio (naturally the site’s flattest area) is bisected by the grand central aisle.  On either side of the aisle accommodates 100+ guests to fit the program requirement.  Seating/retaining walls that were necessary to preserve the existing, lower focal trees create additional opportunities for informal seating.   Natural stone retaining walls were used on the east side of the site to create a grass garden area for congregating.   Lastly, a simple circular patio area was created at the entryway to the wedding garden.  The entry garden is emphasized with the use of annual flowers and contemporary flower pots.

The microclimates that exist from the southern sun exposure, dappled shade created by existing shade trees, and hot temperatures from the nearby adjacent parking lot, presented both opportunities and challenges for the proposed plants.   A long row of tough, Techy Arborvitaes line the southern edge of the site, creating a crucial barrier between the wedding space and an adjacent parking lot.   Colorful annuals (bright red begonias) were planted beneath the lower focal trees to draw visual attention to the geometry of the design.  A subtle combination of white flowering Hydrangeas and Hakone grasses set a neutral backdrop for the upper ceremony terrace.   An arrangement of interesting shade perennials and native mountain laurel, viburnum, and rhododendron are placed throughout to offer multi-season color interest and structure.  With the right plant choices for the many growing conditions on the site, the garden is flourishing already in its young life.