The ceremony
Saturday, 12 September 2026 at 4:30 in the afternoon, beneath the magnolia at Fernwood Gardens. Please arrive by 4:15 so we can begin exactly on time, and plan to be present rather than behind a phone.
Our Story
How We Got Here
Four years, one very persistent houseplant collection, and a proposal in the fern garden — the story of how two people found their way to a wedding among the greenery.
The beginning
A greenhouse, and a bit of luck
Every couple has a how-we-met — this one just happens to involve a lot of ferns.
It started on a grey Tuesday in the conservatory café neither of us meant to be in. Elise had ducked in out of the rain; Rowan was there for a coffee he didn't need, sketching monsteras in the corner. She asked if the seat across from him was taken. It has been ever since.
The first year was made of small things — market mornings, a windowsill that slowly filled with cuttings, and a shared talent for getting hopelessly lost on hikes. Somewhere between the third repotted fern and the hundredth late-night talk, we stopped keeping our plants, our books, and our lives in separate apartments.
In the autumn of 2024, Rowan led Elise on a "quick detour" through the arboretum's fern garden at golden hour. He'd been carrying the ring for most of the afternoon and most of his composure with it. She said yes somewhere in the middle of the question, which is exactly how the rest of it has gone.
Now we're bringing everyone we love to a garden of our own for the day — the same soft light, the same overgrown green, and a great deal more cake. This page is the short version; the long one, we hope, we get to tell you in person on the twelfth of September.
Gallery
A few of our favourite frames
The details
Everything for the day
The reception
Cocktails follow straight after the ceremony, with a long-table dinner and dancing until 11 in the evening — all in the same garden, so you can settle in for the whole night.
Dress code
Garden-party formal in soft, natural tones. Everything is outdoors on grass and gravel, so block heels or flats are your friend, and a light layer will see you comfortably into the cool evening.
Parking & shuttle
Free parking is available on-site — just follow the signs past the glasshouses. A complimentary shuttle also runs from The Laurel Hotel before the ceremony and back again at the end of the night.
Adults & little ones
The evening celebration is adults-only, with the happy exception of our nieces and nephews. Check your invitation for the names in your party, and reach out if childcare makes the trip tricky.
RSVP by 1 August
Please respond by the first of August so we can confirm numbers with the caterer. Let us know if you're coming, how many are in your party, and any dietary needs on the RSVP page.
Questions
Frequently asked
Saturday, 12 September 2026, at Fernwood Gardens, 12 Greenhouse Lane, Portland. The ceremony begins at 4:30 in the afternoon — please arrive a little before.