Classic, Garden Wedding, Glen Ellen Farm, Ijamsville

sleepingbeedesigns
7 days ago
4 min read

C&J are high school sweethearts who live and work in New Jersey. When it came time to have their wedding celebration after they got married at their local courthouse in January 2024, they hunted for a garden venue that allowed them to create an experience for their guests and elevate the garden party vibes.

After weeks of searching, they found Glen Ellen Farm! Sleeping Bee Designs has a special connection with this charming venue, and we absolutely adore working here, especially during the sunny months. Nestled in a picturesque valley, Glen Ellen Farm is surrounded by lush greenery and beautifully landscaped gardens that are lovingly cared for. One of the standout features is the serene spring-fed pond, which provides a stunning backdrop for any event. The historic manor house adds an extra touch of charm, serving as a perfect spot for the wedding party to relax before the big ceremony.

Our Role as Coordinators

Two days before the wedding, a beauty vendor called SBD and said they were no longer able to provide services because tragedy had struck their family. We gave them a virtual hug, said we'd handle it, and immediately called C&J, who were on their way to Maryland from New Jersey. After confirming that the beauty vendor was not able to perform any services, SBD started texting, calling, and emailing all of the vendors we knew who could provide the service. Yes, with a holiday approaching the next day (and one of our favorite holidays). After contacting eight different vendors, within just a couple of hours we were able to give C&J an affordable option that even offered to do a trial on a national holiday, the day before the wedding. We had to bring C&J's confidence back up, loop in a new vendor days before a wedding, and juggle the holiday craziness.

We all did it though, after working together. The ladies looked STUNNING, and we finished H&MU on time! This is the kind of pressure we live for and hope we never have to experience, but if it means we can help our clients and also support our trusted vendor community at the same time, it's worth it. We love our community of trusted vendors!

Collaboration with C&J

We had the opportunity to collaborate and brainstorm together while planning their escort wall. It was so important to us that everything was just right. We made sure the Etsy maker could meet all the requirements, that the paper airplanes were prepped correctly, and that they conveyed all the necessary information for the caterer's plated dinners. Plus, we focused on placing the wall in a spot that was both visible and interactive for all the guests to enjoy!

This meant that on the day of the team got to spend some time with flowers and put the escort card display together after the amazing team at White Glove Rentals put it together in the perfect place (mad props to them because it wasn't easy).

Here's a timelapse and Instagram reel of how we put it together (and fun fact...there were way more paper airplanes than what we said in this reel)!

But the work didn't stop there. Here are some of the other amazing details from C&J's epic day, many of which we got to set up and put together alongside the vendor team. The crisp summer sun was perfect for the white and green flowers, accents, and tablescapes. Peep those paper airplanes!

Their ceremony was HOT in every sense. The wedding party wore a stunning sage color that enhanced the beauty of the florals and the Glen Ellen landscape. To cool guests down just a little bit, guests arrived at the bottom of the hill to fresh Granita which was also super cool to watch! The parasols, a last-minute addition by SBD, were a hit with the guests. We were thrilled to offer them! They made the photos look extra chic. A string quartet played as the wedding party descended from the manor house in the hot summer sun.

For the SBD team, summer days spent outdoors can be quite the adventure! We want to ensure that our guests and vendors are feeling their best, so we keep an eye on hydration, sunscreen use, and the importance of taking breaks. Sometimes, that means we take a moment to recharge ourselves too, while also offering a helping hand whenever possible. We really believe that extra communication on a super hot wedding day is super important, especially since many of our guests are traveling from out of town.

We certainly won't forget this special day - there were happy tears, lots and lots of "cheers," and we truly enjoyed working closely with C&J.