Izabela & Sean’s Intimate Citrus Celebration at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia
Amid a sea of citrus tones and lush greenery, Izabela and Sean’s wedding at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia radiated style and sentiment. With just under 100 guests, the intimate celebration gave the couple time to connect with each attendee, savoring the rare chance to see friends and family from all corners of their lives mingling, laughing and dancing together.
Izabela and Sean first met at the start of their Ph.D. studies at Emory University. Their class was small and their coursework intense, but they quickly discovered that loving each other was the easiest part. Years later, they graduated together and began their professional careers — Sean as a patent agent in biotechnology and Izabela as a sustainability analyst.
Their wedding day reflected not only their relationship, but also their families and histories. Sean has long admired the Tudor-style homes of his Milwaukee suburb hometown, especially their stained-glass windows and intricate woodwork. To weave this influence into the ceremony, Izabela sourced two vintage stained-glass panels, which were then framed in oak by a local craftsman. Today, those pieces hang in the couple’s living room as daily reminders of their favorite day.
Izabela’s Croatian heritage was just as present throughout the celebration. Guests were welcomed with sprigs of rosemary pinned to their lapels, a Croatian tradition symbolizing loyalty and love. A tamburaši band played classic songs during cocktail hour, filling the air with the sounds reminiscent of the bride’s childhood summers abroad. And each reception table held a bottle of Croatian rakija, homemade by Izabela’s grandparents in 1995 (the year of her birth) and specifically saved for her future wedding day. Nearly three decades later, guests raised their glasses of the aged fruit brandy in a hearty toast to the couple’s marriage.
Enamored by plants and flora, Izabela and Sean chose the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens as their wedding venue. Having spent countless hours at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden as a child and later during college, Izabela always imagined marrying inside a greenhouse. While open to greenhouse venues across the country, she and Sean found their dream space just an hour from home. From the first site visit, they were immediately captivated by the natural light of the greenhouse and the midcentury-style chapel where they would exchange vows. The couple made their final decision then and there, and booked their June date on the spot.
On the day itself, the venue’s natural beauty was brightened further with a citrus-inspired palette of orange, yellow and pink. From marigolds lining the chapel aisle to a carrot cake topped with candied orange slices, every detail added a fresh pop of color to an already enchanting backdrop.
Looking back, Izabela and Sean describe their celebration as a blur of familiar faces, meaningful details, and a setting that exceeded every expectation. “We walked away feeling completely spoiled by our family and friends,” they shared — a sentiment that perfectly captures the “you just had to be there” magic of the day.
Vendors
PHOTOGRAPHER M Visuals
VIDEOGRAPHER Kourtney Axelberg Film
VENUE The State Botanical Garden of Georgia
DAY-OF COORDINATOR In Good Spirits Events
FLORAL Each Day Florals
MAKEUP Bombshell Creations
BRIDE’S GOWN Carolina Herrera
BRIDE’S RECEPTION DRESS House of CB
BRIDE’S EARRINGS Wolf & Moon
ALTERATIONS Gizzelle James Couturiere
ENGAGEMENT RING Brilliant Earth
GROOM’S FORMALWEAR The Black Tux
STATIONERY Minted
CATERING Atlanta Pizza Truck
CAKE Publix
BAR In Good Spirits Events
RENTALS Barron’s Rental Center
PIANIST Caleb Houck
ENTERTAINMENT Athens DJ Service
