Wedding Planner's Two-Part Celebration in Tulsa

A wedding planner chose a two-part celebration for her own marriage, holding a formal ceremony and dinner for 50 guests on a Thursday before a larger party on Saturday. She split the events to fully enjoy each moment and spend more time with guests, according to a first-person account published on Style Me Pretty.

The planner selected two distinct venues in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Thursday ceremony and dinner took place at Philbrook, embracing a garden theme with a modern edge. The Saturday party was held at La Fortune Studio in downtown Tulsa. She wanted a fluid design connecting both events, opting for a deep color scheme of olive green, chartreuse, and coral to stand out from trending pink-and-green weddings.

Fashion and Attire

For the Thursday ceremony, the bride wore an Anne Barge Rinaldo gown with a floral pattern and a detachable train, which she removed after the vows. She accessorized with green wedding shoes. For the Saturday celebration, she changed into a colorful Simon Miller dress, which she described as fun and perfect for the party vibe.

Food, Drink, and Details

Catering played on the Tuscan-inspired setting of Philbrook. The couple hired a favorite Italian restaurant. During cocktail hour, servers passed appetizers and made fresh mozzarella at a station. The seated dinner began with a beet carpaccio salad, followed by chicken frascati, table-side alfredo, and spicy paccheri alla vodka.

Bartending was handled by Fig & Foundry, known for craft cocktails. The signature drinks were a Lavender Paloma and a Bee's Knees. The bar used distinctive glassware, preset on a custom-wrapped tiered stand during cocktail hour before opening for the night.

Florals, Decor, and Rentals

The planner stated that rentals and florals transform a space. She selected new items, including black Milano chairs from Marianne's Rentals, which provided a stark contrast. Table settings featured smoke glassware, tiger pearl flatware, and pearl-textured dinnerware. Chartreuse floral place cards from Inviting Place added a pop of color.

Florals were provided by Poppy Lane. The same color scheme and flower types were used for both events, with new blooms added for the Saturday party to create a twist. The moody, mid-century venue on Saturday required fewer decorations, with focus placed on a custom band stage and dance floor.

Special Touches and Logistics

A classic almond and raspberry wedding cake provided a colorful accent against olive green draping. The bride walked down the aisle to a string quartet version of "Ordinary" by Alex Warren. The groom's father officiated the ceremony.

Several unique details personalized the weekend. A saxophonist led guests from the Thursday ceremony to dinner, playing interactively. For the Saturday party, the couple used a custom marble pattern, curated with the bride's cousin, artist Meg Biram. This pattern appeared on save-the-date liners, the dance floor, and printed materials. Custom scarves featuring icons meaningful to the couple were used for the Thursday send-off and as a dance floor accessory on Saturday.

The planner concluded that the split format allowed for a full weekend event where every moment could be savored.