Believe it or not, this stunning Museum of Fine Arts Boston wedding wasn’t exactly what Danielle and Kyle originally planned.  After two postponements and a shift from spring to fall, this sophisticated, unique celebration finally came together into a magical event. As their Boston wedding planners, we were glad to be by their sides every step of the way.

Their story

Danielle & Kyle met while both attending Harvard University, and got engaged on a cozy winter’s night in 2019 in the Boston Public Garden. With Danielle’s residency as doctor starting in the early June of 2020, they had a limited number of dates to select from – or so they thought! The two moved quickly to secure a spring 2020 wedding.

With deep roots in their home city, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston was the perfect place to celebrate and welcome 250 guests into their beloved hometown. The two imagined a spring ceremony in the museum’s outdoor courtyard, followed by a natural garden-inspired reception inside the museum.

But when the pandemic hit two months before the big day, they postponed their large celebration to May 2021 and got married in an intimate ceremony in the backyard garden of Danielle’s childhood home in Beacon Hill. There, they said their vows alongside their most immediate family, followed by a meaningful dinner under garden bistro lights. Soon after, they postponed their large celebration again to November 2021, with high hopes that this would allow them to feel the same intimacy and magic with all of their friends and family.

Their new fall wedding at the MFA

While the wedding date and season may have changed from their original plans, the love story and warm feeling of community certainly remained.  The original garden celebration adapted into a “midnight in the garden” twist, full of personal and emotional details that made it a one-of-a-kind celebration.

On November 6th, 2021 they were able to hug and dance the night away with their loved ones by their sides, in the garden of their home city, just as always planned.

The warm welcome

They welcomed their loved ones to Boston with a local bag (supporting the Little Market non-profit charitable organization for women) full of local goodies and “The 100 Best Love Poems of All Time” book.

To create a magical garden inside the MFA, we lined the stairway to the ceremony with white roses, greens and candles. The floral installation became a photo backdrop for the wedding party and guests.

Following the ceremony, our floral team repurposed the stairway florals into wrapped mini-bouquets, gifted as favors for guests at the end of the evening.

Ceremony in the MFA Koch Gallery

The nature-forward ceremony space in the Koch Gallery featured angelic lighting, a garden-inspired chuppah and a candlelit aisle. Tucked into the chuppah were little memories of loved ones there in spirit, including Danielle’s grandmother’s handkerchief, her grandfather’s cufflinks and tie, her great grandmother’s pearl wedding bell and Kyle’s grandfather’s wedding ring and tie, his grandmothers bracelet and a piece of his grandmother’s wedding dress.

Emotional vows and a pre-recorded song by Danielle’s childhood nanny (who was unable to attend due to travel restrictions in the UK) made the ceremony extra special.

Cocktail Hour

Inspired by Danielle’s love of getting lost in a good book, a bookshelf centered during cocktail hour displayed custom letterpress bookmark escort cards with seating assignments and a love quote from Maya Angelou. The shelving also displayed their parents and grandparents’ heirloom wedding portraits, to honor the love stories that came before them.

Creating a Garden Reception in the Shapiro Courtyard

To recreate the beloved backyard garden intimacy of their 2020 minimony, three custom 12×12 canopies were built inside the Shapiro Courtyard reception space, draped with greenery, floral and bistro lighting.

Guests dined at white tables dressed with individual place cards, classic floral-patterned linens, sweet vintage-etched china and glassware, and letterpress menus with soft velvet ribbon.

The vintage floral pattern, used in their invitation suite and the day of details highlighted the sky-high walls of the Shapiro Courtyard to create a warm, inviting garden inside.

Guests danced the night away even before dinner, with a highlight being the Anniversary dance – where Danielle’s grandparents were celebrated on the dance floor for being married for 59 years.

Unexpected Extras

With golf as Kyle’s favorite pastime, “Larrow’s 19th Hole” mini golf area was an unexpected twist, a huge hit with guests and something never done at the art museum before!

To pay homage to their beloved city and the public garden where the two got engaged, the “Our Boston Garden” lounge featured soft-seating and a greenery wall for guests to relax and enjoy the night.

The “Kyle Runs on Dunkin / Danielle Runs on Dessert” station whimsically played off of the couple’s favorite vices.

At the end of the evening, the escort card bookshelf transformed into the “Flowers & Chocolate for Our Favorites” favor station, where their favorite local Salt Rock chocolates from Martha’s Vineyard and mini floral bouquets were given as take home treats.

Planners’ favorite details

The bride had told us she really wanted to ensure it didn’t feel like a gala or corporate event in the MFA’s expansive space. We loved bringing the outdoors in and creating interactive guest experiences and wow moments with florals. The floral design focused on making a large impact on the stairs and reception canopies, so guests would feel immersed in a garden. It felt so cozy in a space that can actually hold 500+ people!

We also loved bringing in a sense of humor and an element of whimsy to such a classic, classy event. The indoor mini golf was a huge hit with guests, and certainly brought in a touch of the whimsical and unexpected. The Dunkin’s table gave a funny flavor of local humor without distracting from the elegance of the reception.

• Are you considering your own Boston Museum of Fine Arts wedding?

 

Whim Events would love to be your wedding planners and designers, creating an event that is unique and personal to you.  Contact us for more information about our services.

Boston Museum of Fine Arts Wedding Vendors

Whim Events, Elizabeth LaDuca Photography, The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Catering by Restaurant Associates, Huxley Film, Fete Collection, Frost Productions, The Band Method – the Broadway Project Band, PEAK Event Services, Kadeema Rentals, La Tavola Fine Linen/BBJ, Borrowed Blu, Rockstar Limo, The Icing on the Cake, Lux Box Co, Perfect Parties, Boston String Quartet, KC Bridal Beauty, Bridesmaids in Amsale, Bride in Carolina Herrera from L’elite, Mother of the Brides Gown J. Mendel,  Groom and Groomsmen in The Black Tux.