ARTICLES  » Featured Weddings  » A Garden Wedding: Jessica + Ashraf

It wasn't hard for Jessica and Ashraf to be inspired when it came to planning and designing their beautiful wedding. All they had to think about was the love for their family and friends and the big day fell into place. "To us, a successful evening meant that our guests had a wonderful time, a wedding they would remember for years to come!" says Jessica. And so it was!

One of the primary goals of their wedding planning was to infuse their special day with elements from both their American and Middle Eastern cultures. Ashraf, who is Palestinian, grew up in Chicago, and Jessica, a native of St. Louis, has a Persian father and an American mother. Their table cards were a great example of the fusion between the two cultures, with words of love written in English on one side and Arabic on the other. Thanks to Ashraf's beautiful calligraphy, the table cards turned out to be a major visual element in their wedding design.

When it came time to find the perfect ceremony and reception venue, the couple couldn't imagine anything more lovely than the Missouri Botanical Garden. The intimate ceremony took center stage at the Gladney Rose Garden, followed by the elegant and festive reception at the Spink Pavilion. Their bridal photos were taken at the spectacular new Arabian Garden.