Dreamy Intimate Backyard Garden Party in Jacksonville, FL

This dreamy intimate backyard garden party in Jacksonville, Florida is the perfect example of making your wedding celebration something that is truly a reflection of who you and your partner are.

Set right on the St. John’s river and against the lush greenery of Emily and Brad’s private backyard, this celebration blended timeless elegance with the warmth of a cozy gathering. From their dreamy garden to the relaxed, joy-filled atmosphere, this wedding reception is proof that you don’t need a grand venue to create unforgettable memories.

Dreamy Intimate Backyard Garden Party

If you’re here from the previous blog about Emily and Brad’s elopement, welcome! If you want to get caught up on the beginning of their wedding weekend, click here.

Emily + Brad hosted an intimate garden party reception as the second and final part of their wedding weekend. Complete with a custom built bar and stage for the band (that Emily and Brad built themselves, might I add), this reception was nothing short of intentional and made with love.

Their home is nestled in a quiet corner of Jacksonville and boasts an insane amount of mid century modern charm complete with a backyard that is right out of a dream. It’s no wonder they chose to have their reception here!

Brad was tying up a few loose ends when I arrived, and took me back to their primary bathroom where Emily was getting ready. It was laid-back from the very beginning.

I found Em applying her eye makeup in the mirror of their sun drenched bathroom. Her sister was steaming her reception dress, and her pup, Millie, was hanging out and making sure the weird girl with the camera (me) wasn’t any trouble. I absolutely loved photographing this part of their day and capturing these moments – there was no posing, no guidance, just observation and honest moments.

While I waited for Emily to finish getting ready, I went out to the backyard to photograph all of the amazing details – the reception space, cocktail hour setup, charcuterie boards + oyster bar being prepared. One of my favorite details of their reception was their signage, specifically their “Just Married” hanging cloth on their chairs at the Sweetheart table. So classic, elegant, and timeless.

Slowly, family and friends began to straggle in. Eventually, they arrived in droves – dressed in cream colored linen suits and colorful, flowy cocktail dresses. Warm greetings, big bear hugs, and excited chatter filled the evening spring air.

Guests helped themselves to freshly shucked oysters, a giant charcuterie board, and cool drinks by the pool as the sun slowly began to go golden over the horizon. The band was jumping as the kids ran around the lawn, casting long shadows against the grass.

As the sky transitioned from gold to blue, guests were seated for dinner. Emily and the women in her family gathered around her sweetheart table as she lit the Shabbat candles before dinner, and then it was time to eat. (the food was amazing!!)

One of my favorites part about any wedding, no matter what it looks like, is the dance floor. Emily + Brad shared their first dance as a married couple as twilight began to set in, giving the perfect romantic setting. After the father / daughter and mother / son dances, they opened up the dance floor and the real partying began.

Drinks were flowing, the band was churning out banger after banger, and the crescent sliver of the moon was high in the sky as twilight slowly slipped into midnight. It was so fun capturing all of the fun and colorful attire on the black and white checkered dance floor, it added so much character and amazing energy to their reception.

What’s the best way to end the night? If you’ve got access to a pool, the answer is always to jump into the pool – which is exactly what they did to close out the most amazing evening.

A wedding weekend that was truly a reflection of the bride and groom – Emily and Brad hosted an unforgettable celebration of their marriage by hosting this dreamy intimate backyard garden party. They poured their hearts, souls, and love into the entire weekend and crafted an experience that was undeniably them. It was the biggest honor getting to be there, to witness it, and document it all, and it’s a wedding I truly will never forget.