A Spring Meadow Wedding at Maketto, Washington DC

Amelia and Jalen took over Maketto for a Saturday in late April and turned a restaurant courtyard on H Street into a garden. Rather than an arch, we built two meadow installations that grew up out of the gravel and climbed the black garage doors behind them — branches first, then dahlias, sweet peas, lilac stock and butter-yellow accents worked in low and loose, the way things come up in a spring border.

Amelia had told us early on that she loved dahlias, and that she'd made her peace with not having them: they aren't in season in April. We went looking anyway, and found a grower who could get them to us. They ended up everywhere — in her bouquet, in both installations, and on the tables inside.

Then it rained, which in April it does. The ceremony held under cover with guests watching from the balcony above, string lights and a greenery garland along the railing. Inside, the reception carried the same palette across marble tables: compote arrangements lifted in the lit alcoves, bud vases low between the place settings, and one hundred and seven people staying until the very end.