Garden Micro Wedding At The Living Sculpture Sanctuary in Davie, FL

Intimate garden micro wedding at the Living Sculpture Sanctuary in Davie, Florida celebrates love, family, and culture.

Dana & Kearn decided to promise their love in front of a small gathering of loved ones at their intimate garden wedding. Dana shares, “We opted for a small, intimate garden ceremony due to COVID and travel restrictions. Our style was elegant, romantic, and warm.”  

The ceremony was a beautiful reflection of their multicultural union. Dana is Lebanese and Muslim and Kearn is from Trinidad and is Catholic. During their ceremony, the couple had their mothers read from the Bible and Quran in both English and Arabic. Dana reminisces “Our officiant incorporated both our cultures and families’ beliefs into his readings, along with a symbolic ceremony. It was beautiful.”

The intimate nature of their affair reminded the Matthews of what weddings are all about. “It’s easy to get caught up in the wedding planning details and let that stress you out, but at the end of the day it’s not what matters,” they shared. “Marriage is about the union between two souls who love one another. Everything else is just a ‘cherry on top.’ We were just happy to be getting married — we could have done it in an extravagant ballroom with 150 people or in a courthouse alone.”

Keep reading below for more details on their intimate garden micro wedding (and check out their feature in MunaLuchi Bride Issue No. 25 here!).

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• Couple: Dana & Kearn Matthew
• Occupations: We are both entrepreneurs. Dana owns a copywriting and content marketing business, and Kearn owns a pet sitting business.   

Quick Facts:

• Wedding date: April 22, 2021 
• Wedding location: Living Sculpture Sanctuary in Davie, FL
• What gifts did you give to your bridesmaids and groomsmen: We didn’t have a bridal party or groomsmen.
• Gifts for one another: Personalized cufflinks and a wedding gift box with goodies & necessities
• Ceremony entrance song: “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers 
• First dance song: We didn’t have one, we’re saving it for the bigger celebration. 

How they met… 

I used to board my dogs with Kearn whenever I would go out of town, and we became friends after that. We were just friends for years before we ever developed feelings for one another. But when it happened, it happened fast and hard. 

The proposal…

We had just closed on our first home together, we were so excited that the first thing we did after closing was drive to the new house to celebrate and take it all in. As I was turning the key to unlock the front door, Kearn got down on one knee and proposed. His best friends were there to capture it all on camera, and little did I know that he had one of my best friends waiting behind that door. There were celebratory drinks, balloons, charcuterie, and the works. It was the perfect first memory at our first home. 

Here comes the bride…

Wedding style…

We opted for a small, intimate garden ceremony due to COVID and travel restrictions. Our style was elegant, romantic, and warm. My dress was designed and custom-made by a local Miami dressmaker called Belsey Peguero. It was form-fitting, timeless, and elegant with a plunging v-neck and back, and a sweep train. Kearn donned a Calvin Klein blue windowpane suit with a coral tie. 

Cultural elements… 

Yes, we are a blended family with my background being Lebanese and Muslim and his being from Trinidad and Catholic. We had our mothers read from the Bible and Quran in both English and Arabic. Our officiant incorporated both our cultures and families’ beliefs into his readings, along with a symbolic ceremony. It was beautiful. 

Mr. & Mrs…

Best wedding day memory…

It’s so hard to pick just one! From our first look to reading our own vows, each moment was memorable in its own way. 

Advice for other engaged couples…

Don’t lose sight of what marriage is about. It’s easy to get caught up in the wedding planning details and let that stress you out, but at the end of the day, it’s not what matters. Marriage is about the union between two souls who love one another. Everything else is just a “cherry on top.” We were just happy to be getting married — we could have done it in an extravagant ballroom with 150 people or in a courthouse alone. 

Looking for more garden micro wedding inspiration?

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Vendors:

• Wedding dress designer: Belsey Peguero
• Hair: Jessica Portillo Hair @jessicaportillohair
• Makeup: Kat of LA @lakatofla
• Ceremony location: Living Sculpture Sanctuary @living_sculpture_sanctuary
• Reception location: Shooter’s Waterfront Private Dining
• Photography: Light Sky Photography
• Videography: Modern Love Productions @modernloveproductions
• Florist: Ribeiro Events @ribeiroevents
• Cake: The Cake Lovers
• Stationary: Zazzle
• Groom’s attire: Calvin Klein
• Violinist: Janice Muller