Two Iconic Dallas Spaces, One Unforgettable Wedding
Bold Color, Joyful Details, and a Day That Felt Like Pure Magic
Some weddings make you hold your breath for the right reasons. Chelsea and Alex’s wedding at the Dallas Arboretum was one of them. With a morning ceremony at the iconic McCasland Sunken Garden at the Dallas Arboretum and a family style brunch reception at Sixty Vines, their day was a celebration of color, joy, and the kind of love that makes this work as a wedding planner genuinely feel like a privilege.
From the florals to the finishing details, every element of this wedding reflected exactly who they are: vibrant, fun, and completely themselves.
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden spans 66 acres along White Rock Lake and is one of the most breathtaking natural spaces in the city. But its story stretches back much further than most people realize.
The land itself has deep roots. The property sits on two historic estates: DeGolyer Estate and Alex Camp House. Both were built in the late 1930s along the southeast shore of White Rock Lake. In 1974, a group of visionaries passionate about preserving nature and history formed the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society, Inc. and began laying the groundwork for what would eventually become the Arboretum. The City of Dallas acquired the DeGolyer Estate from Southern Methodist University. By 1980, the society had raised enough to purchase the adjacent Camp property as well. The combined 66 acres were formalized in 1982, and the gardens opened to the public in 1984.
Today, the Arboretum is home to 19 named gardens. It’s consistently recognized as one of the top botanical gardens in the country. The Sunken Garden, in particular, is a wedding ceremony setting unlike any other. It features a natural amphitheater framed by mature plantings, stone architecture, and meticulously curated garden views in every direction.
Why Couples Love Weddings at the Arboretum
What makes this space so special for weddings is how fully immersive it is. Guests find themselves surrounded by the beauty of the space, making it easy to feel present in the moment. The garden becomes part of the event, which means every design decision has to feel intentional, layered, and alive.
For Chelsea and Alex, we wanted the floral designs to feel like a natural extension of the space — joyful and abundant, but rooted in the environment around them.
Chelsea & Alex’s Wedding Ceremony at Dallas Arboretum
If you’ve been to the Dallas Arboretum, you already know: it doesn’t need much help to feel magical. But this particular morning did give us a few anxious hours. Showers had rolled through early in the day, leaving the grounds lush and the sky uncertain. The whole wedding planning team kept one eye on the weather and one eye on the setup.
And then, just in time, it cleared.
By the time Chelsea walked down the aisle, the sun had broken through completely. The Sunken Garden, already one of the most beautiful ceremony settings in all of Dallas, was glowing. Guests were settled in their seats, surrounded by color and warmth. And the clouds had made way for the kind of bright morning light that photographers dream about. It felt like the day had been saving itself.
The Florals: Bright, Bold, and Full of Life
Chelsea and Alex had a clear vision for their color palette, and it was one we loved immediately: bright pinks, sky blues, crisp whites, and punchy yellows.
We designed large-scale floral arrangements for the base of the aisle and at the ceremony spot, presenting them in tall white urns set on white pedestals, which helped to add a touch of drama and sophistication to the garden setting.
The blooms themselves were generous and read beautifully from every seat in the garden. The goal was to complement the Arboretum’s natural beauty without competing with it, letting the color do the talking while the lush greenery of the garden did the rest.
The arrangements that came together in the studio in the days before the wedding were some of our favorites we’ve ever built. Layered with dimension and movement, they felt as joyful to look at as they did to create.
The Reception at Sixty Vines
After the wedding ceremony at the Dallas Arboretum, the celebration moved to Sixty Vines for a family style brunch reception, which felt completely right for this couple and this time of day. Shared plates, easy conversation, and a relaxed energy that let guests actually enjoy being together. It set exactly the tone Chelsea and Alex were after.
The private event space at Sixty Vines Dallas is truly something special. The design is reminiscent of an elevated greenhouse: soaring ceilings, abundant natural light, and an atmosphere that feels both sophisticated and intimate — and during the morning hours, that natural light is at its absolute best.
We carried Chelsea and Alex’s full color palette into the reception design, keeping the bright pinks, blues, whites, and yellows consistent from ceremony to celebration. Seeing the same palette in a completely different environment made the design feel cohesive and intentional, like a thread that ran through the whole day.
One of the highlights of the reception was a custom latte art vendor the couple had brought in. For a brunch reception, it was a perfect touch — guests were treated to lattes made to order, each one finished with custom art. People gathered, conversations started, and the energy of the event got a little warmer with every cup.
Working with Chelsea and Alex
This couple was a joy from start to finish. Chelsea and Alex came into the process knowing what they wanted and trusting us to bring it to life, which is honestly the most rewarding kind of collaboration. They were enthusiastic, decisive, and brought excitement to every decision. Their energy made the planning process feel light, even on the days when wedding planning is anything but.
Seeing them at the Sunken Garden, surrounded by sunshine and color and the people they love most, was one of those moments that reminds us why we do this work as wedding planners. The kind of moment that makes all the early mornings and weather-watching and stem-cutting worth every bit of it.
Chelsea and Alex, thank you for letting us be part of your day. It was an absolute honor.
If you want to plan your wedding at Dallas Arboretum, contact our team of wedding planners so we can help bring your wedding vision to life!
Wedding Vendor Team:
- Ceremony Venue: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
- Reception Venue: Sixty Vines Uptown
- Photography: Sara Claiborne Photography
- Content Creator: Macie Grace Media
- String Quartet: Dallas String Quartet