The Making of a Wedding: Glamorous Garden Reception

We absolutely love sharing the final results of our luxury event designs, but even more, we enjoy taking you behind the scenes to show how it all comes together. And this stunning 2-in-1 lush garden wedding reception with disco after-party was one of our most exciting projects to date!

Every detail of this wedding with Sacks Productions was crafted to create two distinct yet equally immersive environments. If you’re curious to see how it all unfolded, keep reading for the full behind-the-scenes breakdown!

THE VISION

As always, when designing an event, we start with the concept. The bride and groom wanted their wedding to feel like a journey—from a romantic, outdoor ceremony and floral cocktail hour to an over-the-top lush, garden wedding reception and high-energy disco after-party.

They wanted to create an entirely new space that wow-ed guests while embracing the natural landscape- including a very glamorous and lush ceiling treatment that felt like a secret garden.

We created a mood board filled with design options the planner and couple could choose from including tent draping ideas, modern lighting fixtures, dining tables, dining chairs, bars, barbacks, dance floor and after party decor inspiration.

THE VENUE

The perfect wedding needs a designer to understand and utilizing the venue’s space effectively. The venue the couple chose was Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Santa Susana, a venue we were very familiar with and were excited to create in again.

The ceremony and cocktail hour would take place up by the villa while the reception/after party tent would be created on the Grand Prix lawn, an open field with stunning mountain views.

FLOOR PLAN

Once the couple and planner decided on the draping style and decor items they wanted, we collaborated with the other vendors to create a comprehensive floor plan to ensure everything fit seamlessly. To create visual interest, the designer incorporated a variety of lines and textures while maintaining a balanced space. This included accounting for both the reception and after party, including two dance floors, stage, DJ area, 360 bar, multiple bar areas, lounge areas, dining and outdoor patios. Plus accounting for the truss holding all those heavy chandeliers.

DRAPING

We knew draping would be key to transforming this tent into two distinct spaces, each with its own color and style to create a unique atmosphere. Considering the weight, width, and height of the space, we designed renders showcasing different draping options for both the interior and exterior.

The available choices included a fully covered ceiling or an open ceiling, along with fully open or fully closed perimeter drapes. Ultimately, the selection came down to how much of the tent the client wanted visible and the amount of natural light they wanted to flow into the event.

INSTALLATION

This installation took four days to complete with a large team of vendors working in perfect coordination. It all began with the construction of the tent, which was divided into two distinct sections: one for the reception and the other for the after-party.

Once the tent structure was in place and the wood flooring was laid, our team began the intricate process of draping the interior and exterior. For the reception side, we used soft, sage chiffon, creating a light-filled, elegant atmosphere. The after-party side was a complete contrast, draped in rich emerald velvet to set the tone for the ultimate disco vibe. This dramatic shift between the two spaces allowed for an immersive experience, while the exterior remained understated in simple white, ensuring guests would be wowed upon entering.

Next came the chandeliers—each meticulously hung and enhanced with dark sage chiffon ruching to add an extra layer of elegance. These fixtures became the crown jewels of the reception space, casting a magical glow and setting the tone for a sparkling evening under the stars.

Both the reception and after-party required their own truss system to support the hanging elements: chandeliers and lush greenery in the reception area, and oversized disco balls in the after-party. This split down the middle created two visually and atmospherically distinct environments: a lush garden-inspired reception and a glamorous disco after-party.

Once the draping and lighting were in place, we turned our focus to the greenery, furniture, decor, and florals. After all, it’s not a garden wedding reception without a garden! These final touches brought the entire vision to life, creating one of the most iconic reception and after-party spaces we’ve ever seen.

FINAL RESULT

This entire wedding beginning to end was magical. After the gorgeous outdoor ceremony, guests strolled into cocktail hour where our garden furniture and decor was waiting.

For lounging, we brought our Shakespeare Garden Sofas, Garden Club Chairs, Savannah Garden Ottomans, all painted with ivory frames and paired with our Florence Coffee Table.

For sit down seating options, we provided Giardino Dell’ Iris Dining Chairs and Giardino Delle Rose Bistro Tables. Custom accent pillows and Ottoman Pods featured green piping to match the escort card wall. Our 8 foot New York Bar stole the show with a custom ivory channeled front, paring perfectly with our new Oak Wood 3-Piece Barback.

After cocktail hour, guests made their way down to the reception reveal which they would not soon forget!

Outside the tent on the reception deck, lounge and bar options awaited matching the exterior draping. The white velvet seating options included Beirut Curvy Sofas, Beirut Club Chairs, Beirut Ottomans, and Chrome Coffee Tables.

The truss structure that supported 11 chandeliers and cascading greenery created a magical, secret garden over the dance floor. We used a variety of lighting styles including our Versailles Two Tier Basket Chandelier, Versailles Three Tier Basket Chandelier, Bucharest Crystal Two Tier Chandelier, Bucharest Crystal Three Tier Chandelier, and Large Rome Chandeliers. That’s a lot of sparkle!

Design highlights included the custom sage green dance floor with swirl border and monogram, unique dining and bar setups, and bespoke decor elements. Velvet was used throughout the space, from tablecloths and bar fronts to Monaco Round Booths, adding a luxe texture to the overall design. A variety of dining tables, including our Beirut Serpentine Table and Berlin Round Dining Table, helped break up the space and create a more dynamic, open feel. Fabric-covered decor is very in for 2024 so we enjoyed taking our Las Vegas Dining Tables and customizing them with off white velvet tops and bases.

The centerpiece of the reception was a stunning 360° bar, crafted by arranging four Curved New York Bars around a majestic tree, creating a natural gathering point for guests to socialize and enjoy the event. Above the custom sage green dance floor, chandeliers sparkled, while the couple’s monogrammed accent pillows and front-row view of the band made their sweetheart table a special focal point.

As for the after-party, we were completely obsessed with the transformation. Emerald green velvet draping, mirrored decor, and luxe furniture created an edgy, modern vibe.

Behind the Berlin Mirrored DJ Booth, our Las Vegas Multi-Dimensional Panels added a futuristic touch, perfectly complementing the Berlin Round Chrome Stand Up Tables, Las Vegas Mirrored Bars and Munich Chrome Barback with Glass Shelves.

The lounge areas featured Emerald Green Hollywood Booths, New York Sectional Sofas with custom emerald covers, Tokyo Accent Chairs with custom covers, and Emerald Ottoman Pods.

These seating options paired perfectly with the Las Vegas Mirrored Rectangular Coffee Tables, Las Vegas Mirrored Round Coffee Tables, and Las Vegas Mirrored Square Accent Tables, creating the best vibes to dance under the disco balls all night long. This after-party was a true vibe, blending glamour and disco in the most unforgettable way!