Rustic
Wheat, a timeless symbol of weddings and fertility, makes a modern yet romantic style statement. We ordered dried bundles for our pair of low, weathered containers. (With no worries about wilting or refrigeration, you could do this several weeks before the wedding.) Then we wired together a group of sandblasted manzanita branches, creating a massive "chandelier" for the doorway, and scattered hay over the steps for a thoroughly organic entry.
Site: Faith Chapel, Jekyll Island, GA.
Fantastic
Bring on the bubbles. Working with faux grapevine (for strength), we first wove individual basketlike holders for a dozen six- and eight-inch bubble bowls, then wired the holders together to form two clusters, one slightly larger than the other. We festooned the supporting lamp chain with prewired crystal garlands and glass ornaments, and used it as the base for the bubble clusters and a ring of green hypericum berries. Finally, we poured a few inches of water into the bowls and floated tea lights.
Site: Faith Chapel, Jekyll Island, GA.
Formal
Inspired by the decorative medallions found in colonial interiors, these twin wreaths strike a sophisticated note. The spiky backs were made from palmetto leaves; we used densely packed hypericum berries for the green exteriors, and filled the centers with sweet-smelling stephanotis (a pearl-tipped pin holds each flower head precisely in place). The pair of finials are balls of boxwood embellished with green roses; wide satin ribbons provide the final polish. Ribbon, by Midori, midoriribbon.com.
Site: St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Darien, GA.
Wintry
In the case of humble ingredients, more is more. Here, one of the world's least-expensive flowers, baby's breath, is massed in stone pots and above the door like mounds of snow. To fill the transom arch, we made an upside-down wooden T and placed it on the existing ledge. After wiring florist's oasis to the T, we stuffed in layer after layer of baby's breath. With white rose petals on the ground, the effect is a floral blizzard. Planters, by Campo de Fiori, campodefiori.com.
Site: St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church, Darien, GA.
Beachy
This maritime bower channels the sound of the surf. The infrastructure is a metal chain from a hardware store, hung above the door (we anchored it to an overhead lamp) and nailed to each side of the arch. Starting at the top, we worked our way down each side, loading the chain with small driftwood twigs, sturdy lifelike foliage, Spanish moss, and seashells. (The last were attached to pipe cleaners with silicone glue, then twisted into the garland.) Scatter some sand on the steps, et voilà! Shells, from Loose Ends, looseends.com.
Site: Lovely Lane Chapel, St. Simons Island, GA.
Springy
Tulips, hydrangea, and pansies—what could be more evocative of the season of renewal? We used an existing light-fixture chain to suspend the oversize kissing ball, made by inserting hydrangea stems through a globe of chicken wire into a core of florist's oasis. Classic springtime blooms fill the flower boxes that flank the doorway; flats of wheatgrass define the walkway. The finishing touch: hundreds and hundreds of pink and white rose petals cascading down the steps.
Site: Faith Chapel, Jekyll Island, GA.
Classical
Decorating with architectural forms like obelisks and spheres may sound chilly, but when they're covered with lush green bay leaves and placed around a carpet of moss, the result is sophisticated whimsy. The hidden beauty of this decor is ease: The topiaries and runner are prefabricated, meaning one phone call and the entire set-up was ours. (After the wedding, the pieces can live a second life, indoors.) Topiaries and moss carpet, from West Haven Designs, westhavendesigns.com.
Site: St. Simons Presbyterian Church, St. Simons Island, GA.
