All photos in this post, unless otherwise noted, are credited to Lara Rose Photography.

Some couples favor magnolias, hydrangeas, or peonies. But for Jessica and Max, who hold a strong love for all things Japanese, the cherry blossom had to take center stage in their Japanese Garden wedding.

After a long search for the perfect venue, Jessica and Max booked the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, a stunning venue with acres of gardens centered around a pristine lake. Located in Del Ray Beach outside of Miami, the museum was a dream setting for Jessica and Max. Before the ceremony, they had their first look deep within the garden and took a romantic stroll before saying “I do.”

In their save the dates and invitations, Jessica and Max wanted to bring a Japanese Garden to life. I started with original pastel illustrations of cherry blossoms, one of Jessica’s favorite flowers. This also drew in one of their primary wedding colors–soft pink. From there, I incorporated other elements of a Japanese garden. A river surrounded by cherry blossoms became the focus point for both the save the date and invitation. I added a dark green background to incorporate their second wedding color and to suggest a lush garden. Finally, the envelopes featured soft sand lines from a Japanese rock garden.

To further dress up the invitation, we added a vellum wrap with a wreath of cherry blossom sprigs framing a pink wax seal. Max particularly loved the wax seal and asked for a custom stamp with the design for later use. Never underestimate the joy that wax seals bring! The monogram we created for the wax seal was also featured on a projection at the reception.

In addition to save the dates and invitations, we created a full day-of stationery ensemble. Guests were asked to arrive a half hour before the ceremony, so we created a program to entertain everyone while they waited. Jessica and Max included a thank you message, an itinerary for the evening, and fun facts about themselves. This was a great way for them to share fun tid-bits and to connect with their guests before the wedding began!

We also created several signs to guide guests through the venue and to encourage them to leave advice on a Jenga block. A ceremony sign also invited guests to sit on either side of the aisle. 

Jessica and Max said their vows at sunset on Morikami’s lake shore beneath an arch of pink flowers. During the ceremony, musicians played the koto, a Japanese harp, while an exotic bird called from deep within the garden. Then, once their words of love were said, they had a fun recessional with bubbles!

A sit down dinner followed the ceremony. Bonsai trees and pink flowers made unique center pieces, and custom menus were tucked into the napkins. Escort cards and table numbers guided guests to their seats. The escort cards were color-coded according to the wedding colors and each guest's meal choice.

Once dinner was over, the real party began. Inside the museum’s visitor center, Jessica and Max rented comfortable furniture, a photo booth, and arcade games for guests to enjoy the rest of the night. Instead of a traditional first dance, Jessica and Max did a Dance Dance Revolution challenge to kick off the entertainment. Other games like Guitar Hero also ruled the night!

Finally, Jessica and Max ended the evening with a fiery send off and smiles on their faces.

Vendor Credits:

Photographer: Lara Rose Photography
Venue: Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
Wedding Stationery: Camellia Memories
Dress: Town & Country Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Kiss this Makeup
Florist & Furniture Rental: Daniel Events
Arcade Game Rental: Prime Time Amusements
Officiant: Arlene Goldman
Musicians: Yoshiko Carlton