Nick & Luke’s Rainbow Wedding
As a florist with over five years in the wedding world, I’ve been the sideline spectator cheering as my friends tie the knot — and I have loved every minute of it. Being asked to create the flowers for a friend’s weddings feels like an honor I never take lightly, but Nick + Luke’s rainbow wedding was extra special. They’re two of my dearest friends (also the ones who live the farthest away — HA!), and when they asked me to do their florals I said yes before they even finished asking
Nick and I go way back — sixth grade — and to still be that close after all these years is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received. Meeting Luke through Nick and watching their relationship grow has been a joy; Luke is the perfect match for Nick, and I couldn’t be happier for them both. Being entrusted with their wedding flowers felt like being given the best gift.
Their wedding, on June 7th in Virginia, required some serious logistical planning. I’m based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, so transporting everything south took thought, strategy, and a little bit of car Tetris. They chose budvases for their centerpieces — a lifesaver for trunk space — and I made the ceremony piece modular so it could be broken down and packed. I squeezed candles, centerpieces, bouquets, boutonnieres, an arbor and arbor pieces, our luggage, and even my groomsmaid dress into the car with military precision. Spoiler: it all fit, but not without a few contortions and a triumphant “we did it” when the hatch closed.
Design-wise, Nick and Luke wanted a muted rainbow palette. That palette was such a delicious creative puzzle: a rainbow wedding can easily tip from elegant to over-the-top, so the challenge was to honor the full spectrum while keeping everything refined, romantic, and cohesive. Ordering blooms and arranging them in careful ROYGBIV order, then transporting them through humid Virginia summer air, added layers of complexity. Once we arrived, we laid their muted rainbow down the center of the reception tables and wove it overhead through the ceremony space — color flowing through the room like a soft, joyful current. If you notice, the wedding parties flowers are in rainbow order as well, with the grooms having white blooms for their boutonnieres!
Watching their ceremony unfold beneath that cascade of color was everything. Setting up the flowers was one thing; seeing them become an intimate, living part of the day was another. Standing there as my two best friends pledged themselves to each other, I was flooded with that familiar, unavoidable moment that makes me tear up at almost every wedding: the realization that love is the reason we gather, decorate, and celebrate.
This is exactly what I mean when I say “I love, love.” I love being invited into people’s lives through their most meaningful moments. I love designing something that helps tell their story, whether I’ve known them for years or just met them at a wedding show or on our first zoom meeting. Weddings make me cry — happy, messy, grateful tears — and being a small part of someone’s love story is the part of my work that fills my heart and keeps me doing this for the long haul.
Here at Gothic Ties, I am proud to design for all couples in the LGBTQ+ community — love is love, always. I want to make your wedding a safe, welcoming space for you and your partner, whether your family celebrates your pride-month rainbow celebration or not. My goal is to honor your truth with thoughtful, unique inspired details and fierce support every step of the way.
