The Atlanta Botanical Gardens Served as a Stunning Backdrop for One Couple's Fall Wedding

Pediatricians Lindsay Kibuyaga and Homare Kubagawa have their careers to thank for their first meeting: The pair spoke for the first time at orientation at the start of their medical residencies in 2010. Just three years later, the two doctors found themselves in Santorini, Greece, where a Mediterranean sunset made the perfect backdrop for a proposal.

The couple decided on a local wedding and invited 100 guests to the Atlanta Botanical Garden (where they celebrated their first Valentine’s Day!) to watch Lindsay and Homare tie the knot on October 25, 2014. “Fall is the perfect season in Atlanta for an outdoor wedding. We loved the natural beauty of the gardens,” the bride says. With help from wedding planner By Brian Green and some well-organized Pinterest boards, the bride and groom created their dream wedding: an open-air ceremony followed by a serious party inside the venue’s gorgeous ballroom. And lucky for us, all of the details were captured by Anna and Spencer Photography, seen below!

Lindsay knew she wanted a fitted mermaid style when she first set out to find her dream wedding dress. The bride tried on a number of different gowns at several bridal shops in Atlanta before she finally found her Martina Liana chiffon corset gown. “The gown’s floral embellishments were a perfect fit for our garden wedding,” she says. Lindsay completed her look with a lush bouquet of ivory and blush roses, peonies, lilies, and hydrangeas.

Homare flew to New York to get measured for a custom tailored tuxedo from Suitsupply, which he paired with a black tie and knotted cufflinks.

The groomsmen matched in black tuxedos, while Lindsay’s bridesmaids wore a variety of different dresses in a unifying shade of blush. Their looks were further tied together by the length and fabric of their gowns and their updo hairstyles.

The roles of flower girl and ring bearer were filled by the couple’s dogs, Marty and Mia. The venue doesn’t usually allow pets, but their exception made for one of the bride’s favorite moments of her big day. Marty was outfitted in a tuxedo collar and Mia had a gorgeous floral wreath that matched the bride’s bouquet created by Edge Designs.

At the ceremony, a string quartet played their rendition of Coldplay’s “Yellow” as guests were seated. Then, the musicians began performing Mendelssohn’s Wedding March, but in a unique twist, the melody slowly morphed into the Beatles’ “All You Need is Love”. The idea was inspired by the wedding scene in Love Actually.

At the cocktail hour and reception, guests had access to an open bar or their choice of three signature cocktails — the Cheeky Rose Martini, a Patron margarita, or an Old Fashioned. The couple and their guests got the party started with playful lawn games like cornhole and oversized Jenga.

The newlyweds shared their first dance as a married couple to Etta James’ “At Last.”