Natural Chemistry: Robyn and Branden

When our bride Robyn came to us we were so excited by her enthusiasm for her wedding, and her desire to do something unique and different. We love brides who are willing to trust us and have fun with their special day. Being an elementary science teacher, it seemed only natural that we create a wedding for the bride that depicted some of her background with the elements of the earth and the chemistry she had found with her true love. Our minds wandered to beakers and test tubes, organic succulents, Bunsen burners and all of the natural components of chemistry and life science.

For Robyn and Branden’s ceremony, Robin Mathis of Twigg Botanicals created an altar like no other. Fashioned from bamboo and twigs and adorned with orchids and amaranthus, the ceremony structure featured single stems of purple allium in suspended test tubes that appeared to be floating above the bride and groom.

In lieu of a traditional unity candle ceremony, the bride and groom each had a mason jar filled with soil they poured into a potted plumeria tree and then watered together, symbolizing the roots of their relationship and the growth that was sure to come with the nurturing of their new marriage. Their love plant, now in their home, serves as a daily reminder of the vows they made to each other.

For cocktail hour, guests were welcomed with ice cold glasses of “punch drunk love,” “love bird lemonade” and “H20.”

Guests left love notes and words of wisdom on a vintage typewriter before searching the “science lab” for their table assignments. The escort cards were placed in corked test tubes that sat in trays of various minerals and elements.

All of the beautiful shots and fun details were captured amazingly by Jimmy Bishop of Gideon Photography. He was great to work with and also did Robyn and Branden's adorable engagement shoot.




The periodical chart found it’s way onto the table names with subtle images that hinted toward the different elements. In keeping with the feel of life science, the centerpieces were composed of organic succulents, drift wood, protea, cobra lilies, orchids and moss with subtle touches of feathers, creating textural biospheres at each table. Beakers filled with natural minerals held the periodic table names.

We worked with Brightly Designed to create the periodic table names, test tube escort cards and candy station signs. The paper elements really helped to tie everything together!

I love, love, loved the purple tulle in Robyn's dress. It was such a sublte touch but really added a fun splash of color!

The periodic elements were also carried over to the molecular sugar table – or the candy station for you non science people. Playing upon the elements, we used things such as candy bananas to depict the K for potassium, gold foiled chocolates for Au, salt water taffy for sodium and bubble gum to represent helium. Candy bag labels crafted by Brightly Designed, featured complex molecular structures and read “bonded for life.”

The evening was full of entertainment, dancing and a surprise performance by the groom who rocked the house with his trombone. As for one final element of the night, fireworks and sparklers showered the couple as they headed off on their tandem bicycle along the ocean shore.

Robyn and Branden: you guys were so much fun to work with! We wish your many, many years of love and happiness as your love plant continues to grow.