How to Create a Wedding that Feels Wintry and Wondrous: an Interview with Real Bride Logan Dryden Garner

“One thing that my mom always reminded me of during the planning process was, “your guests will not know what you did or didn’t do or what did or didn’t happen.” As a bride, you tend to think every single decision carries such weight but in the end, what matters are the things that make you happy.” -Logan Dryden Garner

“when I imagine a wedding that captures the essence of winter—that evokes its enchanting beauty-- I think of Logan’s.”

Today, I am honored to interview Logan Dryden Garner, a December 2016 bride, and poised and articulate guide on the discussion of winter weddings. With her trademark grace, Logan shares how brides can create a wedding that feels wondrous and wintry without going the route of traditional Christmas décor. She is the ideal person to turn to, for when I imagine a wedding that captures the essence of winter—that evokes its enchanting beauty-- I think of Logan’s.

I was fortunate enough to have designed Logan’s florals, but the beauty of her wedding day so completely transcended my role in it. For Logan achieved the feelings of wonder and enchantment we all long to feel, in December. Her wedding was classical, and at the same time, seasonal. The day itself felt as white as snow, as pure as hope. And the design, while timeless, had its moments of surprise and delight; playful touches that felt as thrilling as the waking up to the year’s first snow, or stumbling on some enchanted, winter wonderland. These unpredictable moments of beauty were enfolded in the context of timelessness and tradition, rendering them even more enchanting. Her wedding demonstrated such exquisite restraint and, at the same time, such an effervescent, joyful quality.

*The entire planning process was touched with the dignity and grace of her presence. Beauty was the only possible outcome of such a process.*
Beauty is by nature elusive, and can never be forced, but beauty, it has been said, reveals itself to those whom it can trust. And I believe God loves to give the gift of beauty to those gracious souls who look beyond their own experience to bless others.

Photography: Adair Photography

Before I turn to Logan, I would be remiss if I did not express that which made her wedding so special. Her wedding day was beautiful because it flowed from the beautiful and dignified planning process that preceded it. Every interaction I shared with Logan was characterized by sensitivity, kindness, decorum, and respect. The planning months were touched with the dignity and grace of her presence. Beauty was the only possible outcome of such a process. Of course, beauty is by nature elusive, and can never be forced, but beauty, it has been said, reveals itself to those whom it can trust. And I believe God loves to give the gift of beauty to those gracious souls who look beyond their own experience to bless others. It is with a debt of gratitude that I share this interview with you today—yet another example and extension of Logan’s generosity and grace. You will doubtless leave inspired by her example, and sparked and stirred by the wondrous beauty of winter.

Photography: Adair Photography

When I imagine an ideal bride, exuding grace under pressure, you are the exact image that comes to mind. How did you remain so poised, so serene, throughout the planning process?

It is kind of you to say that. I’m glad I portrayed that image but I definitely didn’t always feel poised. I was so excited to be getting married that I really tried to focus on the big picture and end result. We had a short planning window of six months and I realized that in order to accomplish everything and for me to remain sane, I needed to let the pros do their job and not micromanage each decision. I put my trust in my team and then I was able to really enjoy and be present in each decision and event. I didn’t fret the small things because I had a wonderland of talented people, like you, on my team.

“this is one of the few times in life when all the significant people from all parts of your life gather in one place.”

On a note related to the previous question, I once read that a beautiful bride is a kind bride. It seemed like a trite statement on the surface—but I’ve come to realize that it is in fact profound, for a kind bride is a gift. As a bride, you seemed genuinely more concerned for others than you were for yourself; devoted most of all to creating a lovely experience for your family and creative team. You never demanded on having the bridal experience all to yourself, but instead graciously gave that beautiful experience to others. It was an astonishingly selfless act, repeated continuously over months of planning. This is, of course, a reflection of your beautiful heart and innate elegance. However, do you have any tips for brides? How can couples escape the pressures, expectations, and desires for perfection? How can they shift their thoughts to others during a process that tends to be inherently self-serving?

One of the things that has always truly stood out to me about weddings is that it is one of the few times in life when all the significant people from all parts of your life gather in one place. They spend money, time, and effort to be there for you. It was important for me to acknowledge the people who gave up a busy December weekend to travel to Amarillo, Texas and be cold! Ross and I wanted to enjoy being with everyone and make them feel like their effort to celebrate us was worth it and that they felt appreciated and welcomed.

