Lawrence and Darrell's Big Gay Wedding

We were thrilled when Lawrence and Darrell asked Fiori Floral Design to do the flowers for their wedding. Lawrence and the owner have been friends for over 20 years and no one was happier that he was marrying the love of his life. 

When the Fiori team met with the couple to discuss their wedding flowers, they did not have specific ideas about what flowers they wanted, but they wanted them to be very personalized to their personality and the reception space. Woodsy and modern were a recurring theme. Perhaps sculptural?  There is a lot of wood and metal at the venue; can you incorporate that? Darrell looked around the studio and pointed out a few flowers that he liked – “I like those orchids but do they come in purple?” 

And that was the amount of instruction that we had. So that is what we started with, purple orchids and both woodsy and modern; very dissimilar ideas.  Industrial and sculptural.  And orchids...

And it all had to work with what was to be a very personalized wedding and reception for two superhero loving geeks that included Lord of the Rings wedding bands, vows that they wrote themselves, multiple food trucks and a charcuterie table, specialty cocktails and beer, a rainbow cake and a Death Star piñata. Challenge accepted. 

The Invitations

The Boutonnieres

Lord of the Rings Inspired Wedding Bands

Darrell's Super Hero Shoes

Waiting in the wings...

Lawrence and Darrell's self-written vows had everyone alternately in stitches...

And had them in tears.

Two grooms are better than one.

For the reception, we created a large, sculptural centerpiece with driftwood for the charcuterie table. We wanted something big and dramatic; a real focal point for the room. We created a base of moss with succulents and ferns and inserted Catteleya and Lady Slipper orchids. Additional succulents draped down the sides of the driftwood.  Staghorn ferns and airplants added additional greenery.  Additional Cattelya and Japhet orchids and whole stems of Phalaenopsis orchids added splashes of color.

Our goal was to create something that guest would talk about.  The result made the grooms cry (in a good way!).

The focal point of the main room.

Another View

Focal sculpture detail

The centerpieces expanded on the theme of the focal sculpture; incorporating Phalaenopsis or Japhet and Catteleya orchids, accented with succulents, and airplants.  Each was set on a square of galvanized metal to add an industrial feeling and then finished with moss and crushed purple glass.

Centerpiece Detail

Signature Cockatils

Cocktail Spices and Beer Sauces allowed for personalization of your beverage

Food trucks offered both savory and sweet meal options

Speeches from friends of the groom's added much levity

The charcuterie table became a dessert table later in the evening

The cake knife is engraved with the names and marriage dates all of the couples who have used it

A Big Gay Wedding needs a rainbow cake!

The Star Wars Death Star piñata

The piñata celebrated the groom's love of all thing geeky and made sure even the youngest guests were included

Venue: WithinSodo 
Wedding Planner: Jenny Harding, New Chapters Weddings and Events 
Photography: Erica Sciarretta with Sorella Photos 
Additional photos are on our website