One thing that my mom always reminded me of during the planning process was, “your guests will not know what you did or didn’t do or what did or didn’t happen”. As a wedding guest you always remember certain aspects of a wedding that made you smile but you don’t remember every detail. As a bride you tend to think every single decision carries such weight but in the end, what matters are the things that make you happy. Perfection is the moment they pronounce you man and wife, everything else is just extra. Pick a few things that are really important to you and focus on those rather than every little detail.

I’ve always had a love for wedding etiquette; my favorite wedding books were written decades ago and are full of old-fashioned lessons and gems, like the art of writing the perfect wedding ‘thank you’ letter. These lessons remind me of you, as you wrote beautiful letters, including one I keep in a cherished place, where I revisit and re-read it often. You are an exceptionally poised person always, but did you take an interest in any kind of formal wedding etiquette? What did you learn about hosting and etiquette while you were planning your wedding?

My grandmother was an Emily Post devotee. I did buy and read Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette in her honor as we were planning. It helped me be reminded of some of the common courtesies when planning for a wedding. I wanted to make sure that I handled certain circumstances such as feeding the band, tipping vendors, inviting guests, and feeding guests in a way that was thoughtful and appropriate. My grandmother and mother also have always stressed the importance of “thank you”. All those people are there for you and to help make your day special. As a bride, your actions can make or break an experience for so many. I wanted every single person to feel appreciated. I figured if Emily Post told me so, I was safe!

I often find that winter brides want their weddings to feeling wintry and wondrous without necessarily going the route of traditional Christmas décor. Your wedding effortlessly achieved this! How did you create the feeling of winter ethereality and enchantment in terms of color palette, style, and décor choices?

Above left & right: Photography by Adair Photography

Logan: I have always wanted a winter wedding but struggled as I didn’t want the wedding to scream ‘Christmas.’ I saw a picture on a random wedding website of these beautiful balls of babies breath hanging from the ceiling rafters. That image really stayed with me and became the focal point for what we planned around. The winter white palette took off from there.

“We just had to have faith that, at the end of the day, we would be married, and whoever could be there, would.”

Were there any difficulties planning a wedding somewhat close to Christmastime—any extra guest considerations, any need to plan around seasonal parties or travel?

Getting married in Amarillo, Texas in December is risky. 90% of our guests were from out of town and one bad ice storm could have derailed everything. We had to just have faith that at the end of the day we would be married and whoever could be there, would. If you are an anxious natured person, I might advise you to plan a wedding when the weather is safer to make that less of a concern.

Photography: Adair Photography

How did you channel that magical winter feeling and seasonal beauty through floral choices, menu, cake flavor, and even cocktail and drink menu? Was seasonality important to you, or were you willing to sacrifice some seasonal flavor for more timeless, classic choices?

My vision was to create a balance where we worked with and acknowledge the season but still kept a classic and traditional feel. We used the flowers and greenery that were in season. The garland filled tables were such a perfect nod to the season without feeling like Christmas. Another fun seasonal touch was the hot chocolate bar, something for the young and old to enjoy.

Photography: Adair Photography

I also loved how you approached both the wedding ceremony and reception, and how these two events complemented one another. Your ceremony preserved the most beautiful traditions, as you married in a formal ceremony in a beautiful church sanctuary. There was this wonderful sense of reverence and decorum. And then the reception felt transporting, like a dream. It had an element of fun and whimsy while still feeling exquisite and formal. The pacing of the ceremony and reception, the buildup to the magical moment of walking into the ballroom, was so intelligent. Was this deliberate planning on your part-- or are you just a natural?!

I wish I could take credit for this. The Episcopal Wedding Ceremony by nature is beautiful and traditional. With the decor, you took my vision and ran with it in a way I never imagined possible. You created a classic winter wonderland that was both elegant and fun. It all goes back to the guest experience. I wanted it to feel elegant but not stuffy. For people to feel taken care of but to have the freedom to sit where they want, eat what they want and just enjoy the evening. I didn’t want anything to feel forced.

Logan’s flower girls wore halos of angelic baby’s breath. The idea was to create something whimsical, like a crown out of a storybook. As sweet and dreamlike as freshly fallen snow. Photography by Adair Photography.

Where did you find your initial wedding inspiration? Where would you encourage brides to look for that spark of inspiration and beauty?

That one photo I mentioned earlier— a photo in bride’s magazine of baby’s breath snowballs— caught my eye. There is beauty and inspiration everywhere and I’d encourage all brides to save photos and ideas and share with your planner and florist. It’s amazing what collaboration and inspiration that just one photo or idea can spur.

Behind the scenes of Logan’s wedding production. These glimpses from my studio remind me of days filled with lily of the valley, stephanotis, Christmas evergreens, Bowl of Cream and Boule de Neige peonies. We listened to Christmas hymns and songs that created an angelic atmosphere, with Logan’s floral chandeliers hanging aloft, like clouds, and her pure white flowers everywhere. For Logan’s sister, I made an intricate, princess bouquet; we wondered whether to name her Diana or Kate. (Logan’s bouquet was, of course, the Queen.) There were cups of coffee & dark chocolate bars consumed well past midnight, and much discussion of the perennial popularity of Josh Groban’s Christmas album (as well as my childhood and, let’s be honest, perennial crush on him— but I digress). A beautiful flurry of activity. For weeks afterwards, I found stems of baby’s breath stuffed in my coat pockets— a funny and poignant reminder of the days when Logan’s wedding took shape. Looking back, it was the beginning of my career, and I was beside myself with nerves, a bundle of fear and performance anxiety. How could I have made it without the kindness of this bride, and of her lovely family?

Creating the Diana bouquet (or shall we call her Catherine?)

Did you plan any fun winter fashion accessories? Any tips for creating the ultimate winter bridal and/or bridesmaid look?

I wore my grandmother’s white stole to keep warm. It was a sweet nod to her as she is no longer with us and I didn’t have to be cold. I’m not a fashionista by any means and after being in so many weddings, I didn’t want to force my bridesmaids to purchase a one-size fits all dress. I told them to pick a long dress in a silver palette. It allowed them to find something that fit their body and personality but still kept the feel of uniformity. Another thing we decided to do was instead of having the bridesmaids carry a bouquet, to have them wear a floral cuff that you designed.

If you could give brides permission to skip one ‘unnecessary’ thing or tradition-- to take one task off their plates-- what would it be?

I think there are certain wedding traditions that as a bride and groom you can do without if it is something you aren’t interested in. As a single woman, I had been to so many weddings where you get pushed onto the floor to catch the bouquet and I always felt so awkward in that moment so we skipped the bouquet and garter toss at our wedding. I don’t think anyone noticed or missed it.

In lieu of bridesmaids’ bouquets, Logan and I planned floral cuff bracelets. In keeping with Logan’s classic style, these felt streamlined and sophisticated, and at the same time, unexpected, in the best way. More like a fashionable accessory to complement her maids’ gowns than an obligatory wedding item!

Did you enjoy creating your wedding registry? What are, in your opinion, the essentially registry items for the classic, timeless bride? Are there any you wish you had included but didn’t think of at the time, in retrospect?

I LOVED creating a registry and each gift made me so giddy. I still pull things out to use and I think of the person who gifted it to us. I would encourage brides to register for things they need - but to also add a few pieces for the future. The 25- year-old and the 45- year-old me will be dining and entertaining in very different ways. You want to make sure you have the things you need for every day but also think about hosting in the future and get enough plates, bowls, and silverware for a growing family or a friend gathering.

Exactly one year later, I had the pleasure of recreating Logan’s garlands for her mother’s home. The heirloom-worthy quality of Logan’s choices continued to live on, well past her wedding day.

Are there any items from your wedding you want to pass down to your family for future weddings—any heirloom items you’d like to see become a ‘something borrowed?’

My veil was purchased by my mother and aunts on a trip to Italy. I was the first bride to wear it and I hope that it gets worn again and again in our family. It was truly breathtaking.

What was the most beautiful part of your wedding day—the thing that will live you with forever?

Seeing all those people gathered for us. I couldn’t believe how far some of our guests traveled just to attend our wedding. It was so special to see so many people we cared about from all the different stages of our lives gathered together. It was really humbling